Bed Head Unit Installation: A Guide for Contractors and Biomeds

Planning and wall preparation

Start from the approved drawings and the manufacturer's installation data. Confirm the room layout, bed positions, unit type, number of beds per unit and the gases and sockets required. Ask the supplier early for CAD blocks, DWG files or a Revit family for the unit so the designers coordinate openings, services and clashes before construction.

The wall must be able to carry the unit and its accessories. Check the wall construction, the position of studs or blocking, and the openings and back boxes needed for pipework and cabling. Services should arrive at the correct positions at first fix, with tails left long enough to reach the connection points.

Agree responsibilities on site as well: who sets out the unit, who drills, who makes the gas and electrical connections and who signs off each hold point.

Choosing and positioning the unit

Horizontal illuminated units suit patient rooms. The VEGA bed head unit places gas outlets and electrical installations to the left or right of the bed and carries lighting, medical rails, nurse call and an infusion holder for up to four bottles and four bags. The RN07-DN2 is a horizontal unit for high-standard, intermediate-care and standard rooms, carrying sockets, gas outlets and low-voltage installations to the left, right or middle of the unit.

Mounting height depends on the design and on the clinical requirement for reach, bed height and accessibility, and typically follows the project drawings. See medical gas outlet mounting height for the considerations. Always take the final dimension from the manufacturer's installation instructions and the approved design.

• Unit type, length and number of bed positions
• Gas outlets and electrical sockets per bed
• Medical rails, lighting and nurse call interfaces
• Finishes and colours confirmed before delivery

Gas and electrical connections

Gas connections are made to the capped pipework tails after the pipework has passed its pressure tests. Use the approved connectors, keep components clean for oxygen service and label each outlet with its gas. Do not mix parts between gases, and do not use sealing compounds that are not approved for oxygen.

Electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician according to the design, with separation between power and low-voltage circuits as required. The bed head socket circuits, lighting controller and nurse call connections must be identified in the documentation. For the product-level details see bed head unit specification.

Testing before handover

Gas tests include checks of outlet identity, flow and pressure at each outlet, connector fit and the absence of cross-connection. Electrical tests include insulation and earth continuity, polarity and functional checks, performed according to the relevant electrical standard such as IEC 60364 and the project requirements for medical locations.

Check lighting, controller operation, nurse call and any rails or accessories. Record the results against each bed position. The overall process is explained in testing and commissioning of medical gas systems.

Remember that every defect found at this stage is far cheaper to correct before ceilings, paint and furniture are finished than after the room has been occupied.

Handover, cleaning and documentation

Before handover, clean the unit with products suitable for the surface and remove protective films. Antibacterial powder coatings and smooth surfaces are cleaned and disinfected with the agents permitted by the manufacturer, so supply the cleaning instructions to the infection control team.

Provide as-built drawings, test records, spare parts information and maintenance instructions. Beckfinity supplies MZ Liberec bed head units in the UAE; contact our specialists to discuss your installation.