Porta Potty Forum
Log inAsk a question

Winter 2026: How do high-rise units handle freezing at elevation?

Hector V.asked 2 viewsConstruction & Job SitesHigh rise unitWinterizationOsha 1926 51Holding tankCrane lift

We're on a 40-story high-rise in Chicago, winter 2026. The crew is 150 people, five days a week. We have a cluster of standard units and one ADA-compliant unit on a suspended platform at level 20. No truck access up there, the crane lifts them. It's January, and the wind chill is brutal. I know standard units use antifreeze in the holding tank, but at elevation with constant wind, I'm worried the tanks will freeze solid. The rental company says they use a non-toxic brine. Does that hold up in high-rise conditions? What happens if the waste freezes? Do we need to service them more than weekly?

1 answer

Sorted by votes
0
Deb K.Akron, OH

A non-toxic brine antifreeze works at elevation, but high-rise conditions with wind chill require a stronger mix and more frequent service. The rental company will increase the antifreeze concentration for your site. If the waste freezes solid, the vacuum truck cannot pump it out, and the unit becomes unusable until it thaws.

You need service more than weekly in these conditions. Wind exposure accelerates heat loss from the holding tank, so a weekly schedule risks freezing between visits. Discuss increasing service frequency with your rental company, perhaps twice weekly or more during extreme cold spells. They may also use insulated units or tank wraps for high-rise placements.

Your cluster meets OSHA 1926.51 for 150 workers with multiple units and one ADA-compliant portable toilet. Ensure the crane access is reliable for service swaps if needed, as frozen tanks might require unit replacements instead of pumping.

Your answer

Log in or create a free account to answer this question.

Related questions