Standard requirements for HTM 63 and HTM 71 for hospital and healthcare environments

If you’re placing contracts for the purchase of hospital and healthcare furniture, you need to be aware of the requirements of Health Technical Memorandum 63 (HTM 63) and HTM 71. This brief guide outlines the standard requirements for HTM 63 and HTM 71 furnishings, to assist in your buying decisions.

Standards for HTM 63-compliant furnishings in healthcare environments

Any NHS or private hospital or healthcare establishment needs the highest quality furnishings for both durability and effective infection control. We outline some of these standards below:

Standards for HTM 63 compliance

» HTM 63 compliance relates to suspended base units and cupboards
» All units should offer sufficient clearance to allow complete wet cleaning underneath
» Cantilever leg units with wall fixings should be used to ensure no fixings are fitted to floors

You can source a wide range of different designs for HTM 63 compliant base units from a variety of suppliers, all of them offering tailored solutions to meet even more stringent infection control requirements. Where larger healthcare contracts are in place, many furnishing suppliers will also tailor their solutions to meet specific building layouts and architectural guidelines.

Standards for HTM 71 compliance

The HTM 71 standards apply to the kinds of modular storage trays utilised in healthcare and pharmacy settings. The standard legislative requirements of HTM 71 include:

» Modular storage trays which can be supplied in an open format using liner or basket tray solutions
» Storage trays may also feature doors
» All storage solutions should enable easy access and organisation for products and treatments

Achieve greater storage volumes

Combining HTM 63 and HTM 71 compliant products enables greater storage volumes to be achieved within the healthcare setting. Again, you’ll discover different manufacturers supply a wide range of HTM 71 compliant furnishings for the healthcare sector, with tailored solutions far above and beyond minimum requirements. This means it’s essential to shop around for the ideal solutions to suit the needs of each and every healthcare development.

Hospital wards, healthcare bedrooms, operating theatres and pharmacies have different storage requirements and varying amounts of available space. The wide range of HTM 63 and HTM 71 compliant furnishings on the market means you can meet the requirements of any type of project, from just one recognised supplier.

HTM 63 & HTM 71 compliant furniture – where to find out more

Read more and download brochures for our HTM 63 and HTM 71 compliant furniture ranges.

Read a short case study about the £300k fitted furniture contract we have recently completed for Wexham Park Hospital’s brand new emergency department, including producing formed stainless steel worktops.

If you’re specifying health centre furniture or if you’d like to discuss a healthcare or hospital project, please get in touch.

As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fitted furniture for hospitals and healthcare facilities, we can design, manufacture and install furniture to meet your individual project requirements. Our Healthcare furniture range is specified for all types of hospital refurbishment and new development projects, from NHS Trust premises to private hospitals. All our furniture is manufactured at our factory in Broadstairs, Kent, here in the UK.

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