Silly DOC Rules

I sigh with resignation when I get to some backcountry hut in Nelson Lakes NP, having survived wading rivers, teetering over drops, etc., to find DOC have installed a new toilet, maybe 30cm off the ground, and put a 1 metre high railing around the deck to stop us falling off! (Upper Travers and Bushline huts). And just to annoy me further have faced the door of said toilet directly at the hut ignoring the wonderful view one used to be able to sit and contemplate, not to mention not being able to prop the door open as it now faces the hut! (Cuppola Basin & Bushline huts) If I was younger I would take a large spanner with me and lift said toilets off their bolts, turn them through 90* or 180* and replace. Do DOC workers use their brains when placing the toilets on the bolts or is there some 'rule' saying "Do NOT point toilet at the view"?

are they DOC workers or just contractors? they are probably too young to have experienced much in the way of loos with views, and the concept of leaving the door open is completely foreign to them... having said that, some of the new huts are well designed to take in the surrounding views from inside.

which way is the loo door facing relative to the prevailing wind? toilets are usually facing away from incoming rain as they are inclined to leak, get mouldy etc

I noticed the new arrangement at Bushline Hut & thought it could have been done better regarding orientation for views and the proximity and sightline to the hut! Someone was thinking in Marlborough when the Severn Hut toilet was built. It faces down valley for the views, is at right angles to the hut porch area for privacy, and has a large glass pane in its door which means the view is preserved when the toilet door is shut.

Here's the Hut Procurement Manual for Backcountry Huts that was developed along with the Department of Building and Housing to make sure huts fit with the Building Act. http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/run-a-project/our-procedures-and-sops/hut-procurement-manual-for-backcountry-huts/ Section F (toilets and grey water) states at 1.7.4(iii): "Windows, if provided, may be located in either the wall or door. Windows shall be non-opening and, if located in the wall, the window shall face either west or south." Unfortunately the document isn't annotated with the reasons for the rules. There doesn't seem to be a rule on which way the door faces, and there can be a window in the door. It *does* have to be located down-wind from the hut under prevailing wind conditions, and there are specs about how the vent has to be oriented for the wind.

"Windows shall be non-opening and, if located in the wall, the window shall face either west or south." ---- Why, if the windows are non-opening, does it matter which way they face? "I noticed the new arrangement at Bushline Hut & thought it could have been done better regarding orientation for views and the proximity and sightline to the hut! " ---- I used to tell everyone who did the walk past Bushline "You've got to check out the view from the toilet, its fantastic!" Alas, no more. Personally I prefer to prop the door open when using a 'fibreglass coffin' toilet as a bit too claustrophobic for me. Usually someone has conveniently placed a rock for the purpose but not so good an idea if everyone in the hut can see you!

Just give everybody a friendly wave (see my profile pic for demonstration of correct form) :-)

If you read the comment at the bottom of 1.7.4 it explains that the windows shouldn't open so to keep the airflow going out the exhaust vent. I don't understand the physics of it, but they want the cubicle "cool", hence west or southern facing windows. I'm guessing it's to create an air pressure gradient in favour of the exhaust vent ?. 1.5 iii talks of orientating the vent to the prevailing wind. It talks of door vents or wall vents, hence the orientation.

you will have to just enjoy watching the local wildlife buzzing round. Windows if facing north would make it unbearable inside when the sun is shining. Not only would it get hot but the extra heat would speed up various biological processes increasing and making more aromatic the smell.

Ummm. Can't say I've seen any recent DOC huts around these parts with a window anyway. They are ALL fibreglass coffins.