LAYOUT OF A LINEN ROOM

 

LAYOUT OF A  LINEN ROOM

Layout of a linen room varies from hotel to hotel but following points are always taken into consideration while planning for a linen room

q Location:

·        Close to the Housekeeping Office. Easy accessibility for the Housekeeper.

·        Close to the Staff lockers for convenience of staff in exchanging uniforms.

·    Easy accessibility to the on premises laundry or the Hotel back entrance in case of commercial laundry.

·        Easy accessibility to the Service elevators for transporting Room linen to the Floors.

·        Away from Food Production area as food smells can get absorbed by linen.

 

 

q Space Allocation:

The thumb rule states that the space requirement for a linen & uniform room varies between 4 – 6 sq. ft. per person.

·        Provide for more area if there is no on premises laundry and if soil linen needs to be stored until it is transported to the laundry.

·        Linen storage areas with linen exchange counters.

·        Uniform storage area with Uniform Exchange Counter.

·        Soil Linen Collection Area.

·        Inspection Area

·        Supervisor's desk area.

·        Sewing room.

·        Guest laundry area

 

q Entrance:

Ideally the linen room should have only one entrance/exit point for safety reasons. Ideally a stable type door is suggested which could deter unauthorized persons from walking in.  Moreover, this could also function as an Exchange Counter. The entrance must be at least 4 ft. wide deprived of a threshold for easy movement of trol­leys.

 

q Lighting & Ventilation:

Since most of the area in the Linen Room is used for storage, the amount of natural light & ventilation would be very little.  Hence adequate shadow less lighting & fresh air vents are required. Moreover, the air must be humidity free and upheld at around 20 degrees centigrade.

 

q Floors & walls:

Floors must be strong enough to take the movement of loaded trolleys. Walls must be of the type which can be easily cleaned & maintained.

 

q Linen storage area:

Here shelves should be designed using maximum utilization of space. Shelves can reach up to the ceiling, with a 6 inches’ clearance at the bottommost.  These shelves must be slatted for adequate ventilation. Items which are stored for a long period of time must have shelves with sliding doors or curtains to avoid dust from settling in.  The depth of the shelves should be generally about 18 -20 inches if against the wall; if accessible from both sides it could be about 32-40 inches. The storage of condemned and to be condemned linen must also be thought of.

 

q The linen exchange counter:

The linen exchange counter is typically a window without any grills and wide enough to pass bundles of linen.  The window usually opens downward forming a counter. The area below this counter could be used to park trolleys & to collect the soiled linen.  When not in use this counter needs to be kept bolted.  

 

q Uniform storage area:

Uniforms are typically hung on hangers numerically, according to designation & department. A mobile uniform stand could also be used in certain cases. Standard size uniforms are segregated according to size and are stacked in racks. An exchange counter should be located close to the storage area only.

 

q Inspection Area:

This area is occupied by the Inspection  table  which should  be large enough to accommodate the freshly  washed  linen which  need  to be inspected. A 100 room property might perhaps make do with a table of size 10 ft. × 6 ft.  This need not be one solid piece but can be separated if required. The color of the Inspection table must be contrast with the linen.  Since this occupies a lot of space. the underneath of the  table  could  be utilized for storage.

 

q Soil linen area:

This Should be close to the entrance and must be large enough to accommodate all the soil linen. There must be enough space to sort and count the linen, move and park trolleys.  Floor and storage units of this area must be of a surface which does not stain the damp linen.

 

q Guest Laundry Area:

If the Laundry does not directly handle Guest Laundry, space should be allocated for storing, marking and recording soil guest laundry before it is sent to the Laundry. Fresh Guest laundry must be stored rendering to room numbers or hung on hangers for delivery. A table, mobile stand for hanging clothes and racks designed to hold the laundry, room number wise should be designed. A sink and an ironing table are also essential to meet with emergency laundering. This area is particularly necessary for a hotel with no on premises laundry.

 

q Sewing Room:

This area must have enough space to accommodate sewing machines, cutting  table  (inspection  table could be used if  there  is  a shortage of space), bins to hold linen, uniforms to be  repaired, cupboards for storing threads needles and other sewing  requirement, fabrics etc..

 

q Supervisor's desk:

This Should  be located in such a way that he/she has a good  view  of  the  entire  linen  & uniform  room  especially  the  transaction points.  Cupboards, desk must be designed to accommodate files, records, computers etc.