Layout and equipment in the Linen Room

[3rd/4th Semester Accommodation Operations | UNIT 1.2 BHM204]

LOCATION OF THE LINEN ROOM

• Adjacent to the laundry if on-premises, usually with an interconnecting window between the rooms.

• Near the service entrance if the laundry is off-premises.

• Near the service elevator for easy transportation to various units.

• Away from the food production area to avoid a fire hazard as well as prevent linen from absorbing food odours, smoke, soot and dampness.

LINEN ROOM REQUIREMENTS – Equipment and Areas

• storage shelves both open and closed

• hanging space

• Reserve Stock storage

• drop counter for exchange of linen (stable-type door)

• trollies for clean linen

• soiled linen hampers

• Linenkeeper’s desk and storage space for records

• telephone and computer

• stepladder

• washbasin

• storage for materials required to clean the room

• sink and drying rack (optional)

• iron and ironing board

• area for accumulation of soiled linen

• area for receiving laundered linen

• area for sorting and counting of linen

• sewing section

• work tables (with table tops in contrast to white)

• traffic lane to laundry

• traffic lane to uniform room

PLANNING THE LAYOUT OF THE LINEN ROOM

While Planning the following must be considered

1. Architectural features

2. Hygiene and Safety aspects

3. Activity areas

Essential features to be kept in mind while planning for a linen room

Location: close to the housekeeper’s office. Close to the service elevators. Easy accessibility to the OPL or the hotel back entrance in case of a commercial laundry. Away from the food production area as food smells can get absorbed by linen.

Space allocation: 6 Sq ft per room is the minimum space requirement. The area should be large enough for the necessary work to be carried on without overcrowding.

Entrance: Ideally the linen room should have only one entry/ exit point for security reasons. A stable type door is recommended which could deter unauthorized persons from walking in. The entrance must be at least 4 ft wide without a threshold for an easy threshold for easy movement of trolleys.

Lighting: Since most of the area in the linen room is used for storing, the amount of natural light will be very little. Hence adequate, shadowless, glare-free lighting is required. The lighting should preferably be white fluorescent lights.

Heating and Ventilation: The linen room must have ventilation provided by fresh air vents. Moreover, the air must be humidity-free and maintained at around 20-degree centigrade.

Floors: Must be easily cleaned and sturdy enough to take the movement of loaded trolleys. Also, the floor must not be too noisy or slippery. Most suited is Kota stone.

Walls: Should be light coloured washable paint with a matt finish i.e. should be easily cleaned the walls should not have any dampness.

Linen storage area: shelves should be designed using maximum utilization of space. Shelves can reach up to the ceiling with a 6-inch clearance at the bottom. Shelves must be slatted for adequate ventilation. Items that are stored for a long period of time must have shelves with sliding doors and curtains to prevent dust from settling in. The depth of the shelves should be about 18 – 20 inches if against the wall; if accessible from both sides it could be about 38-40 inches. Maybe metal/ wooden storage of condemned and to be condemned linen must also be thought of.

Linen exchange counter: is normally a window without any grills and wide enough to pass bundles of linen. The window normally opens download forming a counter. The area below this counter can be used to park trolleys to collect soiled linen. When not in use the counter should be kept bolted. The 1st one connects the laundry and linen room and the second for the exchange of linen with F&B and housekeeping.

Have a wash basin with soap and a towel as most of the articles dealt with are white.

Should have an ironing board with an iron for minor finishing if required.

Inspection area/ Table: The inspection table should be large enough to accommodate the freshly washed linen which needs to be inspected. A 100 rooms property could perhaps make do with a table size 10ft X 6ft. This need not be one solid piece but could be separated if required. The colours of the inspection table should contrast with the linen since this utilizes a lot of space. The underneath of the table can be utilized for storage.

Soiled linen area: This should be close to the entrance and must be large enough to accommodate all the soil linen. There should be enough space to sort and count the linen, move and park trolleys. Floor and storage units of this area should be on a surface which does not stain the damp linen. A separate adjoining room for new linen.

Supervisor’s desk: should be located in such a way that he/ she has a good view of the entire linen room, especially the transaction points. Drawers and desks must be designed to accommodate files records etc.

Fire and safety precautions: They should be well planned as the linen is highly combustible and a large amount of finance has been put into it. Hot water or steam pipes should not run through the linen room.