Background

The work process involved in engineering and construction for healthcare facilities, from planning to execution, often entails the engagement of service providers (e.g. consultant / contractor / relevant professional with healthcare engineering experience) to carry out design, installation and testing & commissioning for healthcare engineering systems and offer professional opinion and service as necessary to ensure that the systems are in compliance with the requirements of relevant ordinances, codes of practice and internationally acceptable standards. This website integrates the following service providers for reference, which the licensees may consider approaching professional advice at various stages for design / installation / testing / certification (Archives of the service providers are maintained by relevant government departments and institutions).

• Engineering consultants (mainly offering service related to engineering system design / supervision, etc.)
• Engineering contractors (mainly offering service related to engineering system installation, etc.)
• Registered professional engineers (mainly offering service related to engineering system design / certification, etc.)

Since 3 February 2023, the requirements of specific healthcare engineering systems (i.e. electrical installation, specialized ventilation system and medical gas supplies) of day procedure centres have formed part of the regulatory standard in the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres. As a transitional arrangement, such requirements will take effect from 1 January 2028.

Prospective applicants of day procedure centres licences and licensees of existing facilities should engage the engineering service providers so as to ensure that all relevant requirements pertaining to the healthcare engineering systems are adhered to. To this end, this office has compiled A Practical Guide for Healthcare Engineering Systems in Day Procedure Centres, associated pamphlet and Frequently Asked Questions about Healthcare Engineering Systems in Day Procedure Centres and Clinics for the trade practitioners and stakeholders, such as licensees of day procedure centres, registered professional engineers, consulting engineers and healthcare engineering installation contractors. These publications, though not exhaustive, outline the key points to note regarding the design, installation, operation and maintenance of healthcare engineering systems of day procedure centres, and other useful information, including examples of DOs and DON'Ts for compliance with the regulatory requirements.

On the other hand, many dental day procedure centres require compressed air to power dental instruments and a vacuum system to remove detritus from the operation site. Where dental compressed air and vacuum systems (DAVS) are installed in day procedure centres, licensees may refer to Annex III of the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (i.e. Guidelines for Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems) for general guidance on the design, installation, operation and maintenance of such systems. To facilitate prospective applicants of day procedure centre licences and licensees of existing facilities in familiarizing with these systems, this office has also compiled A Practical Guide for Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems in Day Procedure Centres and associated pamphlet in order to outline the key points to note regarding design, installation, operation and maintenance of these systems, including examples of DOs and DON'Ts, for achieving the safe and effective delivery of medical services in healthcare facilities.

In accordance with the Code of Practice for Clinics, the requirements for specific healthcare engineering systems namely electrical installation in critical care areas (such as operating room and recovery area), specialized ventilation system of operating room and medical gas supplies, which are installed in the clinic, the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the systems comply with the relevant requirements in the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres.

Where dental compressed air and vacuum systems (DAVS) are installed in the clinic, licensees may refer to the relevant requirements in the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres for general guidance on the design, installation, operation and maintenance of such systems.

The prospective applicants of clinic licences and licensees of existing facilities may refer to the Implementation of Regulatory Requirements of Healthcare Engineering Systems for Day Procedure Centre in this page for detailed information.

When carrying out the installation of healthcare engineering systems, some building construction works (e.g. demolition, alteration and addition works) might also be involved.  Registered General Building Contractor / Minor Works Contractor under registers of Buildings Department shall also be appointed by the facilities to carry out these building construction works in order to satisfy the requirements under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) and relevant regulations / codes of practice.  Professional advice on building construction can be sought from building professional via a referral by the appointed engineering consultant / contractor, where necessary.  If verification of the registration status of a building professional in relevant discipline (e.g. Authorised Person prescribed by Buildings Department) is considered necessary, the Buildings Department's website for the Registered Professionals or Contractors Search can be referred.