- This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 7 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Guys, I have a few contracts which involve residents living in manned or cared housing i.e. 4 or 5 residents perhaps with learning difficulties living in a domestic property and then a carer stops over night to watch over them.
I am hearing rumours and in fact some unscrupulous companies are contacting the managers of these houses informing them that they need to have commercial appliances in these properties and maintenance contracts in place (which strangely enough they can provide). Now I am obviously aware of health and safety issues regarding sluice facilities for some properties but I was wondering if anyone could clarify or point me in the right direction of the legislation, which relates to using domestic appliances in “commercial properties and in fact if such properties with some times no more than a standard number of family members would actually constitute a “commercial property.
Any advice or pointing in the right direction would be appreciated. This could have serious financial implications for some of the charities and orginisations involved.
Thanks,Andy Stu
Re: Domestic appliances in “Commercial properties”
When the care home has individual flats with cooking facilities and sink and washing machine etc then that is domestic of course. But where there is a ‘communal laundry room’ H&S legislation has to be more strictly applied. And whilst domestic appliances can be used (and there’s nothing in the rules against using domestic equipment by the way) then greater safety facilities must often be installed. For example individual fused spur boxes with RCD and shut off levers/stop valves on water pipes. In some cases especially when on 1st floor or subsequent higher levels a waterproof flooring with drain outlets is often a requirement as well.
Local Authorities care provide free advice to you on the finer points of H&S requirements in this regard.
Re: Domestic appliances in “Commercial properties”
It all depends upon what the home is designated as ,certain registrations require sluicing machines depending on the amount of inconitinent resident’s .
the managers of the homes should know this as it would be a part of there registration inspection ,they will have been advised if they needed sluice m/cs or not .
there are some small sluice machines available that will run off a 30Amp supply .
LawrenceRe: Domestic appliances in “Commercial properties”
I attend to appliances in several places like those described. I once asked a staff member if they had ever considered a commercial machine the reply was interesting and when you think about it obvious.
“this is the residents home we want it to feel as like a normal home as possible a normal house, all be it a large one, in a normal street. if residents move on to other houses they will be familliar with and confident with ordinary domestic situations. some of the older residents had grown up in institutions but those days are over.”
the thinking is sound even if the appliances dont last as long.
wilf
Re: Domestic appliances in “Commercial properties”
Thanks Guys for your input. The company I deal with is a large organisation for Autistic adults and as Wilf explains, the thinking is so that the residents in some ways can learn to live independently. In some severe cases, this is not possible and these residents have much more one on one care, so do have commercial machines with Sluice facilities. My concern was, that if new legislation has come into force whereby domestic machines are not allowed to be used in commercial properties(as some of the commercial machine retailers appear to be portraying) then obviously these machines would have to be changed.
From your input, it would appear that these rumours are not true, but I will check with my local authority to see their take on it.
Thanks again guys for your invaluable input.
AndyStu
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.