Construction site toilets: What are the legal obligations in 2025?

Before presenting our concrete solutions, it is essential to understand why hygiene on construction sites is much more than a simple formality: it is a structuring legal obligation for any construction company.

Hygiene on construction sites: An essential legal obligation

The French Labor Code imposes strict legal obligations regarding safety and health on construction sites: this is neither a matter of convenience nor common sense. Hygiene occupies a central place among these obligations. Whether you manage a small urban construction site or a large-scale operation in a remote area, you must guarantee decent sanitary conditions for your teams.

This obligation goes beyond formal compliance with the texts: it ensures the daily well-being of employees, prevents infectious and occupational risks (exposure to chemicals, dirt, skin diseases), and establishes a peaceful working environment. Well-designed construction site sanitation facilities significantly improve productivity and reduce absenteeism.

At the house of MT Bungalow, we support construction professionals in this compliance process by offering them modular construction site sanitary solutions, designed to be ergonomic, quick to deploy and perfectly adapted to the constraints of construction.

What the Labor Code says in 2025: obligations and risks for the employer

Article R.4228-1 of the French Labor Code requires all employers to provide hygiene equipment in the workplace. For construction sites, Circular DRT No. 95/07 of April 14, 1995 further specifies the obligations depending on the nature and duration of the construction site.

Each company must therefore provide sufficient and functional access to three fundamental elements:

• Independent combined sanitary bungalows, including flush toilets, sinks supplied with potable water, and showers if the activity is dirty or unsanitary;
• Independent construction site changing rooms suitable, isolated from storage and work areas, clean, ventilated, equipped with individual lockable cabinets;
• A space module, when employees take their meals on site, with furniture, drinking water, heating point and refrigeration solution.

The labor inspectorate can impose fines, issue formal notices, or suspend your worksite if you fail to comply with these standards. If you do indeed put your employees in danger, you also incur criminal liability.

At MT Bungalow, we prevent these risks: we manufacture sanitary modules that comply with all legal requirements and provide all the necessary supporting documents to facilitate your inspections.

What hygiene facilities are mandatory on construction sites in 2025?

1. Collective changing rooms: ensuring dignity and safety from the changing room onwards

On a construction site, changing rooms are not simply a convenience. They are mandatory equipment that preserves the dignity of workers and guarantees hygiene in all circumstances. Legislation requires employers to provide employees with a dedicated changing area, separate from work and storage areas. This room must offer minimum comfort: heating in winter, adequate ventilation, sufficient lighting, and daily cleaning.

Each employee has a separate, lockable cabinet with two compartments to separate their civilian clothing from their potentially soiled work clothes. This measure prevents cross-contamination, particularly in activities involving exposure to hazardous substances such as lead, solvents, or hydrocarbons.

At MT Bungalow, we design custom-made changing room modules that meet the latest requirements: integrated benches, mechanical ventilation systems, and compartments differentiated according to gender or function on the construction site.

2. Construction site toilets: minimum hygiene and strict compliance

The employer shall equip each active worksite, even for short periods, with plumbed-in or stand-alone toilets equipped with a flushing system. It shall install one toilet and one urinal for every 20 men, as well as two toilets for every 20 women, each equipped with a swing-lid bin.

It separates male and female facilities in closed, ventilated areas that are cleaned daily. It guarantees a reliable drainage system or requires the administration to approve a stand-alone solution. By default, it prohibits the use of chemical or dry toilets, unless expressly exempted.

Our Construction site toilet MT Bungalow integrates these requirements into compact but complete configurations: connectable or autonomous toilets, natural or mechanical ventilation, integrated heating, LED lighting, and PMR options (ramp, adapted toilet, grab bars, etc.).

3. Access to drinking water and sinks: non-negotiable standards

Handwashing remains the primary barrier against infection. This is why one sink for every ten employees maximum must be installed on site, with potable water (hot if possible), soap, and a means of drying or wiping.

In unconnected environments, MT Bungalow modules are equipped with integrated drinking water tanks, with anti-scald taps, optimized distribution, and easy maintenance. User comfort, such as temperature consistency and easy access, is integrated into the design.

4. Showers: mandatory for high-risk construction sites

Whenever unsanitary or very dirty work is carried out—such as exposure to asbestos, mineral dust, or chemicals—the installation of temperature-controlled showers becomes mandatory. These facilities must be installed in a dedicated, heated, and regularly cleaned area, with easy access for all employees involved.

MT Bungalow offers sanitary modules with construction site showers integrated, designed for intensive use. Separate cabins, reinforced drainage system, ventilation, and thermal control are integrated to ensure maximum comfort and full compliance with current regulations.

5. Catering facilities: eat well, work well

On construction sites where workers eat their meals, the employer must provide a safe, clean, and properly equipped dining area. This includes a sufficient number of tables and chairs, a drinking water point, a means of heating food (microwave), and a refrigeration device (fridge or refrigerator).

The dining modules designed by MT Bungalow are designed as real living spaces: equipped kitchen area, integrated storage, possibility of separation from the bathrooms, and comfortable atmosphere even in cold weather or in noisy environments.

Special cases: what hygiene solutions are available for atypical construction sites?

Each project has its own specific requirements. Interventions in city centers, for short periods, or in areas with difficult access or without a network make it difficult, or even impossible, to install a traditional base camp.

However, the law still applies. The Labor Code authorizes regulated adjustments to adapt hygiene requirements to the constraints of the site.

On construction sites less than four months old or in confined spaces (building floors, urban trenches, roadways, etc.), the employer may deploy temporary solutions, provided they can justify their relevance and ensure an equivalent level of hygiene. These solutions include:

• Converted construction site vehicles, including toilets, changing rooms and dining areas, used in particular for mobile interventions or rapid maintenance operations.
• Self-contained sanitary modules, fully equipped with tanks, pumps, drainage system and water treatment devices, usable even without connection.
• Local partnerships with third-party establishments (restaurants, town halls, customers) to provide employees with access to existing restrooms near the construction site.

Please note, however, that dry or chemical toilets without flushing are not recognized as compliant by default. Their use is only permitted after explicit authorization from the Labor Inspectorate, and only if compensatory measures are validated by the occupational physician and the CSE.

This rigor aims to maintain a high level of public health, including in situations of exceptional development.

MT Bungalow support: compliance, simplicity and responsiveness

Faced with the growing complexity of regulatory requirements, MT Bungalow positions itself as a full-fledged technical partner, not just a supplier. Our added value lies in our ability to understand the specific constraints of each project and provide a modular, scalable, and legally sound solution.

We have designed a complete range of sanitary modules and living areas specially designed to meet the requirements of modern construction:

• Combined sanitary modules: integrating toilets, sinks, showers, ventilation, lighting and PMR options, delivered ready to use.
• Ergonomic and compliant changing rooms, with double compartment wardrobes, benches and integrated heating.
• Modular dining halls, including kitchen area, sink, household appliances, furniture and secure storage.
• Autonomous energy solutions, with solar panels, generators or tanks, for areas without services.

Our strength also lies in our logistical capacity: thanks to an optimized organization, we are able to deliver andinstall the modules in 48 to 72 hours anywhere in France, including in emergency conditions.

Our modules are designed for rapid installation on pads, concrete slabs or stabilized ground, with a layout plan provided.

Finally, our internal technical office assists each client in putting together administrative files: technical notices, safety data sheets, maintenance guide, etc. everything is designed to facilitate procedures and guarantee total compliance, from installation to operation.

Return to the field: a life base that complies from day one

During the launch of a major logistics project in Lyon, a general construction company turned to MT Bungalow to anticipate its legal obligations regarding hygiene and working conditions. The context was demanding: an unserviced site, a duration of six months, and a start planned for the middle of winter.

Faced with these constraints, our technical office quickly deployed a tailor-made solution, fully compliant with the Labor Code:

• A self-contained sanitary module, equipped with three toilets, two sinks and two hot water showers, operating without connection to the network.
• An insulated changing room, with secure cabinets, integrated heating and natural ventilation.
• A modular cafeteria, including a kitchen area, heating and ergonomic furniture to accommodate the entire team during meal breaks.

The result? A functional installation from day 1, a calm working environment, and a site manager relieved of any unnecessary logistical coordination.

This turnkey organization made it possible to secure labor inspection control from the first visit and to preserve productivity despite a difficult context.

Hygiene obligations: what are the risks in the event of non-compliance?

Ignoring health and safety requirements on a construction site, even for a short period, exposes the company to serious legal and operational risks. In the event of a breach noted by the labor inspectorate, several types of sanctions may be imposed:

• Immediate administrative sanctions, in the form of fines or formal notices.
• Temporary suspension of the worksite in the event of serious danger or working conditions deemed unworthy.
• Criminal liability of the manager, particularly in the event of an accident linked to poor hygiene or occupational illness.
• Industrial tribunal actions, if employees take legal action for non-regulatory working conditions.
• Damage to reputation, which could impact relationships with clients or delay public tenders.

At MT Bungalow, we don't just deliver a module: we help you anticipate and manage these risks, thanks to compliant, certified, and ready-to-use installations. This not only provides legal security, but also daily peace of mind.

Fast, compliant and hassle-free installation with MT Bungalow

At MT Bungalow, we don't just design compliant sanitary modules: we optimize every detail to ensure a simple, secure installation that fits perfectly into your construction schedule.

Thanks to our proven modular engineering, you can install our bungalows on concrete pads, slabs, or stabilized ground without any major preparatory work. We provide each customer with:

• A precise alignment plan to ensure optimal installation
• A complete guide for your teams or your service provider
• And, if necessary, on-site assistance via our national network of approved installers

This turnkey offer meets the requirements of construction companies, local authorities and temporary base camp operators.

Objective : an operational installation in less than 72 hours, without compromising on compliance, security, or your budget.

Discover our bungalow installation service

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about construction site sanitation facilities:

What are the minimum mandatory installations on a small construction site of less than 4 months?

The employer must install flush toilets, sinks with potable water, and changing rooms even on short-term construction sites. If the layout prevents this, the employer must justify the use of alternative solutions (adapted vehicle, access to the toilets of a local partner, etc.).

Are chemical toilets allowed?

The Labor Inspectorate may grant an exemption, provided that you implement compensatory measures. In the absence of an exemption, only toilets equipped with a flush system are compliant.

Can toilets be installed upstairs on a high-rise construction site?

You can install these modules provided you ensure secure access, efficient ventilation, and a connection (or a stand-alone system). MT Bungalow offers suitable raised solutions.

What maintenance is recommended to stay compliant?

The operator must clean the facilities daily, check the water and ventilation systems, maintain the valves and renew consumables to remain compliant.

Are MT Bungalow bungalows PMR compliant?

Yes. We offer models for people with reduced mobility with access ramps, adapted toilets, grab bars, and a wider circulation area.

What budget should I plan for a sanitary bungalow?

A basic unit starts at €6,900 excluding VAT when reconditioned. For new models, the average price is €18,500 excluding VAT, depending on the equipment (heating, shower, autonomy, etc.).

Conclusion – Reconcile safety, compliance and efficiency on your construction sites

Complying with health regulations protects your teams and strengthens your company's credibility. With MT Bungalow solutions, you benefit from robust, compliant, and immediately functional modules, designed to adapt to all construction site configurations.

Discover our wide range of construction site sanitary modules: