Plant Rooms – Staying Compliant
Tests
These tests are carried out as part of the “Machinery, Electricity & Gas” and “Slips, Trips & Falls” sections of the health and audit.
Safety signage is provided in plant rooms as appropriate, e.g. hearing defenders, no smoking signs, electric shock posters etc.
Carry out a general check of plant rooms. Check that there is no dangerous exposed wiring, burn marks on plugs, unsuitable repairs or sockets overloaded. Check also emergency stop buttons are easily accessed and signed.
Access to plant rooms/lift motor rooms/high voltage electrical installations is secured against unauthorised access. No unauthorised storage in plant rooms.
Test 1
Safety signage is provided in plant rooms as appropriate, e.g. hearing defenders, no smoking signs, electric shock posters etc.
Reason for This Test
Safety signage is required in plant rooms and electrical rooms.
Possible Answers
Red: No signage at all
Amber: Some signage in place but more required
Green: All recommended safety signage in place
Common Issues
No evidence of cleaning schedules provided.
No documented system in place at the time.
Fail Rate
22% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data
Test 2
Carry out a general check of plant rooms. Check that there is no dangerous exposed wiring, burn marks on plugs, unsuitable repairs or sockets overloaded. Check also emergency stop buttons are easily accessed and signed.
Reason for This Test
Necessary to prevent potential fire or safety situations.
Possible Answers
Red: Some obvious damage and burn marks or emergency stop buttons obstructed.
Amber: Some minor issues identified
Green: Good housekeeping and no obvious defects.
Common Issues
No evidence of cleaning schedules provided.
No documented system in place at the time.
Fail Rate
9% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.
Test 3
Access to plant rooms/lift motor rooms/high voltage electrical installations is secured against unauthorised access. No unauthorised storage in plant rooms.
Reason for This Test
To prevent slip, trips and falls and safety situations.
Possible Answers
Red: Plant rooms not secured
Green: Plant rooms secured and keys controlled
Common Issues
No evidence of cleaning schedules provided.
No documented system in place at the time.
Fail Rate
17% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.
Information
What Are Plant Rooms?
A plant room is a space or room in a building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and associated electrical equipment. The following equipment is generally housed in a plant room:
Back-up electrical generators
Boilers & Chillers
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) equipment
Main distribution piping and valves
Sprinkler distribution piping and pumps
Water heaters and tanks
Water pumps
This post is part of the “Focus on Health and Safety Audit Questions” series. A series which focuses on questions asked by our health and safety consultants when conducting a health and safety audit.