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. In general, apart from direct appointment of independent professionals (e.g. Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)), this website integrated the following service providers that the hospital and day procedure centre may consider to approach for 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.)

In accordance with the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (2023 Edition), 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. As a transitional arrangement, such requirements will take effect from 1 January 2028.

It is imperative for the prospective applicants or existing day procedure centres to engage with 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 and associated pamphlet 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 (2023 Edition) (i.e. Guidelines for Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems) for general guidance on the design and installation of such systems. To facilitate prospective applicants of day procedure centre licence and existing day procedure centres in familiarizing with the key elements of 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.

According to the Code of Practice for Private Hospitals (2022 Edition) and the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (2023 Edition), the design and installation of healthcare engineering systems in a hospital or a day procedure centre must be certified by a registered professional engineer (RPE) to ensure that the systems are in compliance with the requirements and acceptable standards as set out in the relevant code of practice. As a transitional arrangement, the requirements of the healthcare engineering systems as specified in section 1.6 of the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (2023 Edition) will take effect from 1 January 2028.

For dental compressed air and vacuum systems (DAVS) in a day procedure centre, registered professional engineer may, under an advisory role in nature, be appointed to carry out examination of these systems, and certify that the design and installation of these systems are in compliance with the clauses and standards as suggested at Annex III of the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (2023 Edition) (i.e. Guidelines for Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems).

The registered professional engineer may be directly appointed by the healthcare facility, referred by the engineering consultants or the engineering contractors. The disciplines of registered professional engineer for certifying healthcare engineering systems in accordance with codes of practice are summarized in the following table.

Templates of certificates of compliance with healthcare engineering requirements for use by hospitals or day procedure centres can be downloaded from the "Important Documents" on this website. If verification of the registration status (electrical, mechanical or building services discipline) of a registered professional engineer is considered necessary, the website of the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) can be referred.

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 hospital and day procedure centre 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.