Summary
Pre-Purchase + Pre-Installation Readiness Guide
Use this checklist before selecting, ordering, or relocating any commercial ice machine or ice & water dispenser.
1. FACILITY & USE PROFILE
Facility type identified:
☐ Hospital / VA
☐ K-12 School
☐ Higher Education
☐ Restaurant / Foodservice
☐ Federal / Government
☐ Industrial / Manufacturing
☐ Is this a patient care / clinical area?
Who will primarily use this station?
☐ Staff
☐ Students
☐ Patients
☐ Public / guests
☐ Ice is classified as food under your local health authority
2. ICE DEMAND & CAPACITY SIZING
Estimated people served per day: _______
Estimated patients/beds (if healthcare): _______
Usage level:
☐ Light
☐ Standard
☐ Heavy
☐ Inpatient clinical
Peak demand occurs during:
☐ Meal periods
☐ Shift changes
☐ Continuous 24/7 use
☐ Storage bin sized to handle peak usage
☐ Redundancy considered for mission-critical areas
3. ICE TYPE SELECTION
☐ Nugget / chewable ice
☐ Full cube
☐ Half cube
☐ Flake
☐ Mixed application required
Ice type matches:
☐ Beverage quality expectations
☐ Patient safety needs
☐ Food display requirements
4. DISPENSING METHOD & WORKFLOW
☐ Ice-only dispenser
☐ Ice & water combo dispenser
☐ Modular ice head + bin
☐ Undercounter ice machine
☐ Touch-free dispensing required?
☐ Scooping controls in place (if applicable)
☐ ADA reach height confirmed (if public station)
5. WATER QUALITY & FILTRATION
☐ Water source verified (city, well, RO, etc.)
☐ Water hardness known or tested
☐ Scale buildup currently exists elsewhere in building
☐ Dedicated ice machine filter selected
☐ Hard water treated with proper scale prevention
☐ Filtration meets manufacturer warranty requirements
☐ Filter change schedule defined
6. DRAINAGE & PLUMBING
☐ Floor drain within gravity range
☐ Proper drain slope verified
☐ Air gap/backflow prevention installed
☐ Drain pump required (if no floor drain)
☐ Venting required and accounted for
☐ Drain line freezing risk evaluated
☐ Drain meets UPC/IPC/local code
7. ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS
☐ Voltage confirmed
☐ Phase confirmed
☐ Amperage available
☐ Dedicated circuit provided
☐ GFCI required (if applicable)
☐ Heat rejection from air-cooled unit accounted for
☐ Remote condenser required (if applicable)
8. INFECTION CONTROL & HEALTHCARE SAFETY (If Applicable)
☐ Touchless dispensing selected
☐ Bin access allows full sanitation
☐ Biofilm prevention plan in place
☐ Ice scoops stored in sanitary holders
☐ Staff cleaning procedures documented
☐ Joint Commission inspection requirements reviewed
☐ VA / hospital infection control policies reviewed
9. INSTALLATION & PROJECT COORDINATION
☐ Equipment dimensions confirmed
☐ Path of travel verified for delivery
☐ Ceiling height and door clearances checked
☐ Freight access planned (dock, lift gate, crane)
☐ Startup & commissioning scheduled
☐ Equipment anchored if required
☐ Staff training planned
10. SERVICE, MAINTENANCE & LIFE-CYCLE COST
☐ Preventive maintenance plan in place
☐ Cleaning frequency defined
☐ Sanitization staff assigned
☐ Evaporator & bin inspection interval set
☐ Service provider identified
☐ Emergency downtime response defined
☐ Expected service life budgeted
11. CODES, COMPLIANCE & INSPECTIONS
☐ NSF certified
☐ FDA Food Code compliant
☐ State/local health department compliant
☐ ADA compliant (if public station)
☐ Electrical code compliant
☐ Plumbing code compliant
☐ Fire code clearance verified
12. PROCUREMENT & CONTRACT VEHICLE
Purchasing through:
☐ GSA MAS
☐ FedMall
☐ State / Cooperative contract
☐ Contract pricing verified
☐ Buy American requirements reviewed
☐ Delivery timing aligned with project phase
13. RISK RED FLAGS (CRITICAL REVIEW)
☐ No nearby floor drain
☐ Hard water with no filtration
☐ Noise-sensitive location with air-cooled unit
☐ High-usage area with under-sized machine
☐ No PM agreement in place
☐ No infection-control plan
☐ Unknown electrical service
☐ No installation coordination
14. FINAL READINESS CONFIRMATION
☐ Equipment type selected
☐ Capacity verified
☐ Utilities verified
☐ Filtration selected
☐ Drainage approved
☐ Codes reviewed
☐ PM plan assigned
☐ Procurement vehicle confirmed
☐ Install coordination scheduled
