QR codes are the omnipresent aspect of life in the age of smartphones, controlling everything from air tickets to restaurant menus.

But in Long Beach, you can scan it with your smartphone: a new place where public restrooms are open, perhaps unexpected.

As part of the pilot program, Throne Laboratories in Washington, D.C. have built “smart” bathrooms in four locations across the city. Each unit is called the Throne and includes a toilet, a urinal and a sink with ADA access to ramps.

“Cities across the country want to provide bathrooms, but the cost and operational challenges prevent them from doing so,” said Jessica Heinzelman, co-founder and COO of Throne Labs.

To access the throne, most users scan QR codes outside the bathroom that generate text messages to open a specific bathroom, Heinzelman said. There is also a code that can type for people without a smartphone and can use a physical access card.

The digital sign reminds the user whether it is possible to use, clean or close the bathroom.

However, those who prefer leisurely and relaxed visits should be aware that the throne has time limits. After 10 minutes, the door is opening whether ready or not.

Long Beach chooses to place units at Belmont Pier, Coastline Pier, Harvey Mill Mill Mill Milk Primonard Park and Maid Park from April 15 to 16. Officials said there was a lot of traffic for every location, but there weren't many bathrooms. The Long Beach Post first reported on the news about the throne bathroom.

Jane Grobaty, the city’s head of community information for the parks, recreation and marine departments, said the department operates 51 traditional restroom facilities, although she cannot provide the exact number of toilets.

Ryan Kurtzman, a technology partner with the city’s technology and innovation department, said his office worked with the Parks Department, the Public Works and the City Manager’s Office to choose a location for the restroom.

He said Belmont Pier and Coastline Pier were selected for immediate demand.

“There are a lot of people going to these areas, but there is really no toilet facilities nearby,” he said.

After DeForest Park was chosen as the toilet destroyed in a fire, officials landed on Harvey Milk Promenade Park in a way to add limited editions in downtown the city.

Kurtzman said the 7 x 8-foot bathroom is $6,200 a month per month, and the four-month trials totaled just under $100,000.

When Kurtzman encouraged the Throne Lab to make a recommendation, the partnership began Pitching and tilting on the long beach! Plans designed to identify Potential partnerships with private companies address citizen challenges.

“One of the great things about the throne is that they can provide much of the data they can provide on usage is easier than in standard park restrooms,” Kurtzman said. “We are looking at the number of uses, duration, user experience, cleanliness and other factors.”

Kurtzman said the city will weigh these factors, along with a cost analysis, to determine whether to keep the restroom.

Heinzelman, co-founder of Throne Lab, said that more than 2,900 people have visited the four bathrooms since the installation. She said the user rated the facility's 4.3 stars as 5.

In May last year, a partnership with La County Metro was launched to install another Long Beach throne at A Line Willow Street Station. That department has seen 13,000 visits 2,900 users since installationaccording to the company.

Heinzelmann said there are 18 other public thrones in the entire transport system, which are planned to expand to 64 within two years. Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills has two more thrones.

On average, most people using the bathroom do it in 3 minutes and 20 seconds. Heinzelman said the main reason for the 10-minute time limit is to stop wandering.

But for safety purposes, she said.

Individuals suffered a medical emergency twice on the throne outside Long Beach. The 10-minute limit opens the door and allows onlookers to seek help.

“In a traditional bathroom, if you have medical problems inside, you might be there for hours until the gatekeeper gets there,” Heinzelman said.

After a 10-minute pass, the light will flash inside the device and the recorded message will ask the user to leave. She said that soon after, the door opened.

She said that in other Los Angeles units, 85% had the time limit left in two minutes, while 95% had left in five minutes.

“In some ways, these numbers are much better than we expected,” Heinzelman said.