Recommendations as to the minimum scale of toilet provision for buildings of public entertainment are laid out in BS 6465: Part 1 1994. For events licensed for public entertainment, the numbers and location of toilets should be agreed with the local authority.

In all circumstances, the sanitary accommodation will depend on the nature of the event, the audience profile, and the type of venue. To calculate sanitary provision requires knowing the audience size and the estimating the anticipated male to female ratio. When there is insufficient information to assess this ratio, a split of male to female 50:50 should be assumed.

Consider the following when determining the minimum provision for sanitary conveniences:

• The duration of the event;
• Perceived audience food and fluid consumption;
• Adequate provision during intervals and breaks in performance;
• Requirements for event-related temporary campsites;
• Provision of suitable facilities for children, elderly or infirm people attending who may take longer to use a facility;
• Facilities inside a fenced venue at a ‘no-readmission’ event;
• Weather conditions and temperature.

The experience of a competent consultant or responsible contractor could invaluable when determining numbers of sanitary conveniences.