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Construction site overnight: should we lock the porta potty, or does locking it cause more headaches?

Carl D.asked 0 viewsConstruction & Job SitesConstruction sitesStandard unitVandalismService frequencyPlacementHolding tank

We have a standard unit on a residential remodel for about six weeks. Crew is usually 8 to 10 guys during the day. The unit sits on the driveway gravel, truck can get to it for weekly service with no problem.

Neighborhood has had some late night foot traffic and we already found toilet paper tossed around once. Superintendent wants us to padlock the door after hours so nobody uses it or messes with it.

I am not sure that is smart. If we lock it, does the rental company still expect free access for service? What if someone forces the door and we get billed for damage? And on hot days the unit already gets warm. Sealing it shut overnight with waste in the tank seems like it could make odor worse by morning.

Has anyone locked units overnight on open sites, and did it actually help or just create more trouble with the service route?

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Hector V.Phoenix, AZ

Locking the standard unit overnight is a bad idea. It creates more problems than it solves. The rental company requires free access for the service visit. A locked unit is a missed service, and you get billed for the trip. If someone forces the lock, you are responsible for the damage. On a hot day, sealing the unit traps heat and odor from the holding tank, making it worse for the crew in the morning.

You have a better option. Talk to your rental company. They can install a lock box. A lock box is a metal case that fits over the door latch. Your crew has a key or combination for daytime use. The service driver has a master key to open it for pumping and cleaning without you being there. This stops the public from using it after hours without causing a service problem or damage bill. On a small site like yours with a single unit, a lock box is the standard solution for controlling access.

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