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Month: May 2022

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fire doors

Fire doors save lives. They can also protect the contents of your building and provide a safe route of escape for staff members and customers. 

In this guide, we’ll look at why fire doors are important for businesses. We’ll also discuss fire door grading and the latest fire door regulations your business needs to be aware of. 

Why fire doors are important for businesses

In a business setting, fire doors are incredibly important. This is because they: 

  • Protect escape routes and help people evacuate safely 
  • Protect the building and its contents (this may also be an insurance requirement) 
  • Help firefighters extinguish a fire as safely as possible 

All non-domestic buildings must have a protected escape route. Due to this, a fire door is a requirement if the doorway leads to a corridor or a staircase. 

A fire door also helps to ‘compartmentalise’ a fire (this means to stop it spreading from one part of a building to another). As a result, fire doors are commonly used in high-risk areas such as kitchens, storage areas with combustible materials and boiler rooms.

Fire door grading

Fire doors are graded based on the protection they provide. The most common form of fire door is the FD30. This is designed to resist fire for a minimum of 30 minutes. 

In some high-risk commercial settings, a FD60 is required instead. These doors are designed to resist fire for a minimum of 60 minutes. They also have seals for smoke resistance. 

Although FD30 and FD60 are the most common types of fire door, FD20 and FD120 fire doors are also available. 

The type of fire door you need will depend on a number of factors, such as the likelihood of a fire starting and whether the conditions in that room would support ignition. 

Fire door regulations

Fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties, such as commercial premises. As set out by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, building operators in England and Wales should appoint a ‘responsible person’ to manage their fire safety precautions. Their legal responsibilities include a duty to reduce the risk of fire spreading within the premises and to conduct a fire risk assessment. 

As part of this, the responsible person must know the fire door regulations. They’re also responsible for deciding where fire doors should be used and what rating these doors should be.

Why check fire doors regularly

Fire doors are essential pieces of safety equipment. Much like a fire extinguisher or a fire alarm, you need to check your fire doors regularly to make sure they’re still fit for purpose. 

It’s recommended that you check your fire door every six months. Any slight amount of damage can affect performance. So, if you think something is wrong, you should seek help immediately. 

Looking for premium quality fire doors? Talk to our experts today. As leading commercial fire door experts, we deliver maintenance, installation and inspection services that prioritise fire safety compliance.

We work to BM Trada third party certified standards and our installations, manufacturing and maintenance are all BM Trada. This means we’re also Q-Mark system assured. We recommend this as a minimum standard when choosing your fire doors.

George Barclay
Commercial laundry

What’s the difference between commercial and industrial washing machines?

Sometimes people lump commercial and industrial washing machines together. However, the machines are different and it’s important that you know the differences. Here, we reveal all. 

Why do I need a commercial washing machine?

The main difference between commercial washing machines and industrial washing machines is that commercial washing machines are more customer facing and are easier to use. 

Although some smaller commercial washing machines look just like domestic washing machines, they provide greater functionality and a larger capacity. Designed to cope with the demands of a commercial setting, these washing machines are both durable and powerful. 

Here at JLA, we offer a wide range of commercial washing machines that are perfect for any commercial environment. Our appliances can cope with loads ranging from 7kg to 180kg. This means they’re perfect for use in sports clubs, boarding schools, hotels, spas and larger settings such as holiday parks and prisons

Why do I need an industrial washing machine?

Industrial washing machines are perfect for settings such as care homes and hotels. This is because they’re better suited to extra-large wash loads and they ensure disinfection in every cycle. 

In a demanding facility like a care home, a heavy-duty industrial washing machine can handle large loads at a high frequency. Designed to cater for loads up to 220kg, our industrial washing machines are ideal for constant use in any business setting. As well as being durable, each JLA industrial washing machine is built to last and is designed to perform, cycle after cycle.

Need help deciding whether a commercial washing machine or an industrial washing machine is right for your needs? Get in touch with our experts today. Whatever you need, we’ll take care of it. 

Commercial hydrogen boiler

Hydrogen-ready boilers are great for future-proofing, here's why

Hydrogen-ready boilers are the future for commercial properties. To help you discover why, we’ve outlined what hydrogen-ready boilers are, the benefits they provide and a timeline of when they may come into force. 

What are hydrogen-ready boilers?

A hydrogen-ready boiler is a gas-fired heating boiler that is capable of burning either natural gas or pure hydrogen.

Hydrogen-ready boilers are intended to provide a like-for-like replacement for existing natural gas boilers. The boiler can be quickly and easily converted to burn hydrogen at the time when the local network switches over.

Hydrogen-ready boilers: future proof commercial boilers

The world is looking to move away from carbon. However, the existing heating structure means that the majority of UK homes and businesses use natural gas for heating. 

But, it’s clear that the UK will not meet its climate change targets without a change in heating technology and fuel. Due to this, replacing natural gas boilers with hydrogen gas may be the simplest solution to the nation’s heating problems. The only by-product of burning hydrogen gas is water, meaning that it is a carbon free fuel source and could be a key method to help decarbonise heating and hot water. 

When hydrogen is introduced into the gas network, it will be phased in slowly. Currently, the HyDeploy programme is testing the effects of using a blend of hydrogen and natural gas. With 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas, no alterations would need to be made to the majority of UK boilers, so the change could come in almost instantly. Their current aim is to achieve this by 2025.

When will gas boilers be replaced by hydrogen?

The government recently announced that gas boilers will be banned in new-build properties from 2025. 

However, there isn’t currently a working boiler that uses 100% hydrogen. Due to this, although hydrogen boilers will eventually replace gas boilers, it’s likely to be a slow process. 

Industry experts believe that the introduction of the 20% blend will happen in the next few years, but that the switch to 100% hydrogen may not happen until between 2040 and 2050. However, the slow pace of change will mean that adaption should be a painless process. 

Why think of making the switch now?

If you buy a new boiler for your commercial property today, then it’s likely it will use natural gas for all its working lifetime. 

But, if you switch to a hydrogen-ready boiler, you’ll find that your business can quickly adapt to greener and cheaper solutions. If you have a boiler that’s ready for the change to come, you’ll be able to quickly switch to lower costs and lower energy consumption options. Ultimately, by purchasing a future-proof commercial boiler rather than one that’s powered by natural gas, you can experience cost savings as well as helping the planet. 

Thinking of changing your commercial boiler today? Get in touch with our team of experts to discuss your options. Whether you need to replace a faulty unit, upgrade your old boiler or install the most efficient and reliable commercial solutions into a new site, we can design, install, maintain and repair what can be the most important appliances in your building.

George Barclay
Hospital Laundry

Industrial washing machines for small hospitals, here's what you need to know

Hospitals never rest. As a result, laundry demands can be intense. 

If you work in a hospital setting, you need a specialist washing machine. Thankfully, our industrial washing machines for hospitals are the perfect solution. In this guide, we’ll show you the best washing machines for small hospitals and the best washing machines for medium hospitals. We’ll also highlight the key features that make them such good options. 

Washing machines for small hospitals

If you need a washing machine for a small hospital, then the JLA 175 is the ideal choice. With a load capacity of 80kg, it has been built to withstand the demands of even the busiest on-premises laundry rooms. Plus, it has been designed to ensure that you get the fresh, clean linen you need time and time again. 

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a slightly larger washing machine for a small hospital, then the JLA 220 is for you. Designed to carry loads of up to 100kg, it’s ideal for hospitals where there’s a constant demand for fresh, clean linen. As well as ensuring consistent wash quality, it also provides great reliability and can run around the clock. 

Washing machines for medium hospitals

We’re also proud to offer a great range of washing machines for medium hospitals. The first of these is the JLA 700T barrier washer. This extremely efficient machine provides high-quality washes and ensures your laundry is kept clean and fresh every time. Plus, this mid-sized machine is at the ideal height for trolleys, so it enables easy loading and unloading. As it’s installed into the wall and serves both a loading and unloading room separately, it keeps clean and disinfected laundry away from contaminated items. 

Alternatively, there’s also the JLA700. A large barrier washer, this machine has been designed to make light work of large volumes of laundry while also ensuring soiled and freshly washed items never come into contact. Installed into a wall, it delivers optimum wash quality and eliminates the risk of cross-infection.

If you need something even larger, then the JLA 900 is a great choice. With a capacity for up to 24-hour operation and low-water consumption, it’s extremely efficient and has a 90kg load capacity. Like the JLA 700 and the JLA 700T, it’s also installed into the wall and keeps clean linen away from contaminated linen, ensuring you meet the national healthcare standards. 

If you’re searching for industrial washing machines for hospitals, then look no further than right here at JLA. Get advice from our experts today and find the washing machine that’s perfect for your needs. Whatever you need, we’re here to help. 

Peter Westwell
bratt pan

Commercial bratt pans are versatile pieces of catering equipment. Whether you’re looking to deep fry, roast, poach or steam, they make the process simple. 

In this bratt pan guide, we’ll take a look at the benefits of a commercial bratt pan in greater detail. We’ll also look at gas vs electric bratt pans, so you can decide which option is best for your commercial kitchen.

What are the benefits of a bratt pan?

Bratt pans are an ideal solution for large-scale catering establishments such as hospitals and schools. They can help you cook pancakes and eggs at breakfast time, roast meat for lunch and boil pasta for dinner. 

Bratt pans perform up to eight different cooking functions. They can help you: 

  1. Shallow fry 
  2. Deep fry 
  3. Roast 
  4. Stew 
  5. Poach 
  6. Steam 
  7. Braise 
  8. Boil 

On top of this, bratt pans come with an in-built tilting mechanism that makes the pan easy to clean. 

With an 80-litre capacity and lids that double as a work surface, our bratt pans can help you prepare large volumes of food in bulk and keep cooked foods at serving temperature. 

Gas vs electric bratt pans

If you’ve decided that a bratt pan is perfect for your commercial kitchen, then you need to decide on whether a gas or electric bratt pan is best for your needs. 

The two types of bratt pan are similar, but there are some differences. For example, while electric bratt pans are efficient and suit kitchens that don’t have gas, it’s worth saying that gas bratt pans tend to heat up quicker and have a better temperature recovery than electric versions. 

That said, electric bratt pans are easier to install than gas versions. Many simply need plugging in and they’re ready to use. 

At JLA, all of our commercial bratt pans are available with Total Care. This means that you can get a new appliance for no capital outlay. Plus, you can also receive protection from the cost and hassle of unexpected breakdowns. If our bratt pan buying guide has convinced you that a bratt pan is the right appliance for your needs, talk to our catering experts today. 

George Barclay
hotel laundry

In this hotel commercial laundry buying guide, we’ll outline all the things you need to consider when purchasing equipment for a hotel laundry room. As well as looking at the best commercial washing machines for hotels, we’ll also look at the best commercial dryers for hotels and discuss whether you should consider stackable and coin-operated options. Finally, we’ll look at exactly how you can ensure disinfection in every cycle. 

But, before we do all that, let’s start our hotel commercial laundry buying guide by looking at the advantages of having an on-premises laundry room in a hotel. 

Advantages of an on-premises laundry room in a hotel

Before you invest in laundry equipment for your hotel, you first need to understand what benefits you’ll experience from having an on-premises laundry room. Well, generally speaking, doing your laundry in-house means: 

  • You’ll need less stock than if you contracted your laundry externally 
  • You’ll gain the ability to handle the personal clothing of guests in-house. This can also become an additional source of revenue 
  • You’ll have direct control over your costs and the quality of laundry 
  • You can minimise linen damage through the management of wash chemicals and detergents 
  • You can control the process from start to finish. This means you can quickly react to any changes in requirements or demand shifts 

In short, keeping your hotel’s laundry services in-house means you can take full control over what, how and when you wash. By keeping control of your laundry rather than outsourcing it, you’ll never have to worry about letting people down. 

Key features you need to look for in washers and dryers for hotels

To run a professional laundry service in your hotel, you must have the right commercial laundry equipment in place. This means that your washers and dryers must be built for business use and must be suitable for the unique demands of hotel laundry.

The best commercial washing machines for hotels will perform cycle after cycle without compromising on quality (many of our washers and dryers are built to last for more than 37,000 wash cycles). This is invaluable if your hotel washes bedding and towels on a daily basis. 

Commercial washing machines for hotels are larger in capacity than domestic machines and they allow you to do bigger loads, less often. This means that not only will you spend less time on laundry, but you’ll also spend less money on your energy bills. 

Specialist commercial washers and dryers that are built for use in hotels contain sensors that help them calculate linen weight, water and detergent use. This ensures that you get the best possible results without wasting any resources. Thanks to their smart technology, many of these machines can save you up to 32% on your utility bills.

Although purchasing specialist washers and commercial dryers for hotels may seem expensive, machines like ours are available with all-inclusive supply and service packages. Our packages even include emergency breakdown cover, so you’ll never be without towels or sheets. 

Of course, the laundry equipment that’s best for your hotel will depend on your unique requirements. That said, if you have a small hotel with 10-50 bedrooms, then we’d suggest a combination like a JLA SMART washer, a SMART dryer and a 1.5m rotary ironer. 

If you’re operating a much larger hotel with 100+ bedrooms, we’d instead suggest multiple machines or larger sized models for your laundry room. 

Are stackable solutions best?

In any commercial setting, space in a laundry room often comes at a premium. However, this is especially true in hotels, where laundry rooms are often located in confined spaces. 

If this is true at your hotel, then it’s worth considering whether stackable washers and dryers might be the best solution for you. These compact commercial washing machines and dryers for hotels can save you space in your laundry room and solve the problems associated with limited square footage. Plus, stackable tumble dryers and washing machines also help to reduce wash-dry times. This is helpful in large hotels where linen is washed at high volumes. 

Available in washer/dryer and dryer/dryer combinations, these stackable machines are just as efficient and cost-effective as singular machines, but provide two pieces of equipment in the space of one. That means you can cope with extra throughput without having to change your existing layout or simply make more space for staff to work in.

With a number of capacity combinations available, you can choose a specially designed stacked washer and dryer system to fit your needs and your business layout. 

Of course, the stackable washing machines and tumble dryers that are best for your hotel will depend on your specific needs, including the space your hotel has and the amount of washing you need to do. But, from the JLA 98-98 Washer/Dryer Stack to the JLA 16-98 Stack SMART Wash, we’re proud to offer a great range of laundry equipment that’s certain to suit the needs of your business.   

Coin-operated or non-coin-operated machines?

coin op business

If you’re looking to create an additional revenue stream in your hotel, then you could also opt for coin-operated washers and dryers in a customer-facing washing room. These come with easy-to-use coin mechanisms and they allow customers to do their own washing and drying while they stay at your hotel. 

These machines allow you to run a standard customer service effectively and they’re particularly popular in extended-stay hotels and B&Bs. They’re similar in size to domestic washing machines and they allow your guests to take care of all their washing needs. 

The importance of the OTEX system

In a setting such as a hotel, it’s also vital that you ensure complete disinfection in every cycle. 

Thankfully, our OTEX ozone laundry system has been proven to remove all traces of coronavirus. On top of this, it also kills 99.999% of other harmful bacteria, moulds and yeasts – using natural chemical disinfection at low temperatures for deep-cleaned, fresh-smelling and softer linen. 

Plus, the OTEX ozone laundry system can also eradicate harmful micro-organisms in every wash. It even prints a validation receipt to prove disinfection has taken place. Thanks to pre-programmed cycles, it’s also impossible for staff to select a programme that will not achieve disinfection.

To make things even better, OTEX works at ambient temperatures. This means that it reduces utility costs and uses less hot water, gas and electricity than traditional thermal laundry systems. 

As a hotel manager, OTEX will help you improve housekeeping hygiene. It will also help you get fluffier towels and even better reviews. This is because OTEX also cleans deeper to give optimum wash quality and extended fabric life. Fibres in linens are gently opened during the ozone laundry process, which enables deep cleaning that adds a high wash quality to the core disinfection process.

All of this means that users receive fresher-smelling laundry. Added to this, items such as towels come out up to 20% fluffier than they would in traditional washing machines.

Interested in learning more about OTEX or want to discuss which commercial washing machines for hotels are best for your property? Speak to our laundry experts today. 

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Mark Bone headshot

Mark Bone

Fire safety expert

With an extensive technical background, Mark advises customers with his wealth of fire safety and security knowledge. His experience spans technical, commercial, customer service and operational roles delivering a well-rounded service for JLA clients.

Read Mark's full profile
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
Peter Westwell

Peter Westwell

Catering expert

A fully qualified electrical and gas catering engineer, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge to JLA after previously owning his own successful catering equipment business.

Now as Catering Project Manager at JLA, Peter helps organisations of all sizes choose the most energy-efficient, cost-effective equipment and support for their needs.

Read Peter's full profile

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