Location and access considerations for hygienic installs
At Hycom, we don’t just work with businesses on dry land. For instance, one project took us aboard a floating seafood restaurant, right in the heart of London!
A barge might not be your typical workspace, but we're always ready to adapt to unique environments and deliver the same high standards, wherever the job takes us. From restaurants to riverboats, we find a way! Especially when planned correctly.
When planning a hygienic installation, thinking ahead about location and logistics can save time, reduce disruption, and avoid costly delays. Here are three key areas to consider:
Site location
The overall site environment plays a role in how smoothly an install can happen. Factors like vehicle access, unloading zones, and nearby operations (such as patient wards or food storage areas) all need to be accounted for. Ensuring that there’s space for delivery vehicles and safe routes for transporting materials will make the process more efficient.
Room location
Within the building, the location of the room being fitted out has implications for cleanliness, disruption, and access. Rooms deep within the building or located on upper floors can add complexity. You’ll also need to consider how noise, dust, and foot traffic from the install might affect adjacent areas, particularly in live environments like hospitals or manufacturing sites.
Access and logistics
This is where many installs hit snags — and where careful planning makes all the difference.
- Material movement: Are the doors, lifts, and corridors wide and high enough to move large sheets of wall cladding or equipment through safely? If not, will materials need to be cut down and rejoined on site?
- Timing and permissions: Can work take place during normal hours, or does it need to happen after-hours to avoid disruption? Are there restrictions around access to certain floors or departments?
- Storage areas: Is there space on-site to store materials before they’re installed, or will deliveries need to be timed precisely? Consider weather exposure too — hygienic materials need to be kept clean and dry before fitting. Another crucial factor is temperature. The installation space must be kept at a constant 18°C, starting two days before and after the install.
- Safety and compliance: If working in sensitive areas like healthcare, cleanrooms, or food prep zones, you’ll need to comply with strict infection control or food safety protocols. This could include wearing PPE, isolating work zones, or undergoing site inductions. By thoroughly assessing access routes, material handling requirements, and site rules ahead of time, you’ll set your project up for a smoother, more efficient installation — even in the most challenging environments.
It many cases it can be beneficial to conduct a site survey, either physical or virtual depending on the type of project. You can find more information about surveys in two of our articles:
