Posts tagged urinal

Cisterns directly above toilets

Dripping liquid on head after urinating: Toilet Design Awards 2010

0
3 years ago
by biglove in ,

Recently I “drained the dragon” in one of CERN’s plumbing-oriented establishments, choosing a urinal as my preferred receptacle of the day. As I looked down, flushed, and set about the generally onerous task of negotiating my considerably out-sized family jewels back into their boxers, I felt liquid dripping onto the back of my head. Leaping back, I looked up in shock and terror to see that

  1. each urinal has its own tank (I’m told this is called a cistern),
  2. each cistern is mounted on the wall directly above the urinal,
  3. there is apparently no cover for the cisterns, allowing what I hope to God is clean water to slosh out.

I always thought that, even if they are clean (and I’m not convinced of that), toilet-related liquids should be kept inside pipes, and under lids, as close to the ground, and as far away from my head as possible. Just another preconceived notion smashed by CERN plumbing innovation.

stairway descending to the lavabo

An inexplicable scene in the lavabo

3
3 years ago
by biglove in
stairway descending to the lavabo

stairway descending to the lavabo

Restaurant 1 (R1) is the main CERN “restaurant” (but let’s be honest here, it’s a cafeteria). Around the corner, underground, is a lavabo, a beautiful French word meaning “toilets.” I hopped down the stairs and breezed in to what is probably the largest men’s room at CERN, heading for the urinals, when my nonchalant progress was checked by a considerable pool of water covering the entire floor. As I re-assessed my surroundings, I saw a 10-year old boy holding a baby on his arm while standing at the urinal.

My eyes processed this scene quickly; I felt confusion, then looked again to make sure the boy wasn’t a woman, as if a woman standing at a urinal in the men’s room makes more sense. Becoming flustered, I jumped over the edge of the water and locked myself inside a stall, where I attempted in vain to comprehend what I had just seen.

It’s too bad they don’t have CERN toilets on Diaroogle yet, or else I could have avoided this scenario.

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