ISO 24599:2025

Guidelines for the management of mobile toilets under epidemic situations

The document provides guidelines for the management of electrically powered mobile toilets that are connected to water and electricity under public epidemic emergencies (PEEs) from different perspectives, including users, operators, and suppliers. It also gives recommendations to provide safe sanitation services for users, cleaners, and waste tank drivers. It is applicable to epidemic situations of major respiratory tract and intestinal infectious diseases, but not to group unexplained diseases, major food and occupational poisoning and other events that seriously affect public health.

Lignes directrices relatives à la gestion des toilettes mobiles dans les situations d'épidémie

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Oct-2025
• ICS: 03.080.30 - Services for consumers
• ICS: 91.040.99 - Other buildings
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 224 - Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 224 - Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 24-Oct-2025
• Due Date: 04-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 24-Oct-2025

Overview

ISO 24599:2025 - Guidelines for the management of mobile toilets under epidemic situations - gives practical guidance for the safe use, installation and operation of electrically powered mobile toilets that connect to water and electricity during public epidemic emergencies (PEEs). The standard addresses needs from the perspectives of users, operators and suppliers, and focuses on preventing pathogen transmission (notably respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases). It excludes events such as unexplained disease clusters, major food or occupational poisoning.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 24599 outlines the main technical and management elements required for mobile sanitation in epidemic contexts, including:

• Mobile toilet components: structural enclosure, water supply, flushing unit, hand-washing, illumination, disinfection, ventilation, deodorization and drainage systems.
• Water, electrical and drainage interfaces: recommendations for connecting mobile units to public water and electricity systems and sewerage when applicable.
• Performance criteria: functional and safety considerations for reliable operation, transportability and reuse.
• Site selection, installation and disassembly: guidance on siting, hoisting/placement, external connections, packing, transportation and storage.
• Environmental and risk management: minimizing contamination and operational risks in PEEs.
• Planning, maintenance and testing: operation procedures, cleaning and disinfection protocols, waste transportation, maintenance instructions and test methods.
• Health and safety: protections and procedures for cleaning/maintenance personnel, waste tank drivers and users.
• Rapid response mechanism: measures to support quick deployment and scale-up of mobile toilets during outbreaks.
• Informative annexes: e.g., reference ranges for housing dimensions and materials.

Applications

ISO 24599 is intended to support safe sanitation where permanent facilities are overwhelmed or unavailable during epidemics. Typical use cases include:

• Field hospitals, quarantine zones and mobile cabin hospitals
• Temporary settlements and emergency response sites
• Rapid-deployment sanitation in developing regions with limited infrastructure
• Event or mass-gathering contingency planning for infectious disease outbreaks

By following the standard, organizations can reduce faecal–oral and other transmission risks, improve user and worker safety, and streamline rapid deployment and reuse of mobile toilets.

Who should use this standard

• Municipal and national emergency planners
• Sanitation service providers and waste transport companies
• Mobile toilet manufacturers and suppliers
• Healthcare facility and field hospital managers
• Event organizers and humanitarian responders

Related standards

• ISO 24513:2019 (vocabulary for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems) - referenced for terms and definitions.
  (Prepared by ISO/TC 224.)

Keywords: ISO 24599:2025, mobile toilets, epidemic management, mobile sanitation, emergency portable toilets, sanitation guidelines, public epidemic emergencies.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 24599
First edition
Guidelines for the management
2025-10
of mobile toilets under epidemic
situations
Lignes directrices relatives à la gestion des toilettes mobiles dans
les situations d'épidémie
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Mobile toilet components . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Mobile toilets general components.3
4.2.1 General .3
4.2.2 Water supply and drainage .3
4.2.3 Electrical aspect .4
4.2.4 Ventilation and deodorisation .4
4.2.5 Suitable toilet flushing unit.4
4.3 Performance criteria .5
5 Management of mobile toilets. 5
5.1 General .5
5.2 Environmental management .5
5.3 Risk management .6
6 Site selection, installation and disassembly . 6
6.1 Site selection .6
6.1.1 General .6
6.1.2 Identification and packaging .7
6.1.3 Transportation and storage .7
6.2 Installation .7
6.2.1 General .7
6.2.2 Hoisting and placement .7
6.2.3 External connections .8
6.2.4 Disassembly and evacuation .8
7 Planning and maintenance . 8
7.1 Operation procedures and instructions .8
7.1.1 Connection of the mobile toilet to a public wastewater system and the
conveyance .8
7.1.2 Cleaning and disinfection of the mobile toilet .8
7.1.3 Transportation of waste .9
7.2 Maintenance instructions . .9
7.3 Testing methods .10
8 Health and safety issues . 10
8.1 Cleaning or maintenance personnel .10
8.2 Transportation personnel .10
8.3 Users .11
9 Rapid response mechanism .11
Annex A (informative) Reference range for toilet housing dimensions and materials .12
Bibliography .13

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 224, Drinking water, wastewater and
stormwater systems and services.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
In recent years, public epidemic emergencies (PEEs), especially viral infectious diseases, have occurred
frequently around the world, existing as a significant threat to the global healthcare systems and economy.
Generally, PEEs are characterized by their sudden occurrence, diverse causes and distribution, and rapid
transmission. It is often difficult for medical facilities and services to meet the timely treatment needs of
infected or suspected cases in time, especially in developing countries with large populations and limited
medical facilities and services. Deaths and adverse health outcomes caused by frequent public epidemic
[11]
emergencies are also barriers to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Many infectious diseases, such as H5N1 flu, SARS and COVID-19, have a strong tendency to spread from
person to person through various pathways, e.g. aerosol droplet transmission, direct contact, and the faecal-
[12]
oral route. Limiting contact between people and pathogens is a key component of epidemic control.
A PEE can either be a consequence or a cause of a crisis, affecting water services involving a partial or total
breakdown of sanitation services.
In certain cases of epidemic, the existing sanitation service can be overwhelmed in terms of collection
capacity (field hospitals, temporary treatment facilities, temporary settlements, etc.), and alternative
solutions are needed.
The collection and safe disposal of faeces and sanitary wastewater are of paramount importance considering
the risk to public health. In case of major disruption or rupture, alternative service is necessary.
Since the outbreak of PEEs is difficult to control, the rapid response of supporting facilities, including the
provision of mobile toilets, can help prevent the further spread of pathogens.
To reduce the potential of faecal oral transmission, more attention should be given to the provision of
mobile toilets in quarantine areas and “mobile cabin hospitals”. Hence, guidelines and instructions should
be established governing the management of mobile sanitation facilities and emergency portable toilet
provisions under PEEs.
Developing and implementing this guideline can:
— reduce the risk of the potential faecal-oral transmission of pathogens;
— improve the safety of toilet users and operators;
— promote the design and installation efficiency of emergency mobile toilets;
— improve the rapid mechanism for the deployment of mobile toilets in case of PEEs.

v
International Standard ISO 24599:2025(en)
Guidelines for the management of mobile toilets under
epidemic situations
1 Scope
The document provides guidelines for the management of electrically powered mobile toilets that are
connected to water and electricity under public epidemic emergencies (PEEs) from different perspectives,
including users, operators, and suppliers. It also gives recommendations to provide safe sanitation services
for users, cleaners, and waste tank drivers. It is applicable to epidemic situations of major respiratory tract
and intestinal infectious diseases, but not to group unexplained diseases, major food and occupational
poisoning and other events that seriously affect public health.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 24513:2019, Service activities relating to drinking water supply, wastewater and stormwater systems —
Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 24513:2019 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
epidemic
large number of cases of a particular infectious disease, occurring at the same time in a community or
geographic region
[SOURCE: ISO 45006:2023, 3.12]
3.2
mobile toilet
movable, modular, and easily transportable toilet that is constructed in prevision of the event of a public
epidemic (3.1) emergency
Note 1 to entry: When connecting to the sewerage system, the decision is based on the judgment of the sewerage
system administrator, in addition to the laws and standards applicable in relevant country.
3.3
waste tank
tank designed to receive and partially treat raw domestic sanitary wastewater

3.4
cleaning
removal of foreign materials from a surface
[SOURCE: ISO 17966:2016, 3.6]
3.5
disinfection
process that destroys, inactivates, or removes microorganisms until an appropriate level is reached
[SOURCE: ISO 20670:2023, 3.24]
3.6
disinfectant
chemical and physical methods, or their combination of chemicals used for disinfection (3.5)
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from ISO 11139:2018, 3.82.
3.7
final disinfection
disinfection (3.5) of the mobile toilet (3.2) after the infectious source terminates the infectious status, to
eliminate the pathogens remaining in the toilets and various objects during the public epidemic (3.1)
emergency and make them completely harmless
3.8
drainage system
system of drains and ancillary works that conveys its contents to a cesspool, sewerage system, outfall, or
other place of disposal
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2020, 3.3.4.36]
3.9
human wastewater
wastewater from toilet flushing and excretion
4 Mobile toilet components
4.1 General
[12][8]
The justification of the need for mobile toilets under epidemic conditions includes the following content :
— the basic system configuration for mobile toilets in PEEs is crucial for ensuring normal operation and
practical usability;
— benefits of implementation of mobile toilets compared to other methods under PEEs;
— a comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with the implementation of mobile toilets is essential
for making informed decisions.
The following recommendations apply to the design of mobile toilets:
— the physical comfort and safety of the user should be taken into account;
— the basic needs of users should be met;
— mobile toilets should be safe and reliable, quick to set up for evacuation and reusable many times;
— environmentally friendly materials should be used for their construction;
— durable, maintenance-free products or components should be selected;
— structural design of the mobile toilets should also consider the aspect of ease of transportation;

— mobile toilets should have a complete system (drainage, electrical, ventilation and disinfection systems.).
In addition, installation work should conform to sound engineering practices and should be carried out by
suitably trained persons.
4.2 Mobile toilets general components
4.2.1 General
[8]
Mobile toilets should comprise :
— structural enclosure with walls, door, ceiling, floor, signage;
— water supply system;
— flushing unit;
— hand washing system;
— illumination system;
— disinfection system;
— ventilation system;
— deodorization provision;
— drainage system.
Annex A provides recommendations for toilet housing dimensions and materials.
4.2.2 Water supply and drainage
The water supply and drainage system should meet the need to supply water to the mobile toilets, taking
into account the components associated with the mobile toilets: contamination from the mobile toilets to
the drinking water system, black water, high-level domestic sewage from the flushing of faecal matter from
toilets. Low-flow toilets may be installed to minimize water usage. A separate means to dispose of toilet
paper, sanitary pads and other products may be provided to prevent clogging. Water supply and drainage
systems should meet national performance standards and be approved by the relevant departments to
ensure durability and water quality safety:
— standards for the flow volume per flush;
— wastewater discharge standards;
— standards for plumbing products;
— standards for resistance to water pressure;
— standards for composition and materials of water supply and drainage systems;
— countermeasures against contamination caused by backflow from mobile toilets into the water system.
The local government authority can check whether the product meets the requirements at any time:
— inspection standards for the selection of pipes and fittings for water supply and drainage systems;
— piping and valve configuration, drainage construction inspection and testing;
— inspection of the implementation of backflow prevention measures (e.g. installation of check valves);
— inspection of ambient water quality.

4.2.3 Electrical aspect
Electrical systems include electrical system design, lighting, lightning protection, electrical construction.
The relevant electrical standards and IEC 60335-2-84 can be referred to.
Serious consideration should also be given to the following points of electrical relevance:
— principles for the design, installation and use of emergency mobile toilet electrical systems;
— lightning protection of electrical systems and safe grounding of mobile toilets;
— lightning design and selection of lamps and lanterns;
— design of power supply and control switches for exhaust fans and germicidal lamps;
— network connection: mobile toilets should be connected to network equipment to provide real-time
monitoring, data collection and other services.
4.2.4 Ventilation and deodorisation
To ensure a stable ventilation and deodorisation system in mobile toilets, the following points should be
considered:
— tandem connections between different systems should not be used;
— exhaust fan running time and frequency;
— health and safety isolation from the outside world;
— reduced environmental impact;
— the design and installation of exhaust fan outlet filters.
Components units include:
— House body: The structure should adopt resin structure, and all steel materials be made of national
performance requirements steel materials, treated with anti-corrosion and anti-rust treatment.
— Roof: The roof should be strong, isolated and soundproof.
— Wall: Wall panels should have the characteristics of sound isolation, heat insulation, combustion
prevention, and softening resistance. The inner wall has the advantages of fire prevention, anti-corrosion
and anti-scratch, anti-collision, etc.
— Floor: The floor in the toilet room should be non-slip, waterproof, easy to clean and wear-resistant, and
silicone waterproof adhesive strips should be placed at the junction of the floor and the wall.
The following should be present in the toilet: vanity mirror, coat hook, toilet paper holder, toilet, exhaust fan,
wastebasket, lighting, handrail, presence/absence indication, door lock and various signs.
4.2.5 Suitable toilet flushing unit
For flushing different types of waste, suitable flushing unit
...