Plan the laundry room
Size the washers from the pounds you wash, check the room against what washer-extractors need, and see the order an installation runs in.
Pounds per day, into machines.
An estimate to start the conversation, not a specification. Washer capacity is rated by the dry weight of the goods.
Pounds per hour needed
150lb/h
Loads per hour, each machine
1.13loads
Washer capacity per cycle, total
132lb dry
Suggested size, each machine
66lb dry
Round each machine up to the next available capacity. Peaks, mixed goods, and formulas with long rinses all call for more margin.
Check the room before the machine.
Most installation delays trace back to one of these eight items. The machine's installation manual sets the exact values.
Water supply
Hot and cold lines sized for fast fills, with a shutoff at each machine.
- Pressure within the range in the installation manual. Too low slows every fill; too high invites water hammer.
- Backflow protection where local code requires it.
Drains
Washer-extractors dump a full bath at once, so drains are sized for flow, not just pipe size.
- Gravity drain to a trench or sump; a surge tank and pump where gravity drainage is not possible.
- The International Plumbing Code (Sec. 1003.6) requires commercial washers to discharge through an interceptor with a removable basket that stops solids 1/2 inch or larger, string, rags, and buttons. Check local amendments.
Electrical
Voltage and phase to match each machine's nameplate. Electrically heated machines are often three-phase.
- An individual branch circuit for each machine, not shared with lighting or other equipment.
- Work by a licensed electrician.
Ventilation
Washers add heat and humidity; dryers add much more.
- Dryers exhaust to the outdoors.
- The International Mechanical Code calls for makeup air where dryer exhaust exceeds 200 cfm.
Floor and foundation
The mounting type decides the floor.
- Hard-mount: reinforced concrete built to the manufacturer's foundation specification, with anchor bolts and grout, usually at ground level.
- Soft-mount: usually no anchors or special foundation, but a level floor strong enough for the static and dynamic loads, confirmed by a structural engineer.
Door widths and delivery path
Measure the narrowest point of the whole route, not just the laundry room door.
- Doorways, corridors, turns, ramps, and elevators against the machine's crated and uncrated dimensions.
- Elevator and floor load ratings against the machine's shipping weight.
Service clearance
Leave the clearance the installation manual specifies behind and beside each machine. Published rear clearances are often around 20 inches.
- Room to remove panels and reach the drain valve, belts, and motor.
- Room in front for carts, loading, and unloading.
Chemical dosing
Plan the chemistry with the room, not after it.
- Wall space for dosing pumps near the machines, and a route for chemical lines.
- Chemical storage with spill containment, away from walkways.
From survey to first load.
The order most washer-extractor installations follow. A hard-mount installation adds a foundation and its curing time.
Site survey
Measure the room and the delivery path, record the existing water, drain, power, and venting, and note the floor type and level.
Sizing and layout
Turn pounds per day into capacity and machine count, then draw the layout with clearances, cart space, and utility points.
Utility rough-in
Water lines and shutoffs, drains with the trench or sump and interceptor, electrical circuits, dryer venting, and dosing pump locations.
Foundation, if hard-mount
Reinforced concrete to the manufacturer's specification with anchor positions set, then the curing time the foundation design calls for.
Delivery and rigging
Move each machine along the measured path with the right equipment, protecting floors, doorways, and elevators.
Setting
Level each machine. Anchor and grout hard-mount machines. Remove the shipping restraints from soft-mount machines before the first run.
Connections
Water and drain connections, power by a licensed electrician, and chemical lines by the chemical supplier.
Commissioning and training
Test cycles, interlock and safety checks, formulas set with the chemical supplier, and operator training before handover.
What commissioning covers
Send us the room.
A sketch or photos of the room, the planner's numbers, and what is on the floor today. We will reply by email with what to check next.
contact@freshlinewashers.com