April 2025

Ricky Cook
Smoke control expert

The Smoke Control Association (SCA) – the industry body dedicated to promoting high quality, life-saving smoke control and ventilation systems – has recently published a new white paper to highlight the importance of regular testing, maintenance and record-keeping for smoke control systems.

The paper has been produced to help more organisations meet fire safety legislation and is available now for registered users. Thank you in advance for your support.

Who are the SCA?

The SCA’s mission is to keep enhancing standards in the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and repair of smoke ventilation systems, making sure only independently tested and certified products are installed in buildings around the country.

The association’s work is based on the understanding that smoke control systems are not only a legal requirement, but offer critical protection for lives and property during a fire emergency. This is because the right systems can help organisations better manage smoke, heat, and harmful fumes, enable safer evacuations, and give emergency services faster access.

The SCA Working Group

The Working Group set-up by the SCA consists of ten industry experts in smoke control and ventilation. The white paper pulls together the expertise and advice from the ten experts including JLA’s own Ricky Cook, Regional Operations Manager in our Fire Safety division, who added his wealth of experience on automatic opening vent (AOVs) and smoke control systems.

In total, the working group spent nine months developing the 40-page document that should help readers identify and understand their smoke control assets, better plan maintenance and smoke control inspection schedules, and stay on top of their certificates and logbooks.

Improving safety and compliance

In turn, the paper will help organisations stay compliant with UK legislation including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Safety Act 2022, which was developed in the wake of the Grenfell disaster.

Read the SCA white paper today to see how proactive smoke control maintenance can protect your people, visitors and assets.

Can we take care of smoke control for you?

JLA is one of the UK’s leading specialists in automatic opening vents and end-to-end fire safety systems. With extensive experience in design, supply, maintenance and servicing, we’re here to help you keep safe and compliant. To speak to one of our experts today, simply get in touch.

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HVAC expert

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems are an important system in many workplaces for employee safety, health and compliance.

In this guide, we will outline the basics of LEV systems, how they work, the key components, key applications and how we can support your business.

What are LEV systems?

Often used alongside extractors in a broader workplace safety package, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems help to capture and remove dust, dirt and fumes, gas and vapours from closed environments where your teams work.

By cleaning away dirty air at source, LEVs ensure your operators can’t breathe in substances that might otherwise harm their wellbeing, and ensures your site stays compliant with all relevant health and safety laws.

How does a LEV system work?

An LEV system’s job is to pull dirty air away from a specific area and make sure it can’t enter the workers breathing zone The air is filtered where required before removing it from the building. But as different buildings will have different challenges, the design and selection of each LEV component must be carefully considered carefully.

As part of the planning process, your installer will think about hazards, processes, and the wider workplace environment. This way, you’ll be left with a system that effectively controls exposure and keeps everyone safe.

Where are LEV systems used?

From lab testing to workshops, LEV systems are used to control harmful particles and fumes right across the private and public sector. Example applications include extracting debris from saws and other cutting tools, protecting lab researchers from chemical exposure, and cleaning the air around conveyor or factory production lines.

What are the different parts of an LEV?

Hood
An LEV system’s all-important hood is the first component to ‘capture’ contaminants from the process in question. For this reason, it’s usually placed right next to the source. LEV hoods can take different forms to suit the process involved. This could mean a canopy above where a substance is emitted, or a downdraft that pulls dirty air away.

Ducting
Ductwork has the critical role of carrying contaminants through the LEV system. The whole system’s health depends on there being no blockages along the way; this way, free-flowing air can carry all contaminants out through the pipes.

Filters
Generally speaking, a filter will remove contaminants from passing air, though its actual spec will vary significantly depending on the application or risk profile. As with all safety systems, LEV filters should be cleaned and maintained to help protect the integrity of the whole system.

Fans
An LEV fan generates the flow needed to carry air through the hood and the ductwork. Like filters, fans need to be optimised for the application so that all dirt, gases or vapours are fully removed.

Exhaust
At the end of an LEV’s ductwork is the exhaust fan and stack, which discharges extracted air. This is usually placed well away from the contaminant source and is likely to be on the outside of the building at roof level, our LEV engineers will check the key components of the fan and also the stack to ensure the contaminated air is discharge in a safe position and beyond the builds boundary layer.

Support for your own LEV systems

JLA has a wealth of experience supporting organisations with fume extraction and LEV solutions, as part of our sterile equipment division.

From filter boxes to thorough examination testing (TExT), as well as annual certification to COSHH in line with HSG258 and the re-location of units, our experts can help you keep your workplace safe and compliant.

To speak to an expert today, please get in touch.

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Fire safety & security expert

Whether they’re protecting your people, your buildings or your critical assets, the latest CCTV systems offer numerous benefits and are now considered standard security for organisations across the UK.

This guide will help you understand the benefits of CCTV and make sure you can make informed decisions about achieving the best coverage, whatever your security budget.

What are the key reasons to invest in CCTV?

Given the ubiquity of CCTV in all walks of British life, its benefits may seem obvious. However, there’s often more to CCTV than many realise, and recent developments in the technology have introduced a range of new uses. JLA’s own security division has grown quickly in recent years, with many of our customers reporting the following positive outcomes following a bespoke installation or existing system upgrade.

A professionally installed CCTV system allows you to:

Spot and identify unauthorised or suspicious individuals, both retrospectively and in real-time
Monitor your business-critical assets and key areas of your business, such as stock rooms, for maximum security and peace of mind
Keep track of the behaviour, movements and progress of staff and visitors, particularly in hazardous or high-risk areas
Proactively deter illegal, undesirable or anti-social behaviour
Reassure employees, visitors and contractors so that they feel safe and secure in the workplace
Reduce the requirement for on-site security guards through remote monitoring
Resolve disputes with recordings used as evidence

How can you maximise coverage in your building?

Full building CCTV coverage – both internal and external – provides peace of mind as well as protection. For that reason, it’s always worth making sure your CCTV cameras cover your building reception and other key entry points, areas with high-risk assets, car parks, and any communal areas.

So-called ‘vulnerable areas’ should also be considered for camera installs – these might be locations where there’s a higher risk of theft, which could include employee locker rooms, car parks and stock rooms.

To keep tabs on who’s coming and going, there’s also good reason to install CCTV at the perimeters of your site, along with doorways and entrances.

Camera placement: what else should I know?

The latest cameras have sharper resolutions and brighter pictures than ever. But if you’re installing new cameras, it’s always best practice to make sure the area is well-lit, that the cameras are pointing to the key areas from an appropriate height, that the angle of the cameras is effective (i.e., no blind spots), and that your new cameras can’t be easily tempered with.

You shouldn’t fit hidden cameras in your building, and staff should always be informed before any installations. For privacy reasons, cameras should never be installed in toilets or changing rooms. They may, of course, be fitted outside of those rooms.

How do CCTV systems work alongside other security systems?

It’s often said that a security system is only as strong as its weakest link. CCTV systems should be used in conjunction with other security systems to deliver maximum safety and

protection for your organisation. A single weak point – like a poor access control system – can easily undermine even the most advanced security equipment, and make your often-expensive measures far less effective.

This is why we always recommend a full, proactive security audit to help highlight any potential problems and tighten coverage across your site.

The importance of regular servicing

CCTV cameras that are faulty, inoperable or damaged will inevitably create risks for your organisation. But if you take a proactive approach to upkeep by arranging regular servicing and preventative maintenance, you’ll prevent issues later down the line and keep your whole system running smoothly.

For more help and advice with your commercial CCTV and security systems, get in touch with our experts today.

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George Barclay
Laundry Expert

When you’ve invested in a commercial washing machine, using specially formulated detergent is the best way to get the results you need. But achieving consistency can still be tricky, and even the best products won’t perform if you don’t use them properly.

Too much powder or liquid, and you might damage your clothing; too little, and you might not eliminate soiling or stains first-time.

Thankfully, there’s a solution that helps you measure out the perfect dose, every time.

Automatic detergent dispensers are a proven way to maintain quality and reduce wastage in your laundry room, keeping your costs, and carbon footprint, as small as possible.

In this quick guide, we’ll explain how they work and why they’re an efficient choice for your on-premises laundry.

Using auto-dosers to prevent commercial detergent under-use

To get clothes clean and remove stains, you’ll want to use just the right amount of commercial laundry detergent. Without enough, you may end up having to wash items multiple times, which can become costly as well as inconvenient, particularly in busy laundry rooms.

A lack of detergent can also lead to a build-up of bacteria build-up on garments. This can create a significant hygiene and infection control issue, particularly in high-care environments like hospitals and care homes, where soiled goods need to be washed frequently and thoroughly to meet compliance obligations.

Similarly, under-using detergent could lead to laundry no longer smelling pleasant or losing freshness. In hospitality environments where first impressions are vital, poorly laundered linens and towels can generate complaints and negativity, while additional washes will become expensive.

Preventing detergents overuse

As well as causing damaging soap residue to build up on clothing and linen, excess liquid detergent is a leading cause of washing machine blockages, which can be expensive and time-consuming to sort. With an auto-doser in place, you can rest assured that your laundry equipment is always using the optimal amount.

User error can be another factor in overuse, with laundry operatives often adding too much detergent in the mistaken belief it will produce cleaner washing. The costs of getting through detergent stocks faster will soon add up; an auto-dosing pump will remove the guesswork and help to keep costs under control, making it easier to predict when you’re due to run out, and even maintain a cost-saving subscription.

Excess detergent usage causes soap residue build-up on clothing and linen, which not only removes the softness of them, but can damage your laundry in the long term.

Reducing spills and other hiccups

Spillages and accidents sometimes happen, particularly in busier laundry rooms. But as auto-dosing significantly reduces manual handling and removes any need to pour potentially hazardous substances by hand, your team will stay safe and won’t have to lose any time cleaning up.

JLA’s auto-dosing pumps

JLA’s pumps are easy to install and come with simple instructions that make their day-to-day use a breeze. Our systems are also designed to work seamlessly with existing commercial washing machines, making them a smart investment for businesses that rely on them. We also supply a full range of performance detergents, specially formulated to meet the cleaning needs of multiple sectors.

For more information about our auto-dosing systems, speak to an expert today.

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Helen Buchan
Infection control expert

While hybrid working might be here to stay, insights show that return-to-work initiatives are bringing people back into the workplace for more days each week.

But if the pandemic changed the way we work, it’s also changed what we expect of our workplaces – which is why, now more than ever, employees want reassurance that their environment and wellbeing are being looked after.

After all, we spend 87% of our lives indoors, and the World Health Organization recently described indoor air quality as “the world’s largest single environmental health risk”. For facilities managers, then, the challenge is critical – and complex. There’s growing pressure to reduce the energy consumption of essential commercial HVAC systems, and there’s also an imperative to improve indoor conditions and stop sick building syndrome from taking hold.

What causes sick building syndrome?

Sick building syndrome (sometimes abbreviated to SBS) is a condition commonly experienced by office workers. Its symptoms can include headaches, breathing issues, itchy skin, and low energy, and it’s often linked to poor ventilation, insufficient lighting, overcrowded working areas, and excessive noise.

SBS doesn’t just affect how people feel, either. Countless studies have shown that it can lead to a measurable drop in productivity, reduced concentration, and even affect staff retention.

The good news, however, is that we’re now better equipped than ever to prevent SBS and the problems it can cause, without compromising goals like hitting those sustainability targets. Greater awareness, coupled with smarter technologies, are giving us new tools to beat the problem.

Integrated systems for healthier environments

As return-to-office measures force action on SBS, facilities managers are responding in a number of ways. The first port of call is proactive care – ensuring current systems are properly serviced, safe and compliant. Regular checks and proactive maintenance are the best way to keep existing equipment performing, and will also help you spot issues before they turn into disruption and other headaches.

A more significant step is moving away from outdated building systems where heating and ventilation are handled separately. Better integrated air handling systems (AHUs) give FMs the power to control temperature and air quality at the same time. In turn, you’ll create cost and energy savings, and your building will likely become a healthier, more inviting and comfortable place to be.

As well as state-of-the-art HVAC, air filtration solutions are part of this equation, with many organisations now investing in medical-grade systems that actively improve air quality. At JLA, we’ve already installed many of these systems in healthcare settings like hospitals and care homes, where they work to prevent infection spread, protect patients and residents, and keep staff safe for better standards of care continuity. In the workplace, their benefits are just as powerful: air is noticeably cleaner, the environment feels more comfortable, and staff absence drops.

Looking ahead, we expect air filtration to become an expected standard, fully integrated into the HVAC systems of all new office or commercial developments. Even better, filtration technology isn’t out of reach – there are already plenty of options available to suit multiple needs, and improvements to your employee experience will be realised – and noticed – almost immediately.

Can JLA help take care of HVAC and cleaner air for you? Get in touch with our experts for more details.

Peter Westwell
Catering expert

Football clubs and stadiums use a wide range of catering equipment for day-to-day operations.

From hospitality suites to the stadium bar and training ground kitchens to on-site event venues, a host of reliable and efficient catering equipment is critical.

If you are looking to sub out substandard, old or inefficient equipment, then this guide can advise you on the next steps. Alternatively, if you are undertaking a full kitchen refurb or new-build project then consideration should be made for an effective use of the space in your kitchen.

Ovens

The heart of many professional kitchens, a commercial oven covers every professional kitchen need, from combination steaming and convection cooking to traditional range options and pizza baking solutions.

Generally speaking, gas ovens are seen as heavy-duty appliances and they are also more responsive when adjusting heat levels than electric ovens. However, installation can be costly and not all kitchens have access to a gas supply.

For smaller kitchens, a combi oven is ideal for versatility whilst maintaining quality. This is because these ovens are multi-functional and can save you from buying extra equipment.

Fryers

Chips are a staple food at British football matches so you are likely require a commercial fryer. A fast and efficient piece of equipment, a fryer can cook large volumes of food without taking up much space.

Depending on the size of your hospitality suites, venues or on-site restaurant, and the amount of food you need to fry, you can choose between single basket or twin-basket options. Light, heavy duty, countertop and floor standing variants are also available depending on your specific requirements.

While free-standing fryers can cook a large quantity at any one time (up to 36kg of chips per hour), countertop fryers are an ideal space-saving alternative for smaller volumes of fried food.

Grills

In a commercial kitchen, salamander grill tops are in constant use. Perfect for cooking, baking, browning, toasting, grilling or even flash cooking, these practical pieces of equipment allow you to create a range of dishes quickly and easily.

Commercial grills are designed for continuous heavy use and are an ideal solution when providing multiple different meal options in hospitality suites.

They are available with smooth and ribbed surfaces and can be freestanding or positioned on a countertop. Available in gas and electric, they’re ideal for dishes like crème brûlée, cheese-topped sandwiches and the rapid grilling of meats and fish.

Griddles

A commercial griddle is a great piece of equipment for any kitchen that needs to turn around large quantities of food quickly.

Electric griddles are often viewed as more convenient alternatives to gas griddles, and both countertop and freestanding models are available. Especially handy for cooking eggs, meat, fish and vegetables, these appliances come in several different sizes and suit the needs of a broad spectrum of environments.

Fidges and freezers

In a busy football stadium with thousands of people being served in a limited time period, then you may find that a full walk-in fridge, freezer or cold room is best for your needs. An upright refrigerator or freezer are also ideal solutions for handling large quantities of fresh food.

Offering a vast internal capacity, they are ideal for professional kitchens, particularly on match days where demand is likely to be very high.

Available in single door, double door, or slimline options, upright fridges are highly efficient and ingredients are kept fresh even when ambient temperatures reach 32ºC.

If space in your kitchen is limited, then counter fridges and freezers are the perfect solution. When you opt for counter models, you can either integrate your fridges in an undercounter capacity or install a 2-in-1 refrigerator-worktop solution that provides you with additional surface space for food preparation.

Dishwashers

A commercial dishwasher is vital for any part of your football ground where food and drink is served.

If space is limited, undercounter dishwashers are a great option. These compact machines are front loading and fit into the same footprint as a domestic machine. However, they’re boosted by the enhanced cleaning performance that’s offered by their purpose-built commercial design. They also feature time-saving cycles and water-saving programmes that are perfect for use during a busy service.

If you’re expecting a high turnover of plates and crockery, then you’ll require a dishwashing ‘workhorse’. In these instances, a passthrough dishwasher is ideal for the job as it can wash hundreds of plates per hour.

Glasswashers

For many years, a pint of beer has been tradition at many football matches across the UK, but wine, soft drinks and hot drinks are also served in bars, restaurants and hospitality boxes.

Due to this, a commercial glass washer is a vital piece of equipment if you want to ensure that you have clean glasses readily available.

Providing reliability, speed, quality and efficiency, commercial glass washers will not only make sure that you have enough glassware available at all times, but they will also ensure that your glasses always have a sparkling finish.

Utensil washers

Finally, consider whether a utensil and pot washer is required to keep your pots, pans, gastronorm trays and other equipment sparkling clean. With cycle times as low as two minutes, these pieces of equipment allow you to process everything quickly and efficiently so your cookline can keep moving along smoothly.

How JLA can help

We hope our football stadium catering equipment guide has helped you to tackle the different considerations required and the various solutions that can help you improve output, efficiency and quality.

Contact our catering experts for more information.

An efficient set-up for fast turnarounds

Football clubs often need to wash multiple kits, towels, and other items within very short time periods before the next match or training session.

Multiple medium sized or larger commercial-grade laundry machines can ensure the kits are washed in a timely manner and with fast turnaround times for maximum efficiency.

The laundry room itself should be laid out to be able to withstand the consistent loads with a clear separation between dirty and clean laundry. Stringent procedures should be implemented to reduce cross-contamination and disinfection along with sufficient staff training.

Tackling harsh stains

Football kits are likely to be subject to numerous stains like mud, dirt, grass, sweat, blood, therefore high-performance machines are critical to return them to their former glory.

Using commercial washing machines and dryers like the JLA SMART range manufactured from robust hi-spec components, intuitive controls are capable of tackling even the worse stains.

Gentle on fabrics

Washing machines and tumble dryers that are gentle on fabrics are essential to improve comfort for the players, to increase the longevity of the it and so it looks professional at kick off time.

Our commercial washers feature a wide range of cycle modes and SMART technologies, which make them an ideal choice for cleaning a wide range of fabrics and materials, including delicates like kits.

Equipment reliability

Equipment reliability and durability is critical in football club laundry. Whilst multiple washers and dryers help to build redundancy in the system, it is still important to maintain machine reliability.

Not only does this include purchasing high-quality commercial machines, but regularly servicing, preventative maintenance, machine cleaning (including lint filters on dryers) and staff training so employees are aware of best practices. This should be continuously monitored and recorded.

The importance of disinfection

The overall health of the players is critical, therefore stringent hygiene standards through disinfection is key. Kits can become subject to sweat and bodily fluids like blood, therefore either thermal disinfection or ozone technology is recommended to maximise hygiene, reduce cross-contamnaton and minimise infections.

Many football clubs use ozone technology to handle the multiple challenges of disinfection and harsh stains, as well as ensuring softer and fresher kits match after match.

Ozone technology like the JLA OTEX disinfection system kills 99.999% of moulds, yeasts, viruses and bacteria – including Athlete’s Foot – even at low temperatures. Otex uses natural chemical disinfection at low temperatures for deep-cleaned, fresh-smelling and softer linen.

Detergents

Along with industrial laundry equipment, a high-quality commercial detergents are essential for maintain hygiene and the freshness of kits and towels. This could include bio or non-bio detergents, fabric conditioner for softer garments and destainer for tough stains.

The JLA Ultra detergent range offers outstanding cleaning power and stain removal, that can tackle high levels of soiling in even the most demanding settings like football pitches helping you to maintain peak levels of hygiene and cleanliness.

How Southampton FC benefited from JLA’s expertise

JLA’s team of commercial laundry specialists worked closely with Southampton’s Kit and Equipment manager Mark Forbes to design a reliable and efficient new laundry, capable of disinfecting thousands of items of kit every week.

Find out more here.

The challenge: kitchen upgrades for a key housing client

Pinnacle Group, one of the UK’s leading FM specialists, takes care of multiple properties for the Riverside Group as part of its ongoing life cycle replacement programme. Every eight years, Pinnacle makes sure essential equipment is upgraded to help prevent downtime, reduce energy and running costs, and keep things running smoothly.

After an introduction to JLA’s end-to-end FM capabilities, spanning bespoke laundry, catering, HVAC, infection control and fire safety, Pinnacle was pleased to learn that JLA offers more than laundry solutions, and engaged the firm to manage kitchen upgrades at Riverside’s Cecil Gardens site, a large retirement housing complex.

The project scope included the installation of equipment ranging from energy-saving combi ovens to custom fabrications like stainless steel tables, hand wash stations and janitorial sinks. Everything would be specified, supplied, and installed by JLA, and would need to deliver functionality as well as efficiency.

The solution: a seamless four-day install

Working closely with Pinnacle, JLA delivered a complete kitchen modernisation. The project was completed in just four days, with no disruption to daily catering provisions – a key requirement of the client’s life cycle replacement scheme, and vital for protecting independent living for residents at Cecil Gardens.

Feedback from the catering equipment provider has been extremely positive, with JLA’s installers receiving compliments on their positive attitude while carrying out the upgrades.

“The recent installation went smoothly from beginning to end, with only minor deviations from the original schedule. Both Pete and Anthony communicated with us throughout and reassured us with their knowledge and expertise – we’ve been extremely satisfied with both the speed and efficiency of the works.”

Harriet Morriss, Facilities Manager, Pinnacle Group

In fact, the kitchen changes have been so well received that Pinnacle has already confirmed two additional site refurbishments and awarded JLA a preventative and reactive maintenance contract for all catering assets managed for Riverside by Pinnacle.

“We’d absolutely recommend JLA due to their wealth of knowledge and experience. We’re now looking forward to working with JLA – not just for installs, but for the ongoing maintenance of all new catering equipment.”

Harriet Morriss, Facilities Manager, Pinnacle Group

Giovanna Eaton
Compliance expert

For businesses operating an on-premise laundry room, maintaining a safe, compliant and efficient environment is critical.

An important aspect of this maintenance, often overlooked, is the regular cleaning of commercial dryer ducts.

This guide will explore the regulations, the steps involved, and the benefits of regular duct cleaning from an industry professional.

The importance of ductwork cleaning

As commercial dryers work to process laundry, a significant byproduct is lint. Over time it accumulates within the dryer ducting, gradually constricting airflow, which can lead to the following issues.

Fire hazards
Lint is flammable and the accumulation of lint within the ductwork creates a fire risk. The combination of restricted airflow, which can lead to overheating, and the presence of combustible material is a dangerous combination.

Reduced energy efficiency
When airflow is restricted, the dryer has to work considerably harder and for longer periods to effectively dry laundry. This increased operational time causes higher energy consumption and thus increase gas or electricity bills.

Mould and odour issues
Trapped moisture within lint-filled ducts can create a breeding ground for mould and mildew. This can lead to unpleasant odours potentially affecting the hygiene of the laundry.

Compromised dryer performance
The reduced airflow forces the dryer to operate inefficiently, leading to longer drying cycles and potentially damaging the equipment over time. This can result in increased maintenance costs and a shorter lifespan for your commercial dryers.

Day-to-day operations may also be affected through longer cycle times and reduced turnaround times in the long term.

Regulatory compliance

Adherence to fire safety regulations is not just a matter of best practice; it is a legal obligation. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 mandates that businesses conduct regular fire safety risk assessments and maintain these assessments.

This includes the inspection and maintenance of ductwork to ensure the safety of your premises, staff and customers.

Why consult a laundry expert?

Whilst removing lint from the dryer itself may seem straight forward, a build-up within the ducting can be difficult to address without assistance from a laundry professional.

Attempting to clean dryer ducts without the necessary expertise can be ineffective and could damage your equipment.
Knowledge of regulations ensures the cleaning process meets regulatory standards.
Laundry professionals like JLA have the necessary cleaning tools and equipment to remove lint, dust and debris.
Work is carried out to a high standard with minimal disruption to your laundry room.
Any issues with the duct work like blockages or faults can be rectified.

The steps involved in professional ductwork cleaning

While the specifics of each laundry room may differ, a commercial dryer duct cleaning service typically involves the following steps:

Visual inspection
The process begins with a thorough visual inspection of the entire ductwork system. This allows the technician to identify any potential access challenges or existing issues.

Removing debris and lint
Using specialised tools, including high-powered vacuums and rotary brushes, all accumulated lint, dust, and debris are meticulously removed from the entire length of the ductwork.

Filters
All filters within the system are thoroughly cleaned to ensure optimal airflow.

Verification
Once the cleaning is complete, the technician will verify the effectiveness of the work. A certificate of completion is then provided, documenting the work carried out and demonstrating your compliance with safety regulations.

How JLA Can Assist Your Business

Contact JLA today so we can help keep your laundry room safe and compliant.

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Aaron Butler
Housing expert

In the wake of 2017’s Grenfell disaster and the tragic mould-linked death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in December 2020, social landlords have faced increased scrutiny and growing pressure to stay compliant with the Decent Home Standards, which make sure tenants’ homes are safe and warm.

The introduction of Tenant Satisfaction Measurements in 2024 has only increased this responsibility, with landlords now assessed on their ability to protect and reassure residents while taking swifter action to solve issues, carry out urgent repairs, and maintain a property’s safety.

A low score on these satisfaction measures isn’t just about compliance, however. Failing to provide safe, comfortable homes for residents will increase the likelihood of complaints being escalated to the housing ombudsman, and could even negatively affect your housing association’s funding, not to mention its reputation.

For these reasons and more, it’s vital that your housing association has the support it needs to not only exceed shifting standards, but continue to reassure your residents that you have their best interests at heart.

Protect your reputation – and funding – with JLA’s support

At JLA, we’ve spent 50 years working with landlords all over the country to tackle both the day-to-day and more technical challenges of managing social housing. To this end, we now offer everything from laundry equipment to mould disinfection solutions that help our customers make positive, lasting changes while improving their Tenant Satisfaction Measurement scores.

Our commitment to proactive management is fundamental in helping landlords meet Decent Home Standards. But beyond the practical, we also provide advice and guidance on new and shifting regulations, ensuring our customers plan for changes, and stay compliant. It’s expertise that has made us the partner of choice to housing associations all over the UK.

Dependable laundry equipment

We often hear from housing associations grappling with older, unreliable laundry equipment that’s expensive to maintain but prohibitively expensive to replace.

Older machines – which are often less robust domestic models to begin with – can frequently break down, frustrating residents and generating complaints. Worse, quick repairs can be difficult to arrange, or simply too costly.

All of these factors can impact satisfaction scores, and could even distract your staff from other important tasks.

A dedicated laundry room fitted out with JLA’s efficient commercial laundry equipment offers a simple solution to this problem. Our stackable, space-saving machines are designed for purpose, with large capacities and built-in technologies that save water, electricity and time, and create a smoother, hassle-free laundry experience. Even better, they offer residents an alternative to drying wet clothes and other laundry over radiators or maidens in their homes – a leading cause of damp and mould.

Flexible ways to install and maintain equipment

JLA offers a range of flexible packages that enable housing associations to buy and care for these machines on terms that suit them. Total Care is JLA’s unique, all-inclusive equipment and support package, giving landlords access to the latest commercial-standard equipment with nothing to pay upfront, free installation, 24/7 emergency breakdown cover and inclusive servicing and repairs – all for a simple monthly fee.

Along with the peace of mind that comes with round-the-clock support from our network of 450 engineers, Total Care also enables landlords to move from reactive repairs to preventive maintenance – further reducing downtime and ending frustrating delays for residents.

For existing equipment, JLA offers Response, a flexible five- or seven-day breakdown cover package that can include parts and labour, as well as ongoing maintenance. JLA’s engineers have access to more than a million parts at any one time, and carry thousands more on their vans to all but guarantee a first-time fix.

Of course, if your approach to budgeting and planning means you’d prefer to buy outright, that option is always available too.

Innovating in digital to empower landlords

JLA is constantly looking for smarter ways to reduce the admin hassle you simply don’t have time for. MyJLA, our customer portal, lets landlords manage their account – and view all their assets – from one easy-to-use dashboard. It’s the fastest way to see key documents and certification, get service reports, book an engineer, pay bills and even order performance detergents direct. And it’s available around the clock to suit you.

MyJLA can play a big role in helping housing associations stay compliant with the Decent Homes Standard and any other tenant-facing requirements – not least because it offers clear visibility and access to key information needed for audits and regulatory checks.

JLA Connect, meanwhile, enables our experts to remotely monitor and proactively care for all compatible laundry equipment. Essentially, this means we can spot issues before you even know about them, then resolve things quickly – including sending engineers to your site before you need to call.

With real-time energy usage and CO2 emissions estimates, JLA Connect even helps landlords to improve efficiency while reducing costs. It’s a powerful tool to save energy, avoid downtime and assure residents that the laundry equipment they rely on is running at its best.

Effective mould and damp reduction

Awaab’s Law holds social landlords fully accountable for the service their residents receive, asking them to quickly investigate and fix health hazards, including damp and mould, within fixed timescales. To help minimise future claims, we draw on 15 years’ experience in mould and damp compliance solutions to offer a range of dryers and portable room sanitisers that tackle spores and damp and add an extra layer of assurance to your response.

In fact, just by adding a room sanitising stage to mould cleaning programmes, social landlords are achieving better results, improving relations with their residents, and preserving satisfaction scores.

Using our revolutionary OTEX disinfection technology, JLA room sanitisers harness the natural cleaning power of ozone to quickly kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, effectively removing the airborne or surface spores that cause bad odours and harmful mould, while simultaneously improving air quality by capturing pollutants, allergens and other contaminants.

In recent independent tests, these sanitisers were proven to reduce surface mould spores by 92.4%, which means they offer a proven, cost-effective way to tackle spores and damp in affected properties, and could well help landlords avoid costly and time-consuming legal action brought by tenants.

Supporting inclusive, independent living

It’s our strong belief that providing good housing isn’t only about meeting standards, but enabling tenants to live out full and independent lives in safe, welcoming homes. We know that reliable laundry access, mould-free rooms, and responsive maintenance contribute to a resident’s happiness and sense of wellbeing, which is why we’ve created a range of support packages for landlords that can help residents thrive.

For more insights on staying compliant while improving tenant satisfaction, simply get in touch with our housing experts today.

For more advice and tips on the Housing sector, visit our dedicated page.

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Whether you’re running a pub kitchen or a busy restaurant, you’ll know how important it is to keep those clean plates, cutlery and glassware coming.

Alongside commercial kitchen detergents – and some good old-fashioned elbow grease – commercial-grade rinse aid is a hard-working ally in the fight against stubborn stains, streaking and water marks.

But how does it work? In this guide, we will explain how rinse aid works and how it can help your in your kitchen.

Shinier, sparkling dishes and glasses

Commercial rinse aid is a surfactant which effectively lowers the surface tension of water. This means that, during a wash, the water will spread out in a thin layer across your dishes instead of forming droplets, then more easily slide away to leave items clean and streak-free.

Many businesses use rinse aid to keep their glassware gleaming and create the best possible impression for guests. Rinse aid is especially useful in hard water areas where limescale can have an impact, but it’s recommended for any kitchen to prevent water spots.

Speeds up drying times

As rinse aid helps water to sheet off surfaces, there’ll be very little water left on your dishes and glassware after the rinse cycle. This massively reduces the time it takes for staff to dry up, which is essential for quick turnaround times and responsive service in busy establishments.

Protects your equipment

Rinse aid will help to reduce food residue and hard water deposits inside your dishwasher or glasswasher, which should minimise the need for maintenance repairs while improving the general upkeep of the machine. Commercial rinse aid can even help eliminate odours by reducing moisture buildup in your machine.

Why is rinse aid popular in large commercial kitchens?

Designed to meet the demand of high-use kitchens in the catering and hospitality sectors, commercial rinse aid creates efficiencies in your kitchen by reducing drying times and protecting your valuable equipment.

JLA Ultra Rinse Aid

Available in 5L, 10L and 20L bottles, JLA Ultra Rinse Aid is trusted by commercial kitchens across the country to improve the finish quality of their glasses and dishes, and keep guests happy too.

To see our entire range of commercial detergents, specially formulated to make the most of your equipment, contact us today.

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Download your free whitepaper now

Protect your reputation – and funding – with JLA’s support

Dependable laundry equipment

Flexible ways to install and maintain equipment

Innovating in digital to empower landlords

Effective mould and damp reduction

Supporting inclusive, independent living

Similar blogs you may like

How JLA can help social landlords improve Tenant Satisfaction Measures and meet the Decent Homes Standard

Staying compliant with the Fire Safety Act 2021

Shinier, sparkling dishes and glasses

Speeds up drying times

Protects your equipment

Why is rinse aid popular in large commercial kitchens?