Operating Theatre Equipment Storage: Rooms, Bays and Charging

Start with an inventory and movement map

Before sizing a theatre equipment storage room, list what must be stored, how large it is and how often it moves. Mobile items include C-arms, mobile surgical lights, suction units, electrosurgical carts, diathermy stands, patient warming units, laparoscopy towers and ultrasound units. Then draw the route from the store to each theatre and check door widths, thresholds and turning space.

Operating room storage requirements are driven by volume and workflow, not only by area. A suite with a high number of short cases needs equipment close to the theatre door, while a low-volume suite can use a central store. Link this inventory to your asset register so every mobile item has a defined home.

Sizing the storage room and parking bays

Give each large mobile unit a marked parking bay with enough clearance to remove it without moving two others. A bay should account for the footprint of the base plus room to turn or reverse. A mobile flat-panel C-arm such as the PLX C7100 series requires neither rails nor ceiling mounts in the OR, which makes it practical to share between rooms, but it needs a safe parking place and cable management when not in use.

Mobile lights need similar consideration. The Sim.LED mobile lights are mobile stands for the entire SIMEON surgical and examination light range, optionally with removable battery back-up for fully wireless use and a single or double battery stand. Allow space for the stand arms and head to be folded or positioned without contacting walls or other equipment.

• Mark bays on the floor and label them with the device name
• Keep corridors outside bays clear for emergency movement
• Provide wall protection at corners and door edges
• Store tall items such as light stands where ceiling height and sprinkler clearance are not an issue

Charging points, power and cable management

Devices with batteries, such as mobile lights with battery back-up, need charging points inside or next to their parking bay. Put the sockets on a circuit appropriate to the equipment and, where the device is life-critical or used in emergencies, confirm with the project engineer whether it should be on an essential or UPS-backed supply. Provide enough sockets that cables are not strung across traffic routes.

Cable hooks and holders prevent cables being run over by wheels, which damages insulation and creates electrical-safety risks. This point is picked up in theatre equipment safety. Keep tests and checks of charging systems in your maintenance routine.

Infection control, cleaning and environmental conditions

Storage areas should have smooth, cleanable surfaces and floors, adequate ventilation and a layout that separates clean and dirty flows. Sterile stock must be stored apart from equipment that has been in use and not under pipes or in places exposed to splashes or condensation. Mobile equipment should be wiped down according to the manufacturer's cleaning instructions before it is returned to storage.

Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can matter for electronics, batteries and some consumables. Check manufacturer's guidance and your facility's infection prevention policy. Align the design with the wider project, as described in hospital planning from the equipment side.

Mistakes to avoid and next steps

Common errors include storage rooms sized only for today's equipment, doors that are too narrow for a C-arm or stand, no sockets at the parking bays, and corridors used as permanent parking. Another is mixing consumables with large equipment so that neither can be found quickly. Review the layout whenever a new class of equipment is added, using your equipment checklist as the reference.

Beckfinity can share dimensions, weights and power requirements for the products it supplies so that storage can be designed correctly from the start. Contact our specialists to request product data for your theatre plan.