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Month: October 2024

From pharmaceutical manufacturing to aerospace engineering, cleanrooms are vital to organisations that need to maintain extreme levels of cleanliness with very low levels of pollutants.

Cleanrooms are specially regulated environments that use air-cleaning filter technology to control pollutants and contaminants like dust, microbes, and aerosol particles.

Sterile Equipment services

How do cleanrooms work?

To keep a cleanroom safe and free from contaminants, external air is normally passed through a 2 stage AHU and then filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filters that remove harmful particles. 

The high air volumes dilutes the air within the clean rooms from ceiling level pushing any particulates down to the low level extracts around the room. This also gives the required hourly air change rates required.

Along with recirculation or 100% supply and extract system, most cleanrooms use a ‘positive pressure’ system, where the room pressure to the next adjacent room inside the cleanroom facility. The first is kept to a higher pressure than in the surrounding areas classed as ambient pressure to ensure the positive air pressure cascades from the cleanest room to the dirtier room. 

This higher pressure stops unfiltered air or contaminants from entering the cleanroom when doors or other openings are used.

Which industries use cleanrooms?

Many different sectors trust clean air solutions to reduce contamination, the risk of product defects or compromise in performance, and meet safety standards. These include:

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Laboratories
  • Research centres
  • Military and aerospace
  • I.T and electronics manufacturing
  • Education
  • The food industry

JLA’s clean air solutions

JLA’s range of sterile equipment and support services offer peace of mind when it come to commissioning, revalidation and maintaining a cleanroom at your site. Our systems include:

• HEPA filters and replacement filters for existing cleanroom facilities
• Laminar flow units designed to deliver and maintain ISO14644 Class 5 and GMP grade-A air quality
• HEPA filter clean air modules for cleanrooms
• Compliance testing and certification to ensure your cleanrooms continue to meet expected standards.
• Supply of Positive and Negative Isolators as well as Portable Compliant Isolators.
• Microbiological Safety cabinets.

Why partner with JLA?

JLA offers specialist expertise in sterile and cleanroom equipment to organisations right across the UK. Our end-to-end solutions cover you from consultation right through to compliance testing. And thanks to a huge team of specialist engineers based all over the country, you can rely on our support – our flexible service plans mean we’ll be on site whenever you need us.

From commissioning to annual validation of cleanrooms to supply, installation of various clean air equipment and safety cabinets we can offer a single partner solution. We can service and repair most manufacturers safety cabinets, fume cupboard and clean air equipment meaning we can offer a more cost-effective service contract. 

When it comes to revalidating your cleanroom facilities inline with HTM03-01, ISO14644 and GMP, we can also carry out your AHU service at the same time ensuring your whole system is operating at its peak performance. With a team with over 70 years combined experience we can support our clients when needed.

Contact JLA today for help and advice with sterile equipment.

George Barclay

If you’re a business owner or laundry manager who is in the process of updating on-site commercial laundry equipment, cost may be at the top of your priority list.

Because with budgets to juggle and profitability to protect, striking a balance between efficiency, performance, and affordability is paramount.

Here at JLA, we understand that cost is among the single most important considerations that our customers have when procuring new laundry equipment. That’s why we’ve put together this transparent guide to help you understand how much commercial laundry equipment costs to buy, along with the lesser-known factors that can contribute to ongoing running costs.

Commercial laundry equipment costs

While laundry rooms may not have the same equipment requirements, generally speaking, most facilities will be looking for washing machines, dryers, and finishing equipment like irons. And along with the appliances themselves, you also need to factor in the cost of setting up a laundry room – particularly if you’re in a new premises which lacks the necessary infrastructure.

With this list of requirements in mind, let’s take a closer look at the factors that can affect the cost of each of these commercial laundry appliances in turn.

Washing machines and tumble dryers

Washing machines and tumble dryers are the most expensive appliances required in a commercial laundry room. Compared to their domestic counterparts, commercial washers and dryers have a much higher price point, primarily due to their build quality, capacity, and the advanced features and technologies they contain.

Of course, not all professional washers and dryers are priced in a similar ballpark, so there are appliances to suit different budgets. For instance, an industrial-grade washer or dryer with a high capacity will be significantly more expensive than a lower-capacity machine designed for regular daily use, while the on-board specification and features can have a big impact on cost, too.

Bear in mind, also, that the cost of equipping a laundry with commercial tumble dryers and washers will depend on how many appliances you need. Some businesses may need two or more machines operating at the same time, so this can have a major impact on overall procurement costs.

Commercial ironers

Along with washers and dryers, most commercial laundries require ironing equipment to ensure that uniforms, linen, clothing, and flatwork are finished to a high standard. Commercial ironers are a lot different from the domestic handheld irons most people will be familiar with, and they also fetch a significantly higher initial purchase price.

Of course, as with washers and dryers, the cost of a commercial iron does differ depending on the size, capacity, and features. An industrial roller or rotary iron, for instance, can represent a major – though very worthwhile – investment for businesses that require at-scale garment pressing, while steam irons and hand finishers are an affordable solution for occasional business use.

Initial laundry room setup

If you’re looking to deploy commercial laundry equipment in new business premises, there may be infrastructure-related costs to factor into the project. For instance, the provision of extra lighting and the installation of gas and electricity supply outlets can increase overall costs, as can the introduction of new ducting and ventilation.

Our experts can advise on any supplementary costs associated with the deployment of new laundry equipment on your premises, with a full assessment to calculate the scope of the work required.

Additional items

It isn’t just equipment that is required in a commercial laundry. There are a range of ancillary items that can ensure the smooth running of your laundry facility, including:

  • Laundry baskets, bags, or carts
  • Red bags for contaminated laundry in health and social care settings
  • Furniture like tables to sort, fold, and store garments
  • Auto-dosing pumps for detergents (free for JLA customers)
  • Physical barriers and marked zones in settings like hospitals
  • Tags to identify personal clothing in care homes

Running costs

Running costs are an important long-term overhead to consider when installing new laundry equipment. This doesn’t just cover energy-related running costs, either, but also the cost of maintenance, water, commercial laundry detergents, and other services required to keep your equipment working at its best.

As a business, it can be easy to get blindsided by the prospect of a lower initial purchase price without considering the impact this could have on long-term running costs. But investing in high-peformance and energy efficient equipment now could pay dividends in the long term – rewarding you with lower repair and maintenance costs and reduced energy bills.

Enjoy budget surety with JLA Total Care

Take the guesswork out of predicting commercial laundry running costs with Total Care from JLA. For a predictable monthly subscription cost, we will supply, install, service, and maintain laundry equipment on your behalf, so you’re guaranteed no nasty surprises and minimum equipment downtime if something should go wrong.

With JLA Total Care, you’ll benefit from:

  • Market-leading laundry equipment with no installation fee, upfront payments, repair bills, or call-out charges – ever.
  • Guaranteed local engineer response.
    24/7/365 support from friendly advisors.
  • Improve laundry performance through real-time usage data and energy bill estimates.
    One simple monthly bill

To find out more about JLA Total Care and our collection of commercial laundry equipment enquire now or call us now on 0808 239 7813.

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With flu season getting underway, care homes all over the country are making efforts to manage and prevent the spread of infection while protecting their residents, staff and visitors. This year, there’s also the challenge of meeting the CQC’s new Regulation 9A, which asks care homes to facilitate safe visits even during outbreaks.

JLA’s HEPA-14 air filtration units, room sanitisers and OTEX ozone laundry disinfection system offer three powerful levels of protection and are already helping care home managers meet these new guidelines.

But after 50 years in the sector, we know gold-standard infection control demands more than technology. And that’s why we’re here with the latest guidance on compliance and beyond.

Unpacking CQC Regulation 9A

To help you get up to speed on CQC Regulation 9A join Helen Buchan, JLA’s infection control expert, for a free webinar on 12th November 2024.

In the session, Helen will explain what CQC Regulation 9A means for your care home, offer practical tips on managing visits during infection outbreaks, and share guidance around methods that can actively reduce cases of influenza, colds and Covid-19.

It’s free to join, too!

Register for the webinar today

Can’t be there? You don’t have to miss out! Register anyway and we’ll make sure you receive a recording of the session containing all our expert insights.

Peter Westwell

Unlike its domestic counterpart, the design of a commercial kitchen is less about aesthetics and more about functionality, practicality and safety.

As such, refining the layout of a professional kitchen requires significant planning and forethought, with many factors to consider to ensure the most efficient use of space.

Kitchen downtime

At JLA, we’ve helped countless chefs, caterers and restauranteurs develop the ultimate layout for their commercial kitchens, before installing the components and features to the highest possible standard. This has provided unique, time-tested insights into the full kitchen design cycle – insights we hope to share in this comprehensive resource.

Efficient plan

Defining an efficient ground plan is the first step in any commercial kitchen redesign. The ground plan ultimately controls the flow of the space, so a coordinated approach is needed to ensure that space is used efficiently without compromising on productivity, safety, and overall kitchen performance.

Factors to consider when devising an efficient kitchen plan include:

Available space: Measuring the space accurately to determine the available square metreage will be the very step in your kitchen design. This dictates which layouts and appliances are possible and which are not, so it really is the cornerstone of any kitchen plan.

Type of establishment: As well as available space, a kitchen plan is defined by the type of establishment. For example, a high-end restaurant kitchen will have very different ground plan requirements from that of an open-hatch school canteen kitchen, so this will undoubtedly have a significant influence over the kitchen’s ground plan and requirements.

Appliance location and coordination: It’s not uncommon for chefs and restauranteurs to have a preference for the location of new catering equipment within their commercial kitchen. This is factored in at the planning stage to ensure that the desired placement of some appliances doesn’t contravene the overall kitchen design, layout, and plan.

Flow: The flow of a professional kitchen is the driving force behind every design element. How efficient a kitchen is at the human level must be considered as a priority, with logical, safe pathways and work zones assigned for each member of your professional kitchen team.

Layout

Typically, professional kitchens tend to fall into one of four design configurations. Although these are not fixed and can be customised in line with your preferences, they do offer a practical blueprint around which the basic framework of a kitchen design can be built.

With that in mind, here are the four most common layouts you’re likely to encounter in commercial kitchen design:

Galley layout: Appliances and worktops are placed around the walls of the kitchen. This type of layout is common in commercial kitchens where space is restricted.

Zone layout: In large kitchens where various teams are responsible for different food preparation and processes, the zone layout ensures an efficient and methodical workspace.

Assembly line layout: This linear kitchen design layout begins with food prep and runs in a straight line, culminating with the area in which you serve the food to your customer.

Island layout: An island kitchen layout is where the preparation is located on a dedicated section in the middle of the room with the cooking equipment against the adjacent walls. This is ideal in professional restaurants with a diverse menu and where collaboration is key.

Fire safety regulations

Fire safety is an integral part of commercial kitchen design and needs to be considered from the early stages of the project. Commercial kitchens have significant fire safety requirements, some of which may require building changes before new appliances, worktops, and other hardware are brought in and installed.

A fire risk assessment can help you identify the areas of your commercial kitchen design plan that pose the most significant risk of fire and/or smoke inhalation. Your design should take the recommendations of the assessment into account from the earliest stages, ensuring that all the appropriate fire safety equipment is in place well before the kitchen is deemed ready for day-to-day operations.

Ventilation

As you’re probably aware, adequate ventilation isn’t simply a nice-to-have element in a kitchen design plan, but a legal requirement under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations Act 1992.

Indeed, on ventilation in commercial kitchens, the Act states: “Effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air.”

Of course, ventilation also helps to create a safe working environment for staff, while simultaneously affording customers the most comfortable dining experience. As such, any ventilation changes to your kitchen should be factored in from the get-go, with ducts, hoods, and pipework installed before other elements are added.

JLA provide commercial kitchen hoods to help you meet these requirements, along with regular commercial kitchen ventilation servicing and maintenance packages.

Reliable equipment

When the ground plan, fire safety, and ventilation elements of your commercial kitchen design are locked in, you can start thinking about the appliances and equipment you want to invest in for your new catering space.

That’s where partnering with JLA on your kitchen comes into its own. From commercial ovens to dishwashers, refrigerators to bain maries, we provide everything you need to kit out a professional kitchen of any size, and can also provide full commercial kitchen installation and ongoing servicing to ensure your new equipment continues to deliver service after service.

Plus, with Total Care from JLA, you can equip your kitchen with no upfront cost or investment. Simply sign up for a monthly contract and you get the appliances you need for a fixed sum, including servicing, breakdown support, and a guaranteed engineer response within eight hours.

We hope this guide proves useful when planning your upcoming kitchen redesign. Don’t forget, if you need help configuring your commercial catering space, our experts are here to advise you. Call us today on 0808 239 5538.

Need help? Call us on

01422822282

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About JLA
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George Barclay

George Barclay

Laundry Expert

Head of Installations George joined JLA as an apprentice service engineer in 2011. With years of experience in plumbing, engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, he oversees the delivery of safe, compliant installations.

George is Gas qualified for both laundry and COMCAT 1, 2, 3, 5, and holds IOSH Managing Safety and 17th edition accreditation.

Read George's full profile

Olivia Nolan

Care sector expert
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Olivia has been supporting some of the UKs largest care providers for over 10 years and is also the sector specialist for care.

Olivia has an excellent understanding of the commercial and technical requirements of care homes, having overseen many contract mobilisations and contract deliveries.

Along with a drive to help make sure your critical equipment is running smoothly, Olivia’s primary mission is to work with customers to find the right solutions to your challenges.

Read Olivia's full profile

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