# Why are tamperproof bolts & screws used with bathroom stall partitions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661 "2007-05-18T23:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/1 "2007-05-18T23:09:22Z")
I’ve noticed the stall partitions in most public bathrooms are affixed to the walls using tamperproof hardware. Is there really such a big demand for these partitions that people are willing to steal them? I have also seen them used in the bathrooms of businesses and DoD facilities 😕. What’s the deal? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/2 "2007-05-18T23:15:55Z")
I don’t think they steal them with any profit motive. It is just mindless vandalism. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/3 "2007-05-18T23:17:39Z")
I think they’re more concerned with people taking them apart just becuase. Just becuase why? Just becuase your shitting with nothing else to do, and if you have a dime or something else flat, why not take the walls down. I think, like you said, it’s more that they’re meant to be tamper proof, not theft proof. We had another thread on this, lesse if we can find it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/4 "2007-05-18T23:19:25Z")
The hell with it, I’m not seaching for it if it’s gonna take me 10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/5 "2007-05-18T23:33:14Z")
The stall components come with the hardware already. Even if it’s to be installed in a location unlikely to suffer vandalism, like the Pentagon, it’ll still have the tamper-proof fasteners. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/6 "2007-05-18T23:39:15Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] The hell with it, I’m not seaching for it if it’s gonna take me 10 minutes. [/QUOTE] The consensus was they are there to deter vandals who would otherwise be operating in a vandal-friendly environment: few witness, low traffic, no video cameras. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/7 "2007-05-18T23:43:20Z")
Many items come with tamper proof /unique heads just to prevent you from servicing them. That forces you to call the company for service. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/8 "2007-05-18T23:46:15Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] That forces you to call the company for service. [/QUOTE] The hell it does. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/9 "2007-05-18T23:47:23Z")
Dude, if they didn’t some jerk (like me) would whip out their multi-tool and take everything apart just as a joke on the next guy. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/10 "2007-05-19T00:35:34Z")
Having to be the one that mantained stuff at one job, I can tell you somebody would loosen the bolts within two days, if they didn’t use special heads. They still managed to loosen the bolts with tamper resistant heads. You had better be sure that you painted over any writing before the place opened. You could go a couple weeks without writing on the wall. As soon as one person wrote anything, the wall was covered in a couple days. Those tiolet lids are locked down so people can’t stick product packages in the tiolet resevour. Everything else is locked down so you don’t steal it. The only thing that wasn’t tamper proof or locked down that nobody stole was the used tampon and pad bin in the ladies room. ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/11 "2007-05-19T01:00:02Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] I’ve noticed the stall partitions in most public bathrooms are affixed to the walls using tamperproof hardware. Is there really such a big demand for these partitions that people are willing to steal them? I have also seen them used in the bathrooms of businesses and DoD facilities 😕. What’s the deal? [/QUOTE] During my first few weeks of driving 18-wheelers long-haul, I would occasionally stop at the rest areas along the interstate highways to use the facilities. Many times the partitions had been removed, (sometimes obviously forcibly). The removal of the partitions made it easier for some people to check out the goods. These people were referred to as “meat-gazers”. After being hit on a few times, I avoided the rest areas. Especially those near large cities, and especially during the wee hours (hee hee). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/12 "2007-05-19T01:31:06Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Dude, if they didn’t some jerk (like me) would whip out their multi-tool and take everything apart just as a joke on the next guy. [/QUOTE] Last time I whipped out my multi-tool in a public restroom . . . oops, wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/13 "2007-05-19T04:33:16Z")
I noticed one day that the stall partitions in the ladies’ room where I work (in a factory, not open to the public at all) has Phillips screwheads instead of tamperproof ones. This part of the building was built in 1976. When did tamperproof screws become standard? ---
**Author:** ![Chasing\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/14 "2007-05-19T05:47:17Z")
I don’t see how using a special head will prevent somebody from dismantling a bathroom stall. The common ones I see just just require an allen key with a hole in the center of the key. The allen head bolt has a little cylindrical protrusion in the center of the hex shape. The manufactures got to sell replacement tools for outside mechanics / contractors so there will be a source of these tamper resistant tools. It also doesn’t make economic sense to build several varieties of tamper resistant tools when standard tools are so much cheaper. I think red Loctite on the bolt threads would be a much more economical solution. This way, you can use standard bolts. The vandal would be stripping the head of the bolt you are using before the thing came loose. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/15 "2007-05-19T10:44:47Z")
[QUOTE=Chasing Dreams] The common ones I see just just require an allen key with a hole in the center of the key. The allen head bolt has a little cylindrical protrusion in the center of the hex shape. [/QUOTE] [There are all kinds.](http://www.tamperproof.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products) ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/16 "2007-05-19T10:57:37Z")
I always see the ‘one-way slotted’ ones. Anyone can put together with an ordinary slot screwdriver, but it can’t be taken apart without grinding a new slot. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/17 "2007-05-19T11:48:03Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] [There are all kinds.](http://www.tamperproof.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products) [/QUOTE] Great. Good luck to me the next time I meet someone named Phillips not thinking “Phillips Pin-Head”! ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/18 "2007-05-19T11:53:59Z")
[QUOTE=Chasing Dreams] I don’t see how using a special head will prevent somebody from dismantling a bathroom stall. The common ones I see just just require an allen key with a hole in the center of the key. The allen head bolt has a little cylindrical protrusion in the center of the hex shape. [/QUOTE] Right, but whereas I have a Philllips and a flathead screwdriver in my pocket at all times (Leatherman Micra), and could thus mess around with a Phillips-screwed bathroom on a whim, I’d have to actually make a concerted effort to bring the ‘security’ version of a screwdriver into the bathroom with me, and I certainly can’t be arsed–it’s not the will to break things, it’s just the boredom. It’s all about preventing _casual_ vandalism. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/19 "2007-05-19T13:15:47Z")
[QUOTE=iwakura43] –it’s not the will to break things, it’s just the boredom. It’s all about preventing _casual_ vandalism. [/QUOTE] It really must be a male thing because I don’t get it - to sit there taking a power dump and feel the urge to dismantle the walls around you that protect you from the prying eyes of others. It’s like the “Red Greene Show” gone even more wrong. I’m an Engineer and I’ve never felt the urge to monkey with bathroom stalls. I’ve _fixed_ a broken toilet in a public place, but never tried to _dismantle_ something. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661/20 "2007-05-19T15:29:59Z")
[QUOTE=Una Persson] It really must be a male thing because I don’t get it - to sit there taking a power dump and feel the urge to dismantle the walls around you that protect you from the prying eyes of others. It’s like the “Red Greene Show” gone even more wrong. I’m an Engineer and I’ve never felt the urge to monkey with bathroom stalls. I’ve _fixed_ a broken toilet in a public place, but never tried to _dismantle_ something. [/QUOTE] Well, I dunno about you, but “power dumping” for me is not a smooth or painless process. Even when I get enough fiber in my diet, dumping tends to a long process, puntuated with the occassional “swimmer.” While I don’t vandalize toilets, it get’s a bit dull sitting there for 10 minutes or so while things work their way out. Thankfully, I can use my cellphone to surf the web whilst I’m doing my thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-tamperproof-bolts-screws-used-with-bathroom-stall-partitions/404661.md?page=2)