7-4. Amenity Equipment and Office Design in Logistics Facilities
This page is an explanatory guide regarding amenity design standards for toilets, break rooms, and locker rooms in logistics warehouses, sanitary and powder room designs considerate of female employees, and office area calculation standards according to facility scale and number of personnel.
1. Facility Scale, Number of Personnel, and Office Area Calculation Standards
The site/total floor area (scale), number of operating personnel, and the size of the office (office space / management department) in a logistics facility fluctuate greatly depending on the facility's storage/work format (degree of automation and items handled).
1.1 List of Market Prices for Scale, Personnel, and Office Area
*Standard guideline according to total floor area (assuming multi-tenant types, general-purpose EC logistics, etc.)
| Facility Scale (Total Floor Area) | Avg. Operating Personnel (Peak) | Office / Management Area Size | Office Ratio to Total Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Scale (approx. 1,000 tsubo / 3,300㎡) | 20 to 50 people | 30 to 50 tsubo (approx. 100-165㎡) | Approx. 3% to 5% |
| Medium Scale (approx. 5,000 tsubo / 16,500㎡) | 80 to 150 people | 100 to 200 tsubo (approx. 330-660㎡) | Approx. 2% to 4% |
| Large Scale (approx. 10,000 tsubo / 33,000㎡) | 150 to 350 people | 200 to 400 tsubo (approx. 660-1,320㎡) | Approx. 2% to 3% |
| Ultra-Large Scale (approx. 30,000 tsubo+ / 100,000㎡+) | 500 to 1,000+ people | 600 to 1,200 tsubo (approx. 2,000-4,000㎡) | Approx. 1.5% to 3% |
1.2 Calculation Logic for Number of Personnel and Office Area
- Storage Type (Storage-centric, large lots): About 0.5 to 1.5 people per 100 tsubo. Personnel can be minimized because work is centered on forklifts.
- Distribution Processing / EC Mail-order Type: 3 to 5 or more people per 100 tsubo. Personnel density is high due to a lot of manual work (picking, packing, inspection).
- Labor-saving / Automated Facilities (Introduction of AGV/AMR): Personnel can be reduced by 30% to 50% compared to conventional operations.
- Office Work Area Size: 1.5 to 2.5 tsubo (about 5 to 8㎡) per person.
1.3 Precautions in Office Design
- Separation of On-site Work Space and Office (Noise / Traffic Lines): Partition the office with soundproof walls or place it on a mezzanine or in a corner to ensure safe pedestrian traffic lines.
- Handling Staff Increases During Busy Seasons (Sales, etc.): Anticipate rapid increases in personnel during peaks, and plan the number of lockers, shoe boxes, and toilets according to the maximum number of people.
2. Appropriate Toilet Installation Quantity Standards
The installation of toilets in logistics warehouses has minimum installation standards set by laws and regulations such as Article 628 of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health. In practice, a number greater than the statutory requirement is secured, assuming "concentrated use during breaks."
2.1 Statutory Minimum Standards (Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health)
- Men's Toilet Bowls: At least 1 per 60 concurrently working men (add 1 per 40 for over 100 men).
- Men's Urinals: At least 1 per 30 concurrently working men (add 1 per 50 for over 100 men).
- Women's Toilets: At least 1 per 20 concurrently working women (add 1 per 30 for over 50 women, and 1 per 25 for over 100 women).
2.2 Practical Design Standards for Logistics Sites (Congestion Countermeasures)
To prevent long lines during simultaneous breaks, about 1.3 to 1.5 times the statutory number are installed in practice.
- Women's Toilets: 1 per 12 to 15 working women.
- Men's Toilets: 1 toilet bowl and 1 urinal per 20 working men.
- Placement Points: "Decentralized placement" near elevators or entrances/exits of each work zone is effective. Also, installing toilets for external drivers is recommended.
3. Design Standards for Break Rooms, Locker Rooms, and Amenity Equipment
3.1 Design Standards for Break Rooms (Cafeterias / Lounges)
Calculate the area assuming use in a shift system (2 to 3 shifts).
| Item | Calculation Standard / Guideline | Precautions in Design |
|---|---|---|
| Required Space per Person | 0.3 to 0.5 tsubo / person (approx. 1.0 to 1.6㎡) | The minimum space needed to sit down, eat, and take a break. |
| Assumption of Simultaneous Usage Rate | 33% to 50% of the maximum simultaneous working personnel | Example: If 200 people are working at peak, secure space for 70 to 100 people (about 30 to 50 tsubo). |
| Incidental Equipment | Microwaves, water heaters, vending machines, charging outlets, Wi-Fi | Secure equipment installation space and aisle width for lining up. |
3.2 Design Standards for Locker Rooms and Lockers
- Area per Person: 0.2 to 0.3 tsubo / person (Locker + Aisle width).
- Locker Selection: Increase efficiency with long lockers for full-time employees, and multi-tier lockers serving 2 to 4 people for part-time/dispatched workers.
- Flexibility of Male/Female Compartments: A structure where the position of partition walls can be changed according to future changes in the male-to-female ratio is desirable.
3.3 Operational Points for Amenity Design
- Consideration of Security Lines (Bringing items in): To prevent product theft, plan traffic lines in the order of "Locker room/Lockers ➔ Metal detector gate ➔ Work area".
- Heatstroke Countermeasures and Water Supply Equipment Placement: Place cold water dispensers and salt replenishment spaces at various locations within the work area.
4. Considerations and Innovations in Sites with a High Ratio of Female Employees (EC / Distribution Processing)
In EC and distribution processing warehouses with a high ratio of female employees, "designs that reduce the stress of congestion" and "comfort that allows refreshing" directly lead to an improvement in retention rates.
4.1 Powder Rooms and Sanitary Equipment
- Separation of Traffic Lines from Handwashing and Toilet Bowls: Separate dressing tables (powder spaces) from water areas to prevent congestion waiting to wash hands.
- Seated Private Booths / Partitions: Install partitions, chairs, large mirrors with LEDs, and outlets for hair irons.
- Sanitary Functions: Placement of free sanitary napkin dispensers, and shelves/hooks to place sanitary pouches.
4.2 Innovations in Break Rooms, Locker Rooms, and Childcare Support
| Equipment / Environment | Specific Measures in Design |
|---|---|
| Diverse Seating Types | In addition to sofa seats, arrange counter seats with partitions where one can spend time alone without hesitation. |
| Lighting and Interior | Adoption of warm bulb-color lighting, wood-grain textures, and foliage plants (biophilic design). |
| Cafe / Meal Equipment | Placement-type company cafeteria services (OFFICE DE YASAI, etc.), installation of multiple microwaves and water heaters. |
| Locker Room Space | To prevent bumping into neighbors when undressing, secure an aisle width of 1.5m to 1.8m or more, and place full-body mirrors in decentralized locations. |
| Childcare / Health Support | Making first-aid rooms (rest rooms) completely private, considering co-locating daycares/kids' rooms. |