Classification: Official

Publications approval reference: PRN00284

England

Health Building Note 16-01:

Facilities for mortuaries,
including body stores and
post-mortem services
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Preface

About Health Building Notes • “May” is used for permission, i.e. to

indicate a course of action permissible
Health Building Notes (HBNs) give best within the limits of the HBN or HTM.
practice guidance on the design and planning
of new healthcare buildings and on the
adaptation/extension of existing facilities. Typical usage examples
• “Design teams must have due regard to
They provide information to support the the protected characteristics as defined
briefing and design processes for individual in the Equality Act 2010.” [obligation]
projects in the NHS building programme.
• “All clinical areas should have access to
natural light.” [recommendation]
Language usage in technical • “Where it is not necessary to access
guidance both sides of the couch, the single-sided
In HTMs and HBNs, modal verbs such as room layout may be used.”
“must”, “should” and “may” are used to convey [permission]
notions of obligation, recommendation or
“Shall”, in the obligatory sense of the word, is
permission. The choice of modal verb will
never used in current HTMs/HBNs.
reflect the level of obligation needed to be
compliant.
Project derogations from the
The following describes the implications and
use of these modal verbs in HTMs/HBNs Technical Guidance
(readers should note that these meanings may Healthcare facilities built for the NHS are
differ from those of industry standards and expected to support the provision of high-
legal documents): quality healthcare and ensure the NHS
• “Must” is used when indicating Constitution right to a clean, safe and secure
compliance with the law. environment. It is therefore critical that they
are designed and constructed to the highest
• “Should” is used to indicate a and most appropriate technical standards and
recommendation (not mandatory/ guidance. This applies when organisations,
obligatory), i.e. among several providers or commissioners invest in
possibilities or methods, one is healthcare accommodation (irrespective of
recommended as being particularly status, for example Foundation and non-
suitable – without excluding other Foundation trusts).
possibilities or methods.

This guidance is not mandatory (unless specifically stated). However, any departures/
derogations from this HBN – including the measures implemented – should provide
a degree of safety not less than that achieved by following the guidance set out in
this HBN.

ii
 Preface

Statutory standards plus technical Derogations must be properly authorised by

standards and guidance specific to NHS the project’s senior responsible owner and
facilities: informed and supported by appropriate
technical advice (irrespective of a project’s
Health Building Notes internal or external approval processes).

Health Technical Memoranda

Sustainability and “Net Zero

Complete list of NHS estates-related Carbon” targets
guidance
The UK is leading the way on tackling climate
change and improving sustainability, and the
The need to demonstrate a robust process for
NHS is leading the way in England.
agreeing any derogation from Technical
Guidance is a core component of the business In 2019, the UK became the first major
case assurance process. economy to commit to net zero emission by
2050. In 2020, the NHS set out its intent to
The starting point for all NHS healthcare
support this ambition through its ‘Delivering a
projects at Project Initiation Document (PID)
“Net Zero” National Health Service’ report.
and/or Strategic Outline Case (SOC) stage is
The report sets a clear target for achieving a
one of full compliance.
net zero health service for direct emissions by
Derogations to standards will potentially 2040 and indirect emissions by 2045.
jeopardise business case approval and will
In 2021, NHS England published supporting
only be considered in exceptional
guidance for the NHS estate in its ‘Estates Net
circumstances. A schedule of derogations will
Zero Carbon Delivery Plan’ and further
be required for any project requiring external
guidance is planned over the coming years.
business case approval and may be requested
for those that have gone through an internal The NHS estate has a critical role to play in
approvals process. achieving net zero carbon emissions. It is vital
that every opportunity is seized across the
While it is recognised that derogation is
NHS to do so, and the NHS estate is an area
required in some cases, this must be risk-
where direct and cost-effective action can be
assessed and documented in order that it may
taken with a high degree of confidence.
be considered within the appraisal and
approval process.

iii
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Executive summary

Health Building Note (HBN) 16-01 replaces examiner services, but when designing
guidance on the design of mortuaries and mortuaries planners and designers should
post-mortem facilities published nearly two give consideration to those areas outside the
decades ago. It builds on the work of the NHS scope of this guidance. It is also not within the
in Scotland and the Scottish Health Planning scope of this document to cover working
Note 16-01: ‘Mortuary and Post Mortem practices and Trust-level policies, including
Facilities: design and briefing guidance’, by those relating to employment checks for staff
adding specific English requirements and with mortuary access, as recommended by
incorporating legislative and policy changes the Fuller Inquiry.
and latest best practice.
A 2022 Lancet Commission report on the
HBN 16-01 is aimed at both the senior Value of Death stated that: “how people die
management within NHS organisations and has changed radically over recent generations.
those tasked with designing modern, fit-for- Death comes later in life for many and dying is
purpose facilities that meet current statutory often prolonged. Death and dying have moved
and social needs. Whilst aimed specifically at from a family and community setting to
the NHS, this guidance has been designed to primarily the domain of health systems.” This
be of use to all parties responsible for planning means that mortuaries play an increasingly
and operating mortuaries and body stores, important role, and in a small but increasing
both within ordinary operating parameters and number of cases are one of the only places
in emergency planning situations. where bereaved relatives and friends can visit
their loved ones before a funeral.
At the heart of this document is a renewed
vigour to provide respect and dignity to the This guidance will also help planners to create
deceased and their bereaved relatives and spaces that are able to flex in response to
friends. Mortuaries must provide a safe unplanned situations.
environment for the deceased to be handled
with dignity and privacy, and to prevent Equality and health inequalities impact
unauthorised access to bodies. For relatives assessments should be undertaken (see
and friends, many of whom are experiencing https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-
times of extreme vulnerability, safety and nhs-long-term-plan-equality-and-health-
security comes in the form of providing a inequalities-impact-assessment/). Diversity
space that allows grief to be expressed in an requirements including religious and/or cultural
environment that is comforting and supportive, needs should be considered.
cognisant of each individual’s identity, religious
and cultural needs. Finally, this document provides some high-
level guidance on how the NHS, acting as a
This guidance does not cover end-of-life system partner, can support partners with the
facilities or bereavement and medical management of mass fatality events.

The schedules of accommodation spreadsheet and room component sheets can be

downloaded as separate files along with this document from the HBN 16-01 web page
(https://www.england.nhs.uk/estates/health-building-notes/).

iv
 Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The following individuals and organisations have contributed to the development, drafting and
production of this guidance:

Andy Summerbell, Estates EPRR lead, NHS England.

Andrew Woodward, Joint Operations Team, Uniformed Policing, College of Policing.

Dr Ben Swift, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Professor Bryony Beresford, Co-Director Social Policy Research Unit, University of York.

Professor Catherine Mason, H.M. Senior Coroner Leicester City & South Leicestershire.

Chelsea Francis, Healthcare Planner, Archus Ltd.

Colin Horn, Director, Grosvenor Interiors.

David Taft, Policy Advisor, Health and Safety Executive.

Deborah Lowe, Mortuary Service Manager, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.

Derek Winter, Deputy Chief Coroner of England and Wales.

Fiona Daly, National Sustainability and Workforce Lead, Estates and Facilities, NHS England.

Guy Carson, Principal Author, Archus Ltd.

Helen Dunn, Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Professor Joanne Martin, Professor of Pathology, Queen Mary University of London.

Jack Biggerstaff, Architect, Paul Murphy Architects.

John Pitchers, Service Manager: Mortuary and Coroner Support, Bristol City Council and
Chair of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology.

Kelly Sherlock, Head of Regulation, Human Tissue Authority.

Dr. Lisa Ritchie, Head of Infection Prevention and Control, NHS England.

Professor Lucy Easthope, Fellow, Mass Fatalities and Pandemics, Centre for Death and
Society, University of Bath.

v
Health Technical Memorandum 07-01: Safe and sustainable management of healthcare waste

Malcom Hoggart, Technical Author, Estates Engineering Compliance Consultant Ltd.

Michael Conway, Service Manager, Mortuary & Post Mortem Examination Services,
Chesterfield Royal Hospital & University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trusts.

Michael Rope, Estates & Facilities Management Guidance Lead, NHS England.

Michelle Lancaster, Regulation Manager, Human Tissue Authority.

Paul Murphy, Director, Paul Murphy Architects.

Paul Sheldon, Healthcare Planner, Archus Ltd.

Rosemary Jenssen, ProCure 22 Framework Representative.

Dr Sacha Kolar, Royal College of Pathologists.

Sheila Moakes, Technical Author, Medical Connections (UK).

Simon Betteridge, Chairperson, UK Board for Healthcare Chaplains.

Susan Grant, Principal Architect, NHS National Services Scotland.

Sue Holding, Senior Editor, Archus Ltd.

Suppliers and manufacturers who provided guidance and support:

Christopher Stephens, Head of Contracts and Design, Leec Ltd.

Debbie McNally, Medical Sales Director, AFOS Group.

Martin Hunt, UK Sales Manager, Leec Ltd.

NHS England would also like to thank all those who took the time to comment and send
contributions during the scoping and technical engagement phases of this document.

vi
 Contents

Contents

Preface����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ii
About Health Building Notes ii
Language usage in technical guidance ii
Project derogations from the Technical Guidance ii
Sustainability and “Net Zero Carbon” targets iii
Executive summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������iv
Acknowledgements�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������v
1.0 Purpose and introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
Purpose and scope of HBN 16-01 5
Who should use this guidance? 6
Changes since the previous guidance 7
References to other HBNs and HTMs 8
Part 1: General considerations������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9
2.0 S
 ystem planning considerations������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 10
Hierarchy of facility types 10
Digital technologies 13
Calculating capacity requirements 14
3.0 G
 eneral functional and design requirements���������������������������������������������������������������� 17
Choosing the mortuary location 17
Layout and flow 19
Storage21
Care, safety and security  21
Internal environment considerations 22
Natural and artificial lighting 23
Acoustics and noise 23
Infection prevention and control 23
Fittings and equipment 24
Floors and drainage 24
Maintenance and cleaning 25
Equality Act 2010 26
4.0 S
 pecific risks for mortuary and post-mortem services�����������������������������������������������27
Design to minimise risks 27

1
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Risks related to infection 29

Risks related to formalin use  30
Risks related to waste disposal 30
Risks related to radioactive bodies 31
Risks with communication and information technology (ICT) 32
Part 2: Design considerations for the functional content of a mortuary���������������������������33
5.0 Clinical areas��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������34
Transition zone: body receipt, storage and removal facilities 34
Post-mortem zone 39
6.0 Non-clinical areas: public zone���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������49
7.0 Non-clinical areas: staff zone������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������55
Staff administration and welfare facilities  55
Teaching and research facilities 59
8.0 Engineering����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 61
Introduction61
Scope of this chapter 61
General engineering considerations  63
Mechanical services  65
Electrical services  74
Body storage in mortuary and post-mortem facilities 81
Public health services  81
Part 3: E
 states considerations for emergency spaces��������������������������������������������������������83
9.0 E
 mergency preparedness, resilience and response�����������������������������������������������������84
Events outside health service operational responsibility 84
Dedicated disaster mortuaries 85
Engineering considerations 87
Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs�������������������������������������������������������������������89
Body store spaces 89
Post-mortem facilities 89
Viewing and bier rooms 89
Appendix A1 – General body store 90
Appendix A1 – General body store (contd) 92
Appendix A2 – Bariatric storage, including walk-in fridge 94
Appendix A2 – Bariatric storage, including walk-in fridge (contd) 96
Appendix A3 – Post-mortem room with three tables 98
Appendix A3 – Post-mortem room with three tables (contd) 100
Appendix A4 – Isolation post-mortem room – 32 m 102
2

Appendix A5 – Post-mortem dirty utility – 12 m2103

Appendix A6 – Post-mortem transit lobby 104
Appendix A7 – Raised platform post-mortem observation room 105
Appendix A8 – Viewing room and bier room and combined viewing room 106

2
 Contents

Appendix B – Generic layout������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 109

References����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 112
Legislation112
Approved Codes of Practice 112
Health Building Notes and Health Technical Memoranda 113
Guidance, research and other references 113

3
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

4
 1.0 Purpose and introduction

1.0 Purpose and introduction

Purpose and scope of HBN 1.5 This publication has been produced for
use by NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts.
16-01 However, it has been designed to be useful for
1.1 This publication replaces HBN 20 – other organisations involved in the operation,
‘Facilities for mortuary and post-mortem room planning or use of mortuary and post-mortem
services’ (2005). facilities in England, for either joint/shared
service or individual organisation use. This
1.2 It is based on more recent guidance includes local authorities, police forces,
issued by the Scottish Government in the form Coroner, plus partner organisations such as
of Scottish Health Planning Note 16-01 – universities and private providers, funeral
‘Mortuary and Post Mortem Facilities: design directors and private hospitals.
and briefing guidance’ (Version 2, November
2017). In many places HBN 16-01 references 1.6 In recent years there has been a growing
the Scottish guidance directly, but with need for consistent and high-quality mortuary
important additions to reflect feedback from services, whilst ensuring this provision is
experts working in this sector. sustainable. Resource is limited, with key
challenges in the recruitment and retention of
1.3 In addition to updating the context of highly-experienced and skilled staff, as well as
SHPN 16-01 to reflect legislation and the provision of fit-for-purpose facilities and
guidance within England, this document modern equipment.
provides additional guidance relating to:
1.7 This document is structured in three
• system planning considerations parts:
• emergency planning resilience and • Part 1 – Chapters 2–4 which set out
response. general considerations when planning a
mortuary.
1.4 HBN 16-01 provides guidance for NHS
premises used for mortuary and post-mortem • Part 2 – Chapters 5–8 setting out the
services and should be used to support: design considerations for the functional
content of a mortuary.
• the design of new buildings
• Part 3 – Chapter 9 which considers
• the adaptation or extension of existing estates considerations for emergency
buildings spaces.
• the consistent assessment of the
standards of existing facilities.

5
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

1.8 This HBN considers the following key an operational policy document and does not
functional elements: define how the spaces should be used, nor
when they should be used.
• considerations for planning capacity and
capability 1.12 NHS Trusts will need to work in
• location of facilities in the wider hospital partnership with local system partners,
context including the Coroners and their staff, police,
local authorities and other stakeholders, to
• body receipt, storage and removal establish local arrangements and planning
facilities requirements for hospital-based mortuaries.
System arrangements for dealing with excess
• post-mortem facilities, with or without
death events and mass fatality events will be
criminal forensic cases and observation
specific to the area that the hospital serves,
• facilities for bereaved visitors and each facility should plan for an
appropriate service flexibility and resilience
• staff and support facilities, with or that supports the wider system capability.
without post-mortem services
1.13 Trusts should also work with local funeral
• teaching and research
directors to ensure that there is sufficient
• emergency preparedness, resilience and capacity external to the hospital site to ensure
response (EPRR) planning. a timely turnaround of the deceased and also
to establish protocols regarding remote sites
1.9 This will allow a project-specific solution located away from the main mortuary.
to be developed to suit local needs. The key
functions for a given location, and their scale
and quantity, should be planned on an inter- Who should use this
agency basis, at a national, regional and local guidance?
level, with service quality, resilience and safety
for the population as key considerations. 1.14 This document is aimed at planners,
designers, suppliers, installers, estates and
1.10 Periods of increased death rates are facilities managers and operations managers.
referred to within this document as: Elements of the document will also be relevant
to managers concerned with the day-to-day
• ‘Excess death events’ – deaths during a management of healthcare facilities and senior
particular period above the usual healthcare management.
expected number of deaths under
normal conditions, which can show the 1.15 Within this document, where reference is
effect of something planned or made to planners and designers, the following
unexpected. definitions apply:
• ‘Mass fatality events’ – incidents where • planners are those responsible for
the number of fatalities is greater than specifying the function and scale of the
normal local arrangements can manage. facility. This will include mortuary
managers, senior managers and
1.11 In Chapter 9, this document provides a healthcare planners
summary of emergency preparedness,
resilience and response (EPRR) • designers are those responsible for
considerations of temporary accommodation designing layout and specifying the
for a mass fatality event and excess death equipment required within the mortuary,
events, the spatial considerations and the including healthcare planners, architects,
support engineering services needed. It is not

6
 1.0 Purpose and introduction

engineers, manufacturers, suppliers and themselves with HTA standards and any
installers. associated guidance.

1.18 Since the publication of the previous

Changes since the previous guidance, new guidance, standards and
guidance recommendations have also been introduced
which affect the delivery of mortuary and
1.16 Since the publication of the predecessor post-mortem services. These include:
of this document, HBN 20, there have been
several changes to the legislative environment. • HTA Codes of Practice (see https://www.
This document will signpost the current legal hta.gov.uk/guidanceprofessionals/), with
requirements affecting the consideration and which licensed establishments must
planning of mortuaries and post-mortem demonstrate compliance:
facilities:
1.19 Code A – Guiding Principles and the
• Civil Contingencies Act (2004) Fundamental Principle of Consent
• Human Tissue Act (2004), establishing Code B – Post-Mortem Examination
the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and a
regulatory framework that is relevant to Code B – Post-Mortem Examination
post-mortem facilities Standards and Guidance
• Coroners and Justice Act (2009) • BS EN ISO 15189:2012, Medical
• Births and Deaths Registration Act laboratories – Requirements for quality
(1953, revised 2020) and competence (ISO 15128:2012)

• Coronavirus Act (2020) – whilst this Act • HSG283 Managing infection risks when
is based on the governments’ phased handling the deceased, Health and
response to a specific pandemic Safety Executive (2018)
situation, the outcome of this pandemic • Approved Code of Practice and
will enhance the health services’ guidance L24: Workplace health, safety
understanding of large-scale excess and welfare, Health and Safety
death events and how to respond to Executive (2013)
such issues.
• The Kerslake Report: an independent
1.17 The HTA is the independent regulator of review into the preparedness for,
organisations that remove, store and use and emergency response to, the
human tissue for research, medical treatment, Manchester Arena attack on 22 May
post-mortem examination, education and 2017 (2018)
training, and display in public. The HTA also
give approval for organ and bone marrow • The Hutton Report: a review of forensic
donations from living people. The HTA pathology in England and Wales (2015).
produces regulatory standards and
1.20 Additional guidance has also been
professional guidance for mortuaries requiring
introduced by regulators and the NHS in
licensing by the HTA, which are available from
England in response to the COVID-19
their website. The HTA, however, encourages
pandemic. Whilst this is in part a response to
that all facilities which may store the deceased
a particular pathogen, the broad principles are
adopt the standards and guidance as best
pertinent to other excess death events.
practice. When designing a mortuary,
planners and designers should familiarise 1.21 Whilst this document will allow planners
to consider how emergency provision could be

7
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

provided on hospital sites, if needed by the • HBN 00-09 – ‘Infection control in the
local system, it should be noted that built environment’
permission to provide emergency mortuary
facilities is regulated by the HTA where • HBN 00-10 – ‘Design for flooring, walls,
activities falling within scheduled purposes ceilings, sanitaryware and windows’
must be licensed. • HBN 08-02 – ‘Dementia-friendly health
and social care environments’
References to other HBNs • HTM 03-01 – ‘Specialised ventilation for
and HTMs healthcare premises’

1.22 Guidance on generic spaces and • HTM 04-01 – ‘Safe water in healthcare
systems are contained in the following premises’
publications, which should be read alongside • HTM 05-02 – ‘Firecode: Fire safety in
this document: the design of healthcare premises’
• HBN 00-02 – ‘Sanitary spaces’ • HTM 06-01 – ‘Electrical services supply
• HBN 00-03 – ‘Clinical and clinical and distribution’
support spaces’ • HTM 06-02 – ‘Electrical safety guidance
• HBN 00-04 – ‘Circulation and for low voltage systems’
communication spaces’ • HTM 06-03 – ‘Electrical safety guidance
• HBN 00-07 – ‘Resilience planning for for high voltage systems’
the healthcare estate’ • HTM 07-01 – ‘Safe and sustainable
• HBN 00-10 – ‘Sanitary assemblies’ management of healthcare waste’
• HTM 08-01 – ‘Acoustics’.

8
Part 1: General considerations
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

2.0 S
 ystem planning
considerations

2.1 Users and communities are at the heart provide public mortuaries and post-mortem
of our mortuary and post-mortem services. facilities for all those in their area who require
Ensuring care, dignity and respect for the those services. It is also the responsibility of
deceased and bereaved visitors, together with local authorities to coordinate and plan for
everyone’s health and safety, is key to success mass fatality events. In many areas, local
and compliance. authorities contract with the NHS to fulfil these
obligations.
2.2 HBN 16-01 provides guidance on the
planning, design, and standards to achieve the 2.6 By defining the core facility requirements
above for a range of mortuary and post- for each functional element, this guidance
mortem services. It covers stand-alone helps to ensure that care, dignity and respect
facilities or units which form part of a larger are integral to mortuary and post-mortem
complex and operate on behalf of either one public services across the wide range of
or multiple public agencies within a contractual facilities in the NHS.
agreement.
2.7 Where existing facilities do not meet the
2.3 Current facilities for mortuary and post- defined quality for a particular function,
mortem services in England have the investment or an alternative means of
challenge of providing appropriate services in delivering this with care, dignity and respect
a large variety of physical, geographical, should be sought. For example, bereaved
commissioning and organisational contexts. visitors should not be taken to a facility that
As a one-size-fits-all approach is not possible, does not adequately provide for their needs.
pragmatism in collaboration with partner
organisations is essential.
Hierarchy of facility types
2.4 Deciding on the level of service provision 2.8 In conjunction with local system partners,
within the design brief requires close planners should determine the level of service
collaboration between partners including local required within each facility relative to the
authorities, Coroners and their staff, police health and governance system it operates in.
and other stakeholders involved in mortuary
and post-mortem services (hereinafter 2.9 The level of service can be categorised
referred to as “local system partners”). into the hierarchy of facility types shown in
Table 1, and should be considered when
2.5 The Public Health Act 1936 states that planning facilities.
local authorities may, unless otherwise
instructed to do so by the Secretary of State,

10
 2.0 System planning considerations

Table 1 Hierarchy of facility types

Level Service provision Functional content Example of host facility

0 None None. Operational policies needed to • Intermediate care centres, supported
address management of bodies. living, and community hospitals.

1 Body store only Body store • Community hospitals

2 Basic mortuary As above plus: • District general hospitals

• bereaved visitors’ suites • Small tertiary centres
• dedicated staff facilities

3 Full mortuary As above plus: • District general hospitals, teaching

• post-mortem facilities hospitals and larger regional hospitals
• high risk/isolation post-mortem facilities where the centre of excellence exists
(potential) elsewhere regionally

4 Regional centre of As above plus: • District general hospitals and larger

excellence mortuary • non-invasive diagnostic facilities regional hospitals, where the centre of
• high risk/isolation post-mortem facilities excellence does not exist elsewhere
regionally

2.10 Key functional elements of a mortuary or post-mortem service are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Functional elements of a mortuary

Service provision Body store Basic facility Full facility Regional centre of
excellence
A Receipt, storage and removal of • • • •
bodies

B Staff and support facilities o • • •

C Bereaved visitors’ suite

viewing rooms o • • •

counselling rooms o • •

religious washing facilities o o o o

access to garden o o o o

waiting area o • • •

dedicated vehicle access o o o

D Post-mortem services

general • •

paediatric •* •

criminal forensic •* •

high risk/isolation room o •

E Non-invasive imaging o**

F Teaching and research o o •

Key: o Optional • Essential

* subject to local system planning requirements

** subject to non-invasive imaging provision within the system being provided by another provider

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

2.11 Whether a facility is classed as a body Joint agency, shared mortuary, and
store or regional centre of excellence, each post-mortem facilities
mortuary should provide quality facilities that
meet the minimum standards of the key 2.18 The current policy to encourage
functional elements needed for the services collaboration and integration of clinical
offered. services also applies to the planning and
provision of mortuary and post-mortem
2.12 The core aim of any facility should be services.
respect and dignity towards the deceased and
their bereaved visitors, within an overall 2.19 All relevant bodies for this service
context of public health, safety, security and provision in England, including NHS Trusts,
sustainability. local authorities, police, Coroners and their
partnership organisations, such as
2.13 Table 2 sets out the various levels of universities, should consult and collaborate to
provision for consideration by those managing ascertain whether joint agency, shared
existing or commissioning new facilities. It is mortuaries and/or post-mortem resources
essential that a facility has sufficient and could best meet the needs of the public.
suitably trained staff and is of sufficient size to Where this is the case, all stakeholders should
sustain its agreed functional elements. endeavour to ensure this happens and seek to
apply the standards set out in this HBN.
2.14 When considering the type of facility and
its functional content, it is important that 2.20 The key advantages of joint agency or
planners take into account the wider local shared provision should include:
context, assessing what other facilities across
• enabling the deceased and their
the region exist, their capability, capacity, and
bereaved visitors to be treated
quality of infrastructure.
consistently, without segregation or
2.15 It is the responsibility of local authorities differentiation, simply due to the place
to manage and look after non-hospital where death occurs
community deaths. Planners should confirm • mortuary services, accommodated in a
the contractual relationship between the sustainable “centre for excellence”, can
hospital and local authority when considering better maintain a high-quality service
the future capacity of a hospital mortuary. and reduce duplication of resource
2.16 Planners should also assess local civil • encouraging shared resource; best
contingency plans, considering the role and practice, staff skills, latest equipment,
operation of hospital facilities during mass training (etc), thus providing resilience
fatality and mass casualty events and ensuring and improving service sustainability
that plans meet both the normal operational
needs and those required in extraordinary • potential to reduce capital and revenue
events. Chapter 9 addresses considerations costs because of economies of scale
about emergency planning in more detail. and joint management of staff and
facility resources
2.17 Mortuary premises should be reviewed
regularly with a view to ensuring sustainability 2.21 Where joint provision is part of a wider
and improving resilience, processes and service, for example a regional pathology
resource sharing. This requires continued service, healthcare campus or university
collaboration between all local system research facility, advantages should also
partners including funeral directors and include:
crematoria. Members of the local community
should also be involved in this process.

12
 2.0 System planning considerations

• improved access to key support NHS Trusts, local authorities, Coroners, police
resources and facilities, such as a and universities), satisfying each of the
pathology laboratory, specialist imaging, agencies’ security protocols and policy
training and conference rooms, requirements.
research, spiritual sanctuaries, cafes/
restaurants, and public transport 2.26 Any system implemented should be
resilient to exceptional demand created
• improved briefing on clinical events throughout excess death events and mass
related to death and, with the correct fatality events.
protocols in place, direct access to
medical records 2.27 As the NHS implements digital
transformation technologies, consideration
• improved accessibility to/from related
should be given to the use of digital systems to
services to support skills development,
support elements of activities within the
staff awareness and future recruitment.
mortuary (such as reporting and monitoring of
2.22 In line with HSG283, a risk assessment site capacity and patient identification/tagging).
of all aspects of proposed mortuary functions
2.28 Examples of IT data handling needs
and service provision should be carried out.
(which will include audit systems) to be met by
This will inform design development.
the installation include those shown in Table 3.

Digital technologies 2.29 Digital systems implemented within the

mortuary must be flexible and adaptable to
2.23 All healthcare organisations should meet the varying reporting needs of external
implement a comprehensive digital strategy agencies, such as NHS England. A robust
which requires adoption of digital system should be in place to ensure no
transformation across the entire organisation. unauthorised access. (Regular access audits
should be undertaken to ensure that people
2.24 Digital systems selected will be critical to who do not need access are removed.)
the success of mortuary and post-mortem
services, not just within the hospital but across 2.30 Telecommunications cabling and related
the whole system. ICT infrastructure should comply with the
Institution of Engineering and Technology’s
2.25 Digital systems should offer a wide range (IET’s) most recent guidance, for example
of interoperability, compatibility and amenity ‘Code of Practice: building infrastructures for
for the potential multiple agencies and healthcare ICT’ (2020).
partners involved in the facility (for example

Table 3 Examples of IT data handling needs

Within mortuary and post-mortem facility From and to other areas/agencies

• admin/records for deceased • results from labs and imaging

• traceability of organs and tissues removed at PM stage • patient records

• general communications • Coronial notifications (etc)

• managing materials and stores • police records, etc

• managing statistical information • university communications (etc)

• direct dial phones (including VOIP)

• audit systems

• security and access control tracking

13
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Calculating capacity Calculating body storage provision

requirements 2.37 Death rates have remained relatively
stable over the past decade (with the
2.31 It is reported that prior to the recent exception of the recent pandemic). However,
pandemic, many mortuaries in England were during the same period, facilities report a
already operating at capacity. When planning growth in body storage requirements.
a mortuary, it is critical that calculating
capacity with a sound basis is undertaken by 2.38 A combination of economic, social,
the mortuary manager in conjunction with demographic and legislative pressures has
local system partners, using all available increased the quantity and the length of stay in
evidence to substantiate the final estimate. many mortuaries; for instance, funeral poverty
can delay funeral director appointment and
2.32 It is unfeasible and unaffordable for the subsequent body collection. Meanwhile, public
NHS to plan provision for all scenarios, but and private sectors are under economic
planners should base estimates on realistic pressure regarding both the capacity and
and economically feasible levels of provision. quality of facility provision.
Space should be identified for temporary
surge capacity to be located when needed. 2.39 This results in a service with little or no
resilience, even for regular excess death
2.33 Factors that will be taken into variations, such as seasonal flu and winter
consideration regarding local activities include pressures. Multi-agency planning on a
whether the facility has body storage and PM national, regional and local level is required to
activity for just hospital caseload or hospital ensure that mortuary and post-mortem
and Coronial, which will have an impact on resources are in the right location, monitored
turnaround times. and sustainable.
2.34 At a system level, where there is a 2.40 The recent COVID-19 pandemic has
divergence between the calculated economic resulted in a greater appreciation for planning
requirement and the worst-case scenario, a mortuaries more robustly with greater
centralised overflow capacity is a logical emphasis on ensuring appropriate, sufficient
solution to achieve economies of scale. This and secure capacity in body store provision.
should be agreed between all system However, it is not cost-effective to cater
partners. permanently for excess death events.
2.35 When the cause of death is known, 2.41 HTA guidance states that planners
families can engage a funeral director and should provide sufficient long-term permanent
plan bereavement services on receipt of a storage resilience, which takes into account
medical certificate of the cause of death; predictable peaks in demand, for example
often, this is within hours of death. through the seasonal effect often reported as
“excess winter deaths”.
2.36 It is allowable, in smaller facilities, for the
NHS to follow this pattern and have contracts 2.42 When calculating the size and capacity
with local funeral directors (where families do of a mortuary, planners should consider the
not choose their own funeral director) to following factors:
collect the deceased within four hours of the
time of death. This process may be extended • the clinical services offered within the
if death occurs overnight, and arrangements hospital: for instance, paediatric and
are unable to start until the next morning. maternity services, infectious diseases
and/or high-consequence infectious
diseases, centre of excellence status for

14
 2.0 System planning considerations

trauma, transplant etc will affect the the internal spaces and the equipment
fridge sizes required, the potential available to load and offload bodies from the
demand for hospital post-mortems and fridges/freezers.
isolation requirements for post-mortems
2.45 Planners should consider how
• the demographic profile for the local temporary, cost-effective extensions to
area generally and patient catchment for capacity can be delivered with ease to allow
specialist services. This will include seamless operational integrity.
regional and national population trends
in provision, including BMI percentiles 2.46 Planners should assess the likely
for people living with excess weight, demand against the total provision locally,
ethnic and cultural diversity, and so on taking into account agreement for sharing
resources with local system partners including
• any sites of particular risk within the
funeral directors.
hospital catchment area, including
high-risk employment sites, large
entertainment venues and retail venues Post-mortem room provision
will inform the need for the potential of
2.47 Coroner statistics for 2021 show that
mass casualty events and isolation
post-mortem examinations were carried out on
rooms
43% of all deaths reported in 2021. There
• historic and projected volumes analysis, were 84,600 post-mortem examinations
including length of stay trends, regular ordered by Coroners in 2021, a 7% rise
and exceptional event risks and capacity compared to 2020. The proportion of reported
planning available from local records deaths requiring a post-mortem has increased
and the Office for National Statistics by five percentage points over the same
(ONS)) period.
• any previous reliance on or need for 2.48 Except for child cases where genetic
temporary storage facilities within the indicators may be sought, it is increasingly
current or neighbouring facilities. This rare for post-mortem examinations to be
will require collaboration and requested by the NHS or relatives. For many,
consultation with local system partners. death occurs after a known illness in hospital
or at home, and their clinical notes will already
2.43 Following the calculation of total capacity capture the key cause(s) for certification.
requirements, planners will then need to
specify the proportions of each type of fridge 2.49 If a body is on premises not licensed by
and freezer required. Table 4 sets out the the HTA, at the point it is known that a post-
range of fridge/freezer widths that should be mortem is required, the body must be moved
considered. to HTA licensed premises as soon as possible,
and this must be done within seven days.
2.44 The number of tiers included in each
fridge size will be determined by the height of

Table 4 Range of fridge/freezer sizes

Type Tray width range in mm Notes for use

Narrow 500 – 600 This size should only be used for paediatric storage and infill spaces

Standard 600 – 700

Wide 700 – 800 This size should be the predominant size

Bariatric 800 – 950

15
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

2.50 There is an increasing risk to post- risks, regular and exceptional event
mortem service sustainability, particularly in planning and workload distribution
terms of staff accreditation, training and
recruitment, and any further volume falls will • the need for pathologists to be able to
exacerbate this. Service viability is currently perform efficiently, for instance carrying
dependent on individual agency economic out more than one post-mortem
pressures. The future locations, levels and examination at a single attendance in
quality of this service are dependent on an the mortuary
increasing ability to jointly plan and operate a • an assessment of the length of time
post-mortem service network across public required to perform a post-mortem, and
agencies. the time required for preparation, prior to
and after the examination
2.51 The demand noted above does not
include the use of the post-mortem facilities • the need for criminal forensic
for non-post-mortem functions, including investigations, high-risk cases and
training and organ and tissue retrieval. training; usually these are segregated by
Trainees and professional observers may be time slots, or where volumes justify, a
in the post-mortem room or the observation separate room.
area.

2.52 Factors that need to be considered in

deciding the number of post-mortem tables
are:
• the existing number of post-mortems
performed, especially historic and
projected figures, local and national

16
 3.0. General functional and design requirements

3.0 G
 eneral functional and
design requirements

3.1 Once the scale and functional content of • compliance with local planning policies
the mortuary is confirmed, it is important to on sustainable development
consider the siting of the facility within the
hospital context along with general design • ecology measures to enhance the
considerations. ecological value of any site, if a peace
garden/reflective space is required
3.2 This chapter provides guidance on a • climate change resilience needs to be
range of key technical issues to consider when taken into consideration through
briefing, planning or assessing facilities for selection of materials, consideration of
mortuary or post-mortem services. modern methods of construction, and
control of increased temperatures and
3.3 Historically, mortuaries have been in
reliance on predicted higher
spaces that are either separated from the
temperatures and wind factors.
main service delivery locations or are in
inaccessible places within the main building,
thus demeaning the significance of this space. Choosing the mortuary
It is important that siting of the mortuary is
considered fully in order to provide security for location
all mortuary users, dignity to the deceased, 3.6 The following aspects should be
respect to bereaved visitors, and to maintain considered when choosing the location of the
the safety of staff. mortuary:

3.4 Decisions on where to locate mortuaries • discreet location and secure external
should be made in collaboration with the access for vehicles, suitable for the
community, security services and other planned volume of traffic at any time of
service providers who may operate from the day or night
building. These groups include: the local • discreet and secure yard/routes – for
community (including local religious and instance, sleeping accommodation and
cultural groups), staff of the facility, the local public areas such as waiting rooms and
police force and Coroner’s office, local funeral corridors should not overlook the body
directors and any other groups expected to be receipt and removal entrance
making use of the site in the future.
• subtle and secure internal access for
3.5 Consideration should also be given to the intra-hospital transfers, ensuring that
following factors: members of the public are shielded from

17
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

viewing mortuary trolleys accessing the 3.10 Access into the facility for the deceased’s
space, as far as is reasonably practical visitors should be well considered. Access
routes should be well-lit, appropriately
• where hospitals have viewing facilities, decorated and free from obstruction. They
there should be a separate, secure should not be storage corridors. Respect and
access for bereaved visitors (and where empathy should be shown to bereaved visitors
possible, external access should also be at all times.
provided)
• the need for functional flexibility, 3.11 The number of entrances into the
including proximity to hard landscaping, mortuary should be kept to a minimum, yet
which should be provided directly balanced with the need for appropriate
adjacent to the mortuary to allow for separation between the different end-users:
temporary facilities in the case of excess • there should be a dedicated entrance
death events and mass fatality events. into the mortuary for the deceased
which is not shared with visitors
3.7 Where post-mortem services are
included, the requirements set out above • there should be staff entry which can be
should be considered, plus: combined with the visitors’ entrance or
deceased entrance for smaller facilities
• increased volume and complexity of (depending on the size of the facility,
throughputs, extra storage, and multiple staff numbers and operational model)
agency use (such as increased space
and more complex adjacency layout) • larger facilities will provide separated
entrances, creating a more serene
• increased security and discretion, ambience for bereaved visitors
particularly from the press/media (for
example an entirely secure and • entrances should not be in close
enclosed garage space for vehicular proximity to each other, and the
body loading) entrance for the deceased should not be
seen from the visitors’ entrance.
• increased access/relationship to
services such as histopathology 3.12 Site constraints may determine whether
laboratories (including CT scanners), the mortuary is a stand-alone facility or
imaging, clinical research, police, local integrated into the curtilage of a larger facility,
authority, NHS, child services, training, such as the main hospital building. The choice
etc. of location should be based on spatial and
operational considerations, such as discreet
3.8 The access route for the deceased transfer routes, health and safety of staff
should be separated from other activities and during inclement weather, and vehicular traffic
secure where possible. It is essential that flows affecting patient accommodation.
patients and their visitors, who are emotionally
vulnerable and possibly traumatised, are 3.13 Siting the mortuary on the ground floor is
protected from witnessing the transfer of the often ideal; however, dependent on scale,
deceased where reasonably practicable. vertical links may actually improve otherwise
excessive circulation. Splitting over two levels
3.9 The provision of bereavement services may offer the advantages of better acoustic
and medical examiner services does not need separation between public and working areas
to be in immediate proximity to the mortuary; and the security of spaces at upper levels.
however, the siting should allow a clear and (This benefit will be offset by the additional
easily navigable route between these spaces costs incurred through the incorporation of lifts
for bereaved visitors. which will need to be dedicated to the

18
 3.0. General functional and design requirements

department.) To ensure that service resilience 3.19 The activity areas with the mortuary
is maintained, there will need to be a minimum should be sub-divided into the following zones,
of two lifts. There should be a clear cost– which will reflect the scale and scope of the
benefit analysis for such decisions. facility required:

3.14 It should be ensured that the general • Public zone: the bereaved visitors’ suite
public can go about their daily business contains viewing rooms for bereaved
without overlooking the mortuary body entry. visitors; some counselling may take
However, staff safety issues must take priority place; this is a non-clinical area
when transferring the deceased during hours • Staff zone: staff welfare and
of darkness or inclement weather, and so the administration spaces; this is a non-
design should balance minimising overlooking clinical area
with the need for passive surveillance and
routes of escape. • Transition zone: where the deceased
are stored and subjected to non-invasive
3.15 If a mortuary has post-mortem facilities, procedures; this is a clinical area
there may be times when the facility is used by
the Home Office pathologist for criminal • Post-mortem zone: the post-mortem
forensic examination. In these situations, there suite contains one or more post-mortem
may be an increased presence from the rooms where invasive procedures are
police, security services and members of the undertaken on the deceased; this is a
press. Discreet access for the deceased, clinical area
police and security service representatives in • Diagnostic zone: non-invasive
such cases is essential. The space provided diagnostic facilities (if required); this is a
must be capable of being shielded from clinical area.
intrusion from the press and onlookers.
3.20 The above terminology is adopted in
3.16 Sufficient space needs to be made order to maintain synergy with other NHS
available elsewhere on site in cases where technical guidance publications (principally
there is a significant press presence. HBNs and HTMs). Readers should note that
external guidance, in particular guidance
released by the Health and Safety Executive,
Layout and flow refers to “dirty”, “transition” and “clean” zones.
3.17 It is essential that the internal layout of For clarity:
the mortuary facility, particularly the provision
of separate access and circulation routes for • both non-clinical areas are classed as
visitors and staff, is considered to obviate the “clean” zones under external guidance
risks of: • the post-mortem zone is classed as a
• visitors straying into work areas and “dirty” zone under external guidance.
witnessing situations that could be
distressing and cause emotional harm 3.21 The relationship of key functional
elements to each zone is shown in Table 5.
• not protecting the deceased from
unwarranted intrusion. 3.22 The eventual layout should comprise of
activity areas and work zones co-ordinated to
3.18 There are two distinct activity areas reduce and eliminate the movement of people
within a mortuary, these being: and materials unnecessarily between other
activity areas and zones. A generic layout is
• a clinical area included in Appendix B
• a non-clinical area.

19
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Figure 1 Indicative zonal adjacency diagram for a full mortuary

Table 5 Zonal separation of functional content

Non-clinical areas Clinical areas

Public zones include: Transition zones include:

• the reception area • bier room(s)

• waiting area(s) • body store
• visitor/interview room(s) • body receipt vestibule
• visitors’ toilets • store room
• viewing rooms • body preparation and ritual washing facilities
• bier storage room(s)

Staff zones include: Post-mortem zones include:

• staff welfare spaces post-mortem room

• offices, meeting and training rooms • dirty utility/instrument store
• general and linen store • waste disposal room
• post-mortem observation area • housekeeping store
• staff changing areas • specimen store
• staff support facilities • specimen collection and packaging
• housekeeping store
Diagnostic zones include:

• diagnostic facilities (either dedicated to mortuary or as part of the

wider hospital)

3.23 Key flow considerations are: main hospital/campus circulation route,

where the deceased can be transported
• The body receipt vestibule(s) should be discreetly. The vestibule(s) should
dedicated secured space(s) for staff to directly link into the body store through
manoeuvre, hand over and administer to access-controlled doors or lifts. Bodies
the deceased in dignity. Ideally one should not enter or exit the mortuary via
single room/route for all internal and any other access route.
external transfers should be used, for
ease of security, space and staff • The body store should link directly to a
resource (albeit separate accesses are corridor serving the bier/viewing room(s),
acceptable for external and internal housekeeping store, staff zone and
transfers). The vestibule(s) will adjoin a post-mortem room(s) through body
vehicular service yard/garage and/or a

20
 3.0. General functional and design requirements

pass-through fridges, including walk-in to apply while deceased individuals

fridges for people of size. remain in the care environment. Such
measures will be included in the
• The only access point for staff working ‘Care of deceased persons infection
in the post-mortem rooms should be prevention and control (IPC) policy’,
through the transit lobby. Operational (hereinafter referred to as the ‘IPC
policies should be put in place to ensure policy’) – covering, for instance, safe,
that staff do not use the refrigerated segregated storage/disposal
store room as a normal access point into
the PM room. – items removed from criminal forensic
case bodies must be handled and
• The bereaved visitor suite (public zone) stored in accordance with criminal
should be a serene and calming space justice guidelines and police policy
and therefore segregated visually and (for example in criminal forensic
acoustically from the secured staff zone physical evidence secure storage)
and clinical areas, which includes the
body store and post-mortem room. – all items should be returned,
including clothing
3.24 The staff and support facilities, including
teaching and research suite if included, should • specimen storage and packaging:
ideally be secure and close together to secure refrigerated and freezer storage
minimise circulation, but need to link to and should be provided for tissues and
serve each of the other key functional samples taken from the deceased.
elements. Segregation of clinical research samples
and criminal forensic case samples is
3.25 Operational practice should ensure that required. (Caseload volumes will
all contact with bodies, organs and unfixed determine whether this is simply a
specimens is strictly limited to the clinical separate shelf, a separate refrigerator, or
areas. The transition zone should only allow separate rooms.) All fridges/freezers
minimal, non-invasive contact. containing samples will need to be
monitored for temperature variation and
3.26 An example department layout drawing is alarmed – this is especially important for
included in Appendix B. the storage of criminal forensic samples
• staff changing: lockers for personal
Storage clothing and valuables, plus shelving for
personal protective equipment (PPE)
3.27 The safety and security of storage in a
including coverall suits, boots and
mortuary may go beyond the routine need to
breathing apparatus. Small sites may
safeguard supplies against misuse or theft.
use general staff change areas for
Specific considerations include:
mortuary staff.
• belongings of the deceased: secure
storage for the personal items and
valuables of the deceased: Care, safety and security
3.28 Everyone should receive the care, dignity
– items removed from infectious or and respect in death that they would wish
contaminated bodies must be during life. It is the responsibility of all public
handled in line with the principles of bodies to collaborate and deliver this to their
standard infection control precautions communities, within the overall context of
(SICPs) and transmission-based public health and safety provision.
precautions (TBPs), which continue

21
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

3.29 As part of the IPC policy, appropriate risk 3.33 Notwithstanding the need to ensure that
assessments must be undertaken for the entrances that receive bodies are not
facility at all stages of design and operation, to overlooked, there is a need to consciously
identify and mitigate the key risks to: allow a level of passive surveillance covering
foot entrances and the approach to body
• care entrances. Passive surveillance measures are
• safety and security (such as is required a cost-effective way to support good behaviour
for lone working) and discourage opportunistic malfeasance.

• access control and monitoring

Internal environment
• out-of-hours collection and deliveries
considerations
• environmental infestations
3.34 Good interior design can contribute to
• infection transmission visitor and staff wellbeing, and the aim should
be to create a serene, comfortable and safe
• refrigeration failure. environment throughout the facility (within the
constraints of mortuary best practice). Interior
3.30 The nature of the work undertaken
design should be particularly sensitive to the
by these services can attract unwanted
needs of bereaved visitors.
attention. Unauthorised access must be
prevented for reasons of both health and 3.35 Interior design (such as colours, textures,
safety and security. Entry points into the space, fittings, furniture, finishes and lighting)
mortuary, and to the secure areas within it, should work holistically
must: to facilitate the function of the accommodation
• always be controlled by staff, for and provide an efficient, robust and safe
example through video/audio intercoms working environment appropriate for the
activities in each area, including ease of
• be access-controlled through a digital cleaning and environmental decontamination.
system for staff, for example swipe card, As visitor areas are non-clinical, they may be
fob or other intelligent solution, with more “domestic” in style, for example through
visitors escorted when in the facility the use of non-coved skirtings and timber
• allow mortuary and other NHS Trust handrails.
managers the ability to regularly audit
3.36 Art, wayfinding, daylight and greenspace
matters such as access arrangements,
views should also contribute to a serene,
CCTV and trends.
calming and reassuring experience for visitors
3.31 Active surveillance of each entrance and and staff. Providing connection to nature is
the body store area is to be provided both particularly evidenced to benefit improved
within the mortuary facility and to an wellbeing and stress reduction.
appropriate, constantly staffed area, for
3.37 When designing facilities, it is essential
example a Trust security hub. Such equipment
that consultation with members of staff and
should be located so as to comply with data
the local community is undertaken to ensure
protection legislation.
that the internal environment is optimised for
3.32 All active surveillance measures should the local community’s specific identity and
be capable of being isolated and turned off in needs.
cases of extreme public interest.

22
 3.0. General functional and design requirements

Natural and artificial lighting • reception, waiting spaces and viewing

rooms should have feature and
3.38 Reference should be made to the dimmable lighting
following guidance documents:
• post-mortem suites should contain
• HBN 00-10 Part D – ‘Windows and high-performance, robust task lighting
associated hardware’ and low-contrast glare-free background
• CIBSE LG2 – ‘Lighting for healthcare lights
premises’. • observation rooms should have
dimmable lights and task lights for
3.39 The benefits of natural light, ventilation individual working.
and visual links to the outside, especially to
green space, are well evidenced, for example 3.45 When considering the general lighting in
memorial gardens or nature walks. post-mortem rooms, consideration should be
Appropriate windows are to be encouraged given to lighting providing appropriate colour
wherever staff and/or visitors spend time. rendition and red balance control (in order to
optimise the visualisation of red tissues when
3.40 Daylight should be incorporated assessing post-mortem lividity and
wherever possible, with windows that decomposition).
maximise light but maintain privacy. There
should be access to daylight for rooms that
are deemed to be the main workspace for staff Acoustics and noise
and for the main staff welfare, rest and
3.46 Reference should be made to HTM
recuperation spaces. All areas, including
08-01 – ‘Acoustics’.
post-mortem rooms where staff work, should
be prioritised to benefit from natural lighting. 3.47 The acoustic environment for both staff
and bereaved visitors should be carefully
3.41 Glare should be minimised, and may be
briefed early in the design process.
controlled by curtains or blinds. Solar gain can
be mitigated by external screens or by the 3.48 The layout design should mitigate the
shape of windows and depth of reveals. noise transmission between the clinical and
non-clinical areas. There is a particular
3.42 The position and design of windows and
vulnerability via the viewing rooms.
roof lights should ensure that the key sensitive
internal mortuary and post-mortem spaces 3.49 The specification of finishes, furniture
cannot be seen by the public. and equipment should be carefully considered
in order to mitigate intrusive noise transfer, for
3.43 Viewing rooms, and all other areas
example acoustic “art” wall panels, heavy
where bereaved visitors spend an extended
curtains, soft-closing bin lids and doors. All
time, should benefit from natural lighting, a
must be compatible with cleaning and
view, and an opening window where possible.
decontamination requirements and not
If possible, access to green space such as a
compromise IPC or maintenance.
memorial or peace garden should be provided,
either as part of the facility or close by.

3.44 Artificial lighting design can significantly

Infection prevention and
contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the control
interior and should complement natural lighting 3.50 NHS England’s National Infection
where possible: Prevention and Control Manual is an
evidence-based practice manual for use by all

23
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

those involved in care provision in England. It wherever possible) and to be free from sharp
should be adopted as mandatory guidance in corners or projections to mitigate accidents.
NHS settings or settings where NHS services
are delivered, and the principles should be 3.57 Body store and post-mortem suite fittings
applied in all care settings. and junctions, particularly around dissection
bench or observation room glazed screens,
3.51 Collaborative multi-disciplinary risk are continuously exposed to water, spray and
assessments should be undertaken heavy traffic and are subject to daily cleaning.
periodically and at key stages in the They must be of durable design, robust,
production of the design brief, site selection, impervious specification, and subjected to
master plan, design development, regular assessment.
maintenance and operational use of these
facilities. These risk assessments will inform 3.58 Ledges and gaps in fittings, floors, walls,
the IPC policy. doors and junctions must be eliminated where
possible with sealed joints, impervious, robust,
3.52 HSG283 – ‘Managing infection risks and durable to heavy traffic.
when handling the deceased’, Health and
Safety Executive guidance and industry- 3.59 Door location, configuration, width,
specific guidance for the handling, storage and closers and door materials/finishes must all be
examination of bodies, specimens and their designed to reduce damage by heavy traffic,
facilities, must be followed. trolleys, water and other contaminants. Ideally,
locate doors away from splash zones or
3.53 Designers should also reference HBN protect by a smooth impervious finish. Visual
00-09 – ‘Infection control in the built and acoustic privacy should be considered,
environment’ and HBN 00-01 – ‘General particularly if “auto” opening doors are utilised.
design’. “Swing-free” closures are the preferred
solution for fire doors, easing public or trolley
3.54 The COVID-19 pandemic has identified access.
the need to consider potential pathogenic
pathways which may be encountered in these
facilities in future epidemics and pandemics. Floors and drainage
Avoiding the risk of infection transmission 3.60 Floor coverings should contribute to each
should be considered at the design stage of environment (for instance, serenity in visitor
future facilities, for instance including adequate spaces) but reduce risk for slips, trips and
ventilation throughout the mortuary to reduce infections, and endure heavy traffic. The floor
aerosol and droplet transmission, which during should reflect the functions and risks of each
the COVID-19 pandemic saw staff and visitor space and effective maintenance regimes. For
areas became a hazard due to inadequate example:
ventilation – windows were not sufficient
alone, except perhaps in office areas. • visitor areas: timber-effect acoustic vinyl,
with sit-on skirting

Fittings and equipment • post-mortem suite and body store:

anti-slip heavy-duty vinyl or equal and
3.55 Fittings and equipment should be made approved material, with a minimum of
of robust, impervious, non-rusting, non- 100 mm self-coved skirting suitable for
decaying, non-staining materials. hose-wash and scrub daily and which
can be replaced as required. The
3.56 Fittings and equipment should be
replacement and life cycle of the heavily
designed for ease of cleaning (on all sides,
used areas such as the post-mortem
room need to be considered

24
 3.0 Principles of sustainable waste management

• locations where biological or chemical Maintenance and cleaning

spills are likely should ensure design
mitigations are in place, such as stain 3.65 This section should be read in
resistance conjunction with the National Standards of
Healthcare Cleanliness published by NHS
• colour, pattern and tone should be used England.
to define spaces and zones, traffic flows
and room edges (but should pay due 3.66 Within the mortuary the number of
regard to the potential needs of those housekeeping stores should be reviewed in
with neurodiversity – see HBN 00-03 for line with the zoning strategy. It is anticipated
details). that up to three independent housekeeping
stores may be required in order to prevent
3.61 Body store and post-mortem suite floors cross-contamination between the functional
need to fall to drainage gullies, and also areas:
coordinate with fittings and equipment where a
level surface is needed, such as for post- • one serving the non-clinical area,
mortem tables, body storage and handling located in the staff zone
systems. • one located in the body store, serving
the transition zone
3.62 The falls to, location and type of gullies
need careful design and robust specification • one located in the main post-mortem
for easy and regular maintenance, for example room, serving the wider post-mortem
easily lifted short section channel gratings, zone.
allowing disinfection by submersion in a sink
or container. The fall to drainage gullies must 3.67 In addition to the housekeeping stores, a
not be so great that it interferes with trolley cleaning station should be provided within
manoeuvrability. each isolation post-mortem room to allow
simple cleaning actions when needed.
3.63 Water pooling is not acceptable; this
must be tested and eliminated before 3.68 The equipment and functions of the
handover. housekeeping store(s)/bays should be
determined by local policy.
3.64 Design and positioning of the post-
mortem boot wash will require careful 3.69 Within each housekeeping store should
consideration and must support the Equality be space for a lockable cupboard space to
Impact Assessment (see paragraph 3.74). store COSHH and space for the secure
Options include: storage of stock, with shelving for in-use
materials. There should be adequate space for
• a boot trough floor recess within the manoeuvring machines, emptying and filling
post-mortem doorway of the transit buckets and bowls, and routine servicing and
lobby, which will require careful design cleaning of equipment.
to enable easy filling, cleaning and
drainage whilst reducing risks such as 3.70 Mortuary and post-mortem facility
slips and trips structure and finishes need to be appropriately
• a “step-over” barrier, with a boot wash robust to withstand operational use, for
station on the dirty side of the transit instance trolley impact and vigorous cleaning
lobby. regimes.

3.71 Materials specified must be fit-for-

purpose within a mortuary context and not
necessarily consistent with those used across

25
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

the rest of the hospital building. Specifications users provides the minimum standard for both
should minimise redecoration and replacement visitor and staff access needs.
where possible (for example, post-mortem
floor and wall surfaces should be to full height 3.77 HBN 00-02 – ‘Sanitary spaces’ provides
and impervious). guidance on sanitary spaces, including both
public and clinical toilet facilities. HBN 00-03
3.72 The junctions and interfaces of each – ‘Clinical and clinical support spaces’
fixed and free-standing component should be provides guidance on clinical and clinical
carefully designed so that as a unit they support rooms. HBN 00-04 – ‘Circulation and
withstand wet/heavy operational use and communication spaces’ provides guidance on
required cleaning regimes. All joints should corridors, stairs and circulation spaces,
use antifungal material. Gaps or inadequately including widths for trolley movement.
specified/constructed joints should be
designed out or eliminated wherever possible. 3.78 It is essential that this public facility
appropriately promotes equality and respect
3.73 All furniture and finishes in bereaved for everyone. This includes visitors, staff and
visitor areas should be able to withstand the deceased, with a wide range of specialist
cleaning regimes required in health facilities, needs (for example mobility, cultural,
including exposure to advanced technologies language, communication, religion, gender,
(for example steam, UV, HPV). This includes orientation and age).
all soft seating, artwork, ceiling finishes, wall
finishes and floor coverings. 3.79 This approach is to be fully adopted in
the design, with a particular emphasis on the
needs of the elderly, for instance the height of
Equality Act 2010 viewing screens, clear and dementia-friendly
3.74 This guidance must be read in signage, distinguishable wall and floor
conjunction with the public sector equality duty junctions and finishes, and acoustic design
in the Equality Act (2010) and the Equality Act considerations for the hearing impaired. HBN
2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations (2011), or 08-02 – ‘Dementia-friendly health and social
current equivalents. care environments’ provides guidance on
elderly and dementia-friendly environments,
3.75 These Acts state that public authorities, and should be used for all bereaved visitor
including the NHS and local authorities, must areas, and for staff and teaching areas. See
give “due regard” to the need to eliminate also HTM 08-01 – ‘Acoustics’.
unlawful discrimination, advance equality
of opportunity and foster good relations. 3.80 Reception and interview areas will
There must be an integrated response require an induction loop and inductive coupler
across services, facilities, training and phones. See HBN 00-03 for guidance.
communications to ensure the characteristics
protected by the Acts are appropriately served. 3.81 The design and equipment specifications
All proposed public investments need an in changing, body handling, post-mortem and
Equality Impact Assessment at the outset of other staff areas should be as inclusive as
project development. reasonably practicable, all relevant decisions
being recorded and justified in the project
3.76 BS 8300 for design of buildings and their Equality Impact Assessment.
approaches to meet the needs of disabled

26
 4.0 Specific risks for mortuary and post-mortem services

4.0 Specific risks for mortuary

and post-mortem services

4.1 A mortuary and post-mortem facility appropriate Ingress Protection (IP) rating
poses several specific health and safety risks, to prevent electrocution hazards and
which require collaborative assessment and damage. Alternatively, electrical
mitigations, including: equipment may be positioned such that
the water risk and required IP rating is
• physical risks: accidents and injuries reduced (for example use of hanging
that may be associated with the sockets)
following are significant risks in the
post-mortem and body store suite: • chemical risks: associated with noxious
or flammable chemicals such as
– the use of equipment and heavy fixatives, solvents or disinfectants, which
loads are used regularly in the mortuary and
– manual handling issues associated post-mortem room
with the lifting and moving of bodies, • radiation risks: from radioactive
especially in light of increased materials following their use for
numbers of people with excess diagnosis or treatment, still present in
weight the body; or from imaging equipment
– slipping and falling due to the used post-mortem.
presence of fluids on the floor
– accidental cuts, from sharps, Design to minimise risks
instruments, bone fragments or 4.2 The risks associated with a mortuary and
corners of a fitting post-mortem can be minimised not only by
• infection risks: exposure to infectious careful work practice, but also by good
agents already present in bodies collaborative design. It is essential that the
received for storage and/or post-mortem design team and others involved with
or other materials received procuring a new or refurbishing an existing
mortuary and post-mortem facility
• electrical risks: these can arise from appropriately consult with all those operating
incorrect or poorly maintained fittings or and using the services. Project team
connections. Where electrical equipment membership, under the leadership of a project
such as appliances, light fittings, director, should include:
switches etc will be subjected to water in
the form of splashes, jets or submersion, • an NHS Trust representative
it should be specified to have the

27
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

• a local authority director-level 4.6 All equipment should be able to withstand

representative (as required) regular decontamination, and should be
assessed by the IPC lead when being
• a histopathology manager and mortuary specified. Pre-procurement questionnaires
manager (PPQs) may be used to ensure that equipment
• representatives of public bodies involved can be adequately decontaminated and will
in operation or use not pose an IPC risk.

• representatives of staff and key users of 4.7 Equipment manufacturers may also be
the mortuary service, including mortuary consulted at a very early stage in the design
anatomical pathology technologists process, as the type of post-mortem tables,
(APTs), pathologists, hospital ward and benches, refrigerators, hoists and trolleys
hospital mortuary administrators, selected can have a significant impact on
technical support, bereavement care working and handling procedures, and can
officers etc impact on the area requirements within which
they need to operate.
• representatives from IPC, health and
safety, radiation protection, IT and estate 4.8 Well-considered design, subjected to
teams, such as the Trust’s safety groups assessment, is paramount to success. The
and facilities group early establishment of workflows that lessen
• community representatives (for example, the contamination risk from the outset can be
representation from local access groups key. It is established that to effectively control
and local faith groups). and minimise the risk of infection, a mortuary
and post-mortem facility should comprise of
4.3 This team should draw on both past distinct zones separating the various activity
experiences and future plans for the mortuary/ areas and functional zones. This needs to be
post-mortem service. It is important to considered early in the planning stage, and
canvass the views of a wide range of will determine working practices and flows
stakeholders including other organisations within these areas.
affected by the proposed changes. This will
include regulators, commissioners, local 4.9 Recommended decontamination
mortuary service providers, local system schedules/standards, including appropriate
partners and users (for example universities, cleaning and disinfection agents, together with
laboratories, external pathologists and the immunisation, staff health surveillance and
members of public/community groups). provision and training of suitable PPE and
Current and future mortuary equipment, protective clothing, are essential.
materials maintenance contractors and
suppliers should be widely consulted. 4.10 All entrances must be controlled and
must facilitate authorised access only (as set
4.4 Reference should be made to good out in paragraphs 3.28–3.33 ‘Care, safety and
practice (for example as rated by the CQC) in security’), with bereaved visitors being greeted
other similar operations, both locally and and directed upon arrival to a waiting room or
nationally. interview room with WC facilities nearby.

4.5 HTA-licensed establishments must 4.11 If the entrance is shared between staff
inform the HTA of changes to premises. and visitors, an open waiting area is not
Consideration of HTA standards must be appropriate, and staff traffic through the public
factored into designs to ensure compliance. areas should be kept to a minimum.

28
 4.0 Specific risks for mortuary and post-mortem services

4.12 Appropriate access controls should be 4.17 The principles of standard infection
provided, with practical consideration given to control precautions (SICPs) and transmission-
how limited staff can control varying based precautions (TBPs) continue to apply
entrances, especially out-of-hours or at busy whilst deceased individuals remain in the care
times. environment. This is due to the ongoing risk of
infectious transmission via contact (although
4.13 Security should be tailored to local the risk is usually lower than for living
requirements, functions and scale (for patients).
example, use of a dedicated local alarm panel
or a more complex security system that forms 4.18 Washing and/or dressing of the
part of a larger campus). deceased should be avoided if the deceased
is known or suspected to have had an invasive
4.14 Security features to consider may include streptococcal infection, viral haemorrhagic
panic alarms, motion detectors, door contacts, fevers or other Category 4 infectious agents.
window contacts/seismic window sensors and Appendix 11b of the NIPCM should be referred
sounders with remote monitoring to a to.
continuously monitored station.
4.19 Staff should advise relatives of the
4.15 CCTV security systems should be precautions following viewing and/or physical
provided at all entrances, the site perimeter, contact with the deceased, and also of when
and body stores. This may also be an option this should be avoided.
for the service yard, reception and visitors’
area. 4.20 Deceased individuals known or
suspected to have had a Category 4 infectious
agent should be placed in a sealed double
Risks related to infection plastic body bag with absorbent material
4.16 See UK Health Security Agency placed between each bag. The surface of the
(UKHSA), NHS England and the Health and outer bag should then be disinfected with
Safety Executive (HSE) websites for current 1000 ppm available chlorine before being
guidance, in particular: placed in a robust sealed coffin.

• HSG283 – ‘Managing infection risks 4.21 Risks related to the transmission and
when handling the deceased’ (2018), acquisition of Pulmonary Mycobacterium
Health and Safety Executive, provides Tuberculosis should be identified at the
service planners with guidance on the earliest opportunity through review of patient
management and handling of the records and a full risk assessment. Post-
deceased mortems where the patient has been infected
with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis should be
• NHS England’s ‘National infection
subject to a full and detailed risk assessment
prevention and control manual’ (NIPCM)
of those within the area, including the use of
for England
appropriate PPE. Further risk assessments
• the UKHSA’s Advisory Committee on may need to be made where the patient has
Dangerous Pathogens Secretariat been found to have multi-drug resistant
advises on risks and handling of Hazard Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MDR) or
Category 4 Viral Haemorrhagic Fever in extremely resistant Mycobacterium
its 2015 Code of Practice. Facilities Tuberculosis (XDR-TB). If there is a high risk
should be designed to address the of potential acquisition of an infected patient,
directions of this Code of Practice. the high-risk post-mortem procedure should
be considered within the design brief.

29
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Risks related to formalin use 4.27 Personal exposure to formaldehyde

must be monitored regularly, at least every
4.22 Formalin (which is a solution of 12 months, or when any change occurs that
formaldehyde gas in water) is commonly used may affect exposure.
as a fixative to preserve tissues for
microscopic examination. The vapour that 4.28 Formaldehyde should be provided on
arises from solutions exposed to the air is tap. The mixing and storage of formalin should
pungent, and an extreme irritant to the eyes then preferably take place in the specimen
and respiratory tract even at very low store, but can be made up in the dirty utility
concentrations. Skin exposure may lead to room: in both situations continuous ventilation
sensitisation. ECHA (EU 605/2014) re- must be provided. Alternatively, formalin may
classified formalin as a Carcinogen Cat 1B be provided on tap at the point of use, for
“presumed carcinogen”. Formaldehyde gas is instance at the dissection benches, or can be
also flammable. purchased ready made in sealed containers
and used in ventilated areas, thus removing
4.23 The Control of Substances Hazardous to the need to mix it.
Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 state that
exposure to formaldehyde must be controlled 4.29 Operational practice should ensure that
to be as low as possible below the maximum all work with bodies, organs and unfixed
exposure limit of 2 ppm (2.5 mg m3) in the air specimens is strictly limited to the post-
for both the eight-hour and 15-minute mortem zone. Specimens should be brought
reference periods. Refer to HSE guidance, out of the post-mortem room in suitable
EH40/2005 ‘Workplace Exposure Limits’, and containers, and only after surface cleansing
EH40 2011 (or their current versions). and decontamination. The specimens store
should adjoin the post-mortem room, ideally
4.24 COSHH Essentials sheet SR10 provides with a separate access for collecting the
useful information on local exhaust ventilation specimens. The holding and transfer of
(LEV) as an engineering control for the use of specimens within the facility and subsequent
formaldehyde. See http://coshh-tool.hse.gov. transport onwards such as to the pathology
uk/assets/live/SR10.pdf. laboratory, require local policies and risk
assessment.
4.25 The users of the facility should be
consulted to determine precisely what
activities involving formalin are being planned. Risks related to waste
This should be followed by a robust risk
assessment to ensure that the proper use of
disposal
this chemical is properly considered. 4.30 HTM 07-01 – ‘Safe and sustainable
management of healthcare waste’ should be
4.26 As well as strict controls over the referenced when considering waste
use, storage and transport of formalin, management risks.
continuous mechanical ventilation is
necessary in areas where formalin is handled 4.31 Waste products in the mortuary and
in order to minimise the formaldehyde post-mortem fall into six categories, as shown
concentration in the air to be as far below the in Table 6.
prescribed limit as possible: this should be no
less than six air changes per hour.
Examination and testing of local exhaust
ventilation must be undertaken at a maximum
of 14-month intervals.

30
 4.0 Specific risks for mortuary and post-mortem services

Table 6 Waste categorisation in mortuaries possible, facilitating easy removal and daily
cleaning.
Waste type Waste category
1. Human tissues Anatomical waste (if no 4.37 An appropriate rigid container
hazards are present) clearly marked with waste stream and
2. Body fluids Offensive waste (if no hazards identification tags should be used for
are present) transporting clinical waste. An appropriate
3. Disposable, generally Offensive waste, unless lockable space should be provided for storage
single-use items, such as contaminated with a known
paper shrouds, swabs, infectious or hazardous
of waste prior to collection.
dressings, disposable material
protective clothing and
gloves Risks related to radioactive
4. D
 iscarded syringes and
other sharps; may include
Sharps waste
bodies
some implants
4.38 Planners are asked to refer to the
5. Discarded chemicals, such As advised on manufacturer Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017,
as used fixative solutions safety data sheets and
COSHH regulations Approved Code of Practice, and guidance for
working with ionising radiation produced by
6. N
 on-clinical waste arising Recyclable or domestic waste
from office or general the Health and Safety Executive.
activities
4.39 Where mortuaries are separate from
4.32 Human tissues and body fluids should be hospitals and are handling a radiation hazard
treated with respect and dignity at all times. for the first time, an Ionising Radiation
Notification must be sent to the Health and
4.33 Information is also available from the Safety Executive (further information is
‘National guidance for healthcare waste water available on its website).
discharges’ (2014) published by Water UK.
4.40 Where radioactive compounds have
4.34 In a mortuary and post-mortem facility, been used for treatment or diagnosis during
two basic provisions are necessary to enable the life of the subject under examination, this
the safe management of waste. These are: may present a radiation hazard. This hazard
extends to clothing and bed linen.
• a sluice or sluices for material suitable
for direct discharge to drains, subject to 4.41 The majority of diagnostic investigations
the consent of the appropriate water are undertaken with a radioactive isotope
authority (see paragraph 4.33) known as Technetium-99m. This isotope has a
• adequate secure storage and ventilation short half-life of only six hours, and thus post-
of no fewer than six air changes per mortem examinations and embalming, burial
hour for material in bags, packages or etc can usually take place 48 hours after
drums awaiting removal for appropriate administration of the substance. The external
treatment and disposal. radiation hazard associated with most
diagnostic investigations will be small, and
4.35 All post-mortem rooms should have special requirements are usually not
direct access to a disposal hold for waste necessary.
produced during procedures.
4.42 A number of therapeutic procedures are
4.36 All post-mortem room sinks, floor drains undertaken in cancer centres that involve
and sluices etc will be prone to the build-up of large doses of unsealed radioactive
tiny elements of clinical waste and therefore substances being administered. Most notable
should be designed to allow capture wherever amongst these is the use of Iodine-131 to treat
thyroid cancer and Strontium-89 for bone

31
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

metastases. Virtually all the substances used • consider multi-agency needs holistically
have relatively long half-lives. at an early stage

4.43 The design of the facility should adhere • review relevant agencies’ current
to guidelines set out in the Ionising Radiations policies and ICT equipment compatibility
Regulations and statutory requirements of the • ensure sufficient account is taken at the
Radioactive Substances Act 1993. infrastructure design stage in terms of
architecture, engineering and needs of
4.44 The special problems of infection and
communications and IT, including:
radiation risks associated with a mortuary and
post-mortem facility should be discussed at a – data storage and data backup needs
local level, and the advice of the hospital
health and safety advisor, IPC lead and – flexibility of design – particularly for
Radiation Protection Adviser should be sought exceptional events/major incidents
in the early stages of planning. • ensure reliable internet and telephone
access in all areas that can be
challenging, particularly where post-
Risks with communication mortem facilities are located at
and information technology basement level, they have dense or solid
(ICT) wall construction, or their body storage
refrigerator units obstruct signals.
4.45 The safety and security in a mortuary
and post-mortem facility go beyond the routine 4.47 Inadequate ICT systems and reporting
need to safeguard data privacy or misuse. processes can present a major risk when
Specific considerations include compatibility coordinating a regional/national response to
with potentially multiple agencies and systems mass fatality and excess death events. For
involved in service delivery, but also press/ instance, the huge variety of systems and
media intrusion and communications processes used by different sites to monitor
resilience during an exceptional event or major their capacity presented huge logistical
incident. Such risks should be identified early challenges during the recent pandemic
in the design process and be assessed response. This should be considered when
accordingly. specifying future systems – smarter working
systems with open protocols to allow ease of
4.46 For communications and IT resilience, use and information sharing and exchange
the project team should: should be utilised.

32
 4.0 Legislative framework

Part 2: Design considerations for

the functional content of
a mortuary

33
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

5.0 Clinical areas

5.1 Mortuaries contain two types of clinical • post-mortem room

accommodation:
• isolation post-mortem room
• the body store
• post-mortem dirty utility
• the post-mortem suite.
• specimen store
5.2 The body store is designated as the • waste disposal room
transition zone in this HBN.
• domestic services store.
5.3 The body store is contained within all
types of facility and will have the following
rooms as a minimum: Transition zone: body
• body receipt vestibule receipt, storage and removal
• main body store room, including body
facilities
fridges and freezers 5.7 The transition zone provides space for a
number of activities:
• bier storage room(s)
• receipt of bodies on trolleys from within
• personal effects store the hospital and from external sources
• body preparation and ritual washing • labelling or identification of bodies and
facilities logging the details onto the information
• domestic services store. management system
• storage of bodies in refrigerated or
5.4 Viewing rooms are a bridge between the freezer units
transition zone and the bereaved visitor suite,
due to the location of the deceased when • removal, recording and storage of
being viewed. See paragraphs 6.20–6.41 personal effects
‘Viewing facilities’ for details.
• preparation, cleaning and placing of
5.5 The post-mortem suite is part of the shrouds/bags on bodies
clinical area in this HBN (it is classed as a • non-invasive examination of bodies
“dirty zone” within external guidance).
• transfer by trolley/hoist of bodies to the
5.6 Post-mortem facilities are contained only body fridges and/or freezers
within full facilities and regional centres of
excellence. These facilities will contain the
following rooms as a minimum:

34
 5.0. Clinical areas

• removal and transfer of bodies from the intercoms and CCTV are in operation.
body store to viewing rooms (where Security controls, alarms, dedicated parking
provided) bays and sufficient space for large vehicles to
safely manoeuvre and load/unload discreetly
• removal, identity confirmation and are required.
handover to funeral director or police.
5.14 A dedicated approach/exit route is
Entrance for body delivery and desirable but not essential, as most vehicles
for body transportation are inherently designed
collection to be discreet.
5.8 Within this zone, there should be a
separate room for receipt and releasing of 5.15 Regional facilities, which include large
bodies. This acts as a vestibule between the criminal forensic post-mortem suites, should
body store and the wider hospital and/or have an entirely secure service yard that
external vehicle area. The body receipt cannot be overlooked by the general public.
vestibule will provide access security between The facility’s body entrance should be covered
general, publicly-accessible areas and the or entirely enclosed, for example a drive-in
body store. All doors should be access- garage, to secure against intrusion during
controlled and alarmed. body transfer to vehicles.

5.9 Internally, a shared approach off a 5.16 The body entrance may be used
communal street is common, with different for delivery and collection of facilities
entrances provided for the deceased, staff management items, such as consumables,
and bereaved visitors. In this case, careful laundry and waste.
consideration should be given to the discrete
flow and arrival of bodies. Bier storage
5.10 All external entrances must be access- 5.17 Consideration should be given to the
controlled to facilitate authorised access only. storage of biers, which does not require a
separate room and can be located within the
5.11 Entrances to the body receipt vestibule vestibule or body store. Departmental designs
should be screened from general public view should allow for sufficient and safe storage
and should not be overlooked from bereaved that does not impede circulation spaces or the
visitor areas, bedroom windows or public operation of the mortuary.
spaces (such as waiting areas, cafe and so
on).
Body store
5.12 The external entrance into the vestibule 5.18 Suggested room layout diagrams are
should either have a canopy overhead or be a available in Appendix A1 (main body store)
covered parking area that helps prevent and Appendix A2 (bariatric body storage).
overlooking and protects the body from the
elements. 5.19 The body store should be designed to be
isolated both visually and acoustically from the
5.13 The layout should naturally inhibit the public zone.
public looking into the body handling areas by
the provision of a chicane, lobby, window 5.20 The following types of body storage
height, screening – for example planting – or should be provided within all types of facility,
other means. The body entrance should be and require security, temperature control and
overlooked by a staffed area within the continuous monitoring:
mortuary where possible, for example a
technologists’ office, unless audiovisual

35
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

• refrigerated body storage for short-term possible sizes, sufficient capacity should be
storage made for such requirements. The proportion of
different sizes and length of stay provision, i.e.
• freezers for longer-term storage. fridges/freezers, is estimated as a result of
length of stay trends, operational and service
5.21 The freezers and refrigerated body
procedures and demographic trends.
storage are required to:
Paragraphs 2.37–2.46 set out the approach
• limit decomposition while burial or needed to calculate the capacity of the body
cremation arrangements are made store.
• hold bodies and specimens for longer 5.25 The growth in cases of people with
periods in conditions of security excess weight should be carefully assessed,
• maintain bodies and specimens in and appropriate refrigerated storage and
a condition suitable for optimal scientific handling provided. In full facilities and regional
findings from a post-mortem and any centres of excellence, planners should
subsequent analytical investigations consider an appropriate “cold store room” for
people with excess weight who exceed normal
• hold all perinatal loss remains occurring expectations, to remain on trolleys in order to
on NHS premises. minimise unnecessary handling of the body.
This space can also be used to provide
5.22 Some storage units can both refrigerate additional service resilience during times of
and freeze, but these are comparatively excess deaths and can be able to
expensive and are less energy-efficient, so will accommodate open rack trays if required.
often only benefit rural or local facilities with
either space constraints or where demand 5.26 Planners must also consider appropriate
might be quite low. storage for infants and still-birth facilities. CMO
(2015)7 – ‘Guidance on the disposal of
5.23 Bodies normally remain in the mortuary pregnancy remains following pregnancy loss
for between one and four days. However, the or termination’ published by the HTA and
period can extend to weeks and occasionally RCN/ICCM (2015) – ‘Managing the loss of
months if delays occur (for instance when pregnancy remains’ published by the RCN,
next-of-kin are difficult to trace, a public health both mandate dignified storage for all
funeral is required, disputes arise, or pregnancy loss. Where facilities are known to
particularly complex investigations are accommodate deceased infants, Trusts should
required). Storage temperatures should be in allow for specific infant fridges to separate
line with the following requirements: infants from adults where possible. Placental
• refrigerated storage should be 4–6ºC fridge and freezer storage should also be
for storage of less than 30 days or provided.
necessary to preserve the body’s
5.27 All fridges and freezers must be
integrity
continuously monitored, with alarms located
• freezer storage should be at –20ºC if locally within the mortuary (see paragraphs
stored for over 30 days (or sooner – 8.185–8.190). These alarms should also be
depending on the condition of the body). linked to the estates and/or switchboard
function to allow for 24/7 observation. The use
5.24 The size of refrigerated and freezer of technology that allows alarms to link to
compartments should be carefully considered mobile phones and internet-based solutions
to reflect the needs of the local population. alerting on-call managers may also be used
Whilst it is not economically feasible to specify and is encouraged.
a full range of storage facilities with the largest

36
 5.0. Clinical areas

5.28 The body storage will consist of a 5.33 Space is required for parking and
number of labelled compartments. Each bay manoeuvring trolleys and body weighing (if
contains between three and five tiers holding required); either on a separate weighing
the body trays, upon which bodies are stored. machine or on a trolley that incorporates a
Individual compartment bays may either be weighing mechanism.
physically separated from one another or may
be open between one another in a continuous 5.34 A bay within this area may also be
run. The former is useful to isolate high- and required for live, secure video link identification
unknown risk bodies. to a viewing room.

5.29 Body storage safety is a prime concern. 5.35 A doorway between the body store and
A robust security policy and design response post-mortem room is not recommended, in
is required, particularly but not only for criminal order to minimise cross-contamination of
forensic cases. This should be integral to the evidence in criminal forensic cases, and
layout design, access controls etc and/or locks between zones for infection control
on each body store bay. If locks are used, they considerations. If a door is provided for access
must be operable from inside the body store by facilities management staff, this door
bay for safety. All doors to the refrigerated should be locked in normal operational
compartment bays should open out to conditions, and only opened to allow
give access to the body trays and should also maintenance and the like.
be constructed in such a manner that they will
not fall closed while in use. High-quality, 5.36 Careful consideration should be given to
robust hinges and ironmongery are required. the dimensions, manoeuvrability and storage
of body trolleys and mobile or fixed ceiling
5.30 All compartment bays should be robustly hoists. This equipment can have a vast impact
designed for easy and regular maintenance, on space, fittings and finishes; for example,
including ease of decontamination. Internal some hoists are incompatible with some
rollers and racking holding body trays should refrigerated body compartments.
be removable to permit clear entry to the
compartment bay for cleaning. 5.37 Hoists, body storage units, post-mortem
tables etc need to be fully coordinated through
5.31 The refrigeration plant must be resilient the planning and procurement process so that
and fully accessible for maintenance. ceiling heights, fixtures, services and floor
Components located in outside areas should surfaces allow their smooth operation. Hoists
be secured to prevent unauthorised access. should be able to go high, low and deep
Maintenance provision should be implemented enough to efficiently engage the retraction/
as per the manufacturer’s instructions, and an insertion mechanism and retrieve bottom and
engineering services risk assessment should top trays within the body store. Turning circles
be undertaken to inform requirements for plant of the largest equipment should be agreed.
and services distribution resilience and
redundancy. Resilience considerations should 5.38 The parking of trolleys and hoists when
include the provision of duplex plant or other not in use requires a large bay or alcove,
contingency arrangements for business readily accessible, but also out of the way to
continuity in the event of a prolonged outage. avoid collisions. Charging points for powered
trolleys should be provided in this area.
5.32 Where a post-mortem room is required,
the body store and handling area should 5.39 The body store should contain a writing
adjoin the post-mortem room directly, but only surface and space to operate a computer with
be connected using double-sided pass- appropriate services and data connections, to
through fridges. record the receipt and discharge of bodies and
personal effects.

37
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

5.40 If a facility handles the bodies of Body preparation room

deceased children and infants, a worktop/table
5.43 All body stores should contain a separate
for moses baskets, cribs or other small
room in order to allow the preparation of the
carrying devices should be provided to place
body in a dignified manner. This room should:
these on. This will preserve the dignity of the
deceased whilst the admission is being • contain washing facilities for normal
registered. On no account should such cleaning of bodies received and be
carrying devices be placed on top of capable of facilitating religious washing if
unsuitable equipment. required. This room should be capable
of being accessed by the public without
5.41 Note that all body storage spaces accessing the main body store
will need regular decontamination and
cleaning, the timing and level of which will • be capable of allowing blackout
depend on where the body has come from (for conditions for non-intrusive UV
example hospital deaths as opposed to bodies examination
collected from the community). See HSE
• act as a viewing room if required, albeit
guidance HSG283 (2018).
because of the above functionality, this
5.42 Clinical wash basins (see HBN 00-10 room will need to be of a clinical
Part C – ‘Sanitary assemblies’) and wash- specification and should not be the
down points should be provided in the body primary viewing room in full facilities and
store area. regional centres of excellence.

Figure 2 E
 xample body preparation room, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

38
 5.0. Clinical areas

5.44 Planners should consider where tissue 5.50 Post-mortem facilities will vary in
retrieval for donation purposes will occur in requirements based on the service profile of
facilities with no post-mortem rooms. The cases passing through them. There are
preparation room can be used for the removal effectively two types of facility:
of some tissue, for example corneal tissue, but
other tissue will require an operating theatre. • post-mortem facilities without criminal
forensic cases

Personal effects store • post-mortem facilities with criminal

forensic cases.
5.45 A specific secured and controlled
room must be provided for the storage of 5.51 Physically, the difference between the
personal items and effects, including clothing, spaces is minimal. Criminal forensic post-
from the deceased. Some of these items may mortems will contain a much larger number of
be valuable: consideration should be given to staff and must also contain spaces dedicated
the specific storage of such items in a safe. to the storage of evidence in a location
suitable to satisfy criminal justice requirements
where it will not be contaminated by matter
Finishes and fittings from any other cases. Non-forensic cases can
5.46 The floor of the body handling area rely on a more generic, shared storage facility.
should be robust, non-slip and impervious to
withstand daily hose cleaning and disinfectant. 5.52 When planning a mortuary with criminal
The floor should self-drain. It should fall to forensic post-mortem facilities, the following
frequent drainage gullies and/or short section factors should be considered:
channels without ponding. The whole floor
• the need for appropriate security
system should be easily maintained, jointless,
arrangements, for example lockable
durable and self-coved at wall junctions.
body stores or swipe access to facilities,
5.47 Wall and ceiling finishes should be robust in order to preserve the continuity of
and withstand daily washing. evidence chain. It is allowable to have a
single fridge available with a different
5.48 The frequent movement of heavily-laden locking mechanism to the main set of
mortuary trolleys and mobile hoists has fridges
potentially severe safety and maintenance • dedicated parking bays, including for the
implications. Corners, doors and exposed police
areas of walls must be protected against
damage. Doors and frames should be robust • the need for an observation gallery and/
and wide enough to reduce the chances of or room, for between four and 16 people
collision and consequent damage to property to view criminal forensic post-mortems.
and injury to staff. Police and other staff will need to work
whilst awaiting post-mortems, and
provision of seating and desks/writing
Post-mortem zone surfaces should be considered
5.49 Post-mortem rooms serve to carry out
• the need for remote viewing, especially if
several functions. These include the opening
the facility is used for training purposes
of bodies, the weighing and dissection of
organs, and demonstration of post-mortems to • a separate post-mortem viewing area
clinical and criminal justice staff. For this will be required where crime scene
reason, the post-mortem suite is classed in investigators (CSI) would be handling
this HBN as a clinical area. exhibits

39
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

• the need to separate workload and Post-mortem rooms generally

provide different high-risk post-mortem
5.53 A suggested room layout diagram is
rooms to the criminal forensic post-
included in Appendix A3 for a three-table
mortem room(s)
post-mortem room.
• the need to appropriately deal with
a wider range of deaths, such as 5.54 Bodies should be brought from the body
disease, decomposition or store directly through a pass-through fridge
dismemberment, and the higher risks and transferred onto a post-mortem table on a
these may bring hoist or trolley.

• the need for additional IT and 5.55 A dual-sided refrigerated body store
communications, including mobile should be provided to transfer bodies between
phone/police radio, and audio/video the body store and post-mortem room.
communication from the post-mortem Appropriate space is needed in the post-
room to the observation gallery and mortem room for safely manoeuvring trolleys/
teaching/conference facilities hoists in front of body fridges, loading or
transferring bodies onto the post-mortem
• the need for additional storage, staff
table, and for storing and using a second hoist
training and support areas.
(if required), without risk of collision.
Equipment selection has serious
consequences for space and layouts.

Figure 3a E
 xample of a post-mortem room, with observation windows © Paul Murphy Architects

40
 5.0. Clinical areas

Figure 3b E
 xample of a post-mortem room, with observation windows © Paul Murphy Architects

5.56 In the case of full-body handling

systems, the body remains on the store body
tray during the post-mortem, secured to a Figure 4 E
 xample of dissection bench
© Paul Murphy Architects
post-mortem station. This option must ensure
that the deceased is cleaned and dried fully
underneath prior to being returned to the
body store.

5.57 The dissection of organs should take

place on a nearby dissecting bench, often
running along a length of wall.

5.58 Post-mortem rooms are to be sized for

anticipated volume of cases plus resilience,
as set out in Chapter 2 ‘System planning
considerations’. Three post-mortem tables
will permit one pathologist to carry out
examinations efficiently in one attendance.

5.59 Tissues, organs and/or fluids obtained

during post-mortem examination are infused
in fixative in various-sized containers. This
work is carried out at the dissection bench.
These samples may be held for a short time
within the post-mortem suite or specimen
store prior to dispatch, for example to the
pathology laboratory. An option for a dual-
access specimen store between the post-
mortem room and staff corridor could benefit

41
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

flow, but only if appropriate security and benefits over conventional post-mortem
ventilation solutions are in place. tables. These need regular system verification
and easy cleaning access to the underside of
5.60 Post-mortem rooms should not be the perforated top, for example removable
connected to any remotely monitored CCTV short sections. Frequency of system
system. Whilst CCTV is permitted, if installed it verification for down-draught post-mortem
should be recorded locally. tables will depend on manufacturer
specifications; it is generally every 14 months.
5.61 A wash-hand basin should be provided Down-draught tables require a floor slab. A
near to the room exit, adjacent to the post- straightforward solid table with peripheral
mortem transit lobby. linear extract for the entire space may be
preferable; down-draught tables can desiccate
Post-mortem tables bodies.
5.62 Post-mortem tables/trolleys must be 5.64 Some post-mortem rooms use a full-
easy to clean, free from traps for potentially body handling system where the body tray is
infected material and must allow provision for moved by ceiling hoist and “plugs” into the
water flow. table on brackets, or has plug-in tilting trolleys.
These both simplify manual handling and floor
5.63 Down-draught ventilated post-mortem services, but require complex ceiling
tables are often preferred, despite their coordination and possible large open-plan
challenges to install, clean and maintain, as cold stores.
they offer some microbiological and odour

Figure 5 Post-mortem tables at St Pancras Mortuary © Paul Murphy Architects

42
 5.0 Technical approach

5.65 Adjustable-height tables should be disposal of their contents. A low-pressure

provided to comply with Health & Safety at water pipe should be provided, preferably in
Work and Manual Handling Regulations for the wall of the sink(s). A standing waste is
working heights. Also consider dissection required, and a filter trap is necessary.
bench height(s). A 180º rotating table adds
flexibility and demonstrates the “other side” to 5.72 The observation area should overlook a
viewers in the observation area, though a dissecting bench. Access to power outlets,
video link with multiple HD cameras may where required, should be either water-
negate the need for this. resistant IP65-rated with robust hinged covers,
or if possible, should be located away from
5.66 Consideration should be given to at least direct exposure to water and splashes.
one table being provided with an overhead
examination lamp, capable of providing 5.73 Risk assessment should be undertaken
different colour lighting to suit the on post-mortem staff safety, for instance an
requirements of the procedure being emergency eye-wash station or appropriate
undertaken. tap/shower in or near the post-mortem suite.

5.67 Each post-mortem table should have 5.74 The dissecting bench and immediate
a hot and cold water supply and a waste outlet surrounding splash area must be robust and
of approximately 75 mm diameter, fitted with a easily cleaned daily, regularly maintained, and
suitable, easily accessible trap and drain pipe. have no traps or gaps in which infected
The table should be fixed to the floor, in material can be lodged. Ideally it should be
proximity to a floor drain. wall-mounted with integral splashback and
have a specific dissecting station for each
5.68 During post-mortem examination, there post-mortem table, with access to a sink,
may be a need to dictate findings, take X-rays, raised stands and weighing machine. Each
examine CT scans or X-rays taken earlier, and station should also have a linear exhaust
use portable electrical equipment. Safety ventilation grille to reduce infection risk and
precautions are required when using fixed and odours.
portable electrical equipment in the post-
mortem room. Services outlets should be 5.75 Consideration should be given to
provided both overhead and on the table plinth providing both left-handed and right-handed
for ease of access. dissection benches in the post-mortem room.

Dissecting benches Post-mortem rooms with criminal

5.69 There should be a dissecting bench forensic facilities
provided for each post-mortem table. 5.76 If a post-mortem room is designated or
used for criminal forensic examinations, the
5.70 The dissecting bench should have raised following additional considerations and
edges and slope to a sink or sinks, which equipment should be considered:
should be deep enough for the washing of
organs. There should be provision for running • an observation room, with two-way
water over the bench itself. The drainage flow audio/visual communication; this will be
of water should be checked and confirmed. located in the staff administration and
The positioning of sinks along the dissecting welfare facilities (see Chapter 7 ‘Non-
bench should suit the pattern of working clinical areas: staff zone’ for details)
agreed upon by the staff.
• audiovisual recording and two-way
5.71 A dissecting bench with integrated sluice communication to a large meeting/
is required for the opening of intestines and

43
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

exceptional event/major incident room both result reporting and chain of

and/or to an off-site facility custody
• additional office accommodation/hot • paediatric, teaching or research
desks for other agencies post-mortems – as above, but
additionally allowing a more secure area
• an additional area around the post- for storage
mortem table for additional staff and
equipment • high-risk post-mortems – required for
deceased people with high levels of
• ceiling mounted white screens for body deterioration or known/suspected
photography infection or hazards, reducing the area
• UV light and blackout screens for DNA where there is risk of contamination and
work extent of cleaning.

• additional and secure storage for items 5.81 The common benefit for all use
such as evidence or equipment. categories identified above of an isolation
post-mortem room, otherwise known as a
5.77 It is feasible for up to six staff in addition “high risk” room, will be to reduce disruption of
to the pathologist to be present in the post- routine work, which can continue in the main
mortem room at the time of a criminal forensic post-mortem room unabated.
post-mortem; therefore the design should
ensure sufficient space is provided within the 5.82 An isolation room is not essential, as
post-mortem room. most post-mortem facilities will undertake
some or all of the above functions and will
5.78 Criminal forensic post-mortems may also simply segregate the various procedures in
require multiple agencies to observe the the schedule to improve efficiency; for
procedure remotely, such as police, legal and example they may carry out specialist post-
medical professionals. A series of cameras mortems at the end of a “normal” post-mortem
may be required which will be linked directly to session or on a separate day. A room can be
equipment in the observation room. Whilst the justified when case volume/resilience
camera system will be activated by the requirements are high.
pathologist, operational control of the system
will be in the observation room.
Specimen store
Isolation post-mortem rooms 5.83 Tissue samples for microscopic
examination in the pathology department,
5.79 A suggested room layout diagram is together with retained organs in fixative, may
included in Appendix A4 for an isolation post be kept in the specimen store for certain
mortem room. periods. Shelves made from impervious
material will be required for holding jars or
5.80 Early in the briefing process containers of various sizes. Plinths, or spaces
consideration should be given to the benefits below high benching, may be required for
of providing a post-mortem table in a separate formalin containers.
room or rooms for:
• criminal forensic post-mortems 5.84 The room must be ventilated
– allowing lengthy examinations, privacy, continuously because of the hazard arising
and visitor attendance such as police from formalin used in the specimen
and photographic crew/equipment, and containers. Ideally this store should be linked
minimising cross-contamination risks to to the post-mortem room through a hatch, to
allow specimens to be taken from the post-

44
 5.0 Technical approach

mortem room without walking from the post- 5.91 The post-mortem dirty utility may
mortem room directly into a non-clinical area. be used for instrument cleaning and
decontamination. For instance, a local or
central ultrasound cleaner, washer-disinfector
Criminal forensic specimen store and autoclave may be used in accordance
5.85 Facilities that conduct a significant with current guidance (including BS EN
volume of criminal forensic post-mortems ISO15883 and HSE guidance). This function
should consider, with partners, whether a should be risk-assessed. (It is noted that the
separate dedicated room is required for use of autoclaves is becoming less common.)
evidence collection in which scene of crime
officers/CSI are located during post-mortems. 5.92 Chemical solutions may also be prepared
or dispensed in this room, according to local
5.86 The separated room will be designed to policy.
the same specification as the main specimen
store but also provide dedicated securable 5.93 Sinks should be provided for washing
storage for criminal forensic post-mortem and disinfecting bowls and instruments.
equipment and packaging required in criminal
forensic post-mortems. These cupboards 5.94 Waterproof aprons, if used, will also be
should only be accessed by ISO-accredited washed in this space, and facilities should be
staff. provided for aprons to be hung to dry.

5.87 The post-mortem viewing room should 5.95 The reserve stock of instruments,
be located in such a way that it can be used unused specimen jars and chemical solutions
as a briefing area, as not all staff will be may be held in this room.
allowed into a CSI area under the new
regulations. 5.96 A flushing sluice may be sited in this
room or immediately outside it within the
post-mortem room.
Post-mortem dirty utility
5.97 If this function is provided as a separate
5.88 A suggested room layout diagram is
room, a hand-wash sink should be provided.
included in Appendix A5 for a post mortem
There may also be a need to change PPE.
dirty utility.

5.89 The post-mortem dirty utility can be Post-mortem domestic services

either a room directly off the post-mortem room
room or a space within the post-mortem room.
5.98 This room should open directly off the
5.90 The functional content of the post- main post-mortem room. It should house the
mortem dirty utility is distinct from that cleaning equipment required to ensure that all
ordinarily associated with a standard dirty rooms within the post-mortem zone are kept
utility (as described in HBN 00-03) because clean, safe and hygienic at the end of every
the whole area within a post-mortem suite is post-mortem session, such as the floor
deemed to be a “clinical” zone and therefore scrubber and cleaning agents. Equipment and
the need for separation of contaminated items materials in this room must be segregated
is not predicated on reducing contact with from all other zones within the mortuary.
clean spaces. For instance, instrument storage
can be located in this room and a separate 5.99 This room may also be used for cleaning
clean utility is not necessarily required. contaminated equipment such as trolleys.

5.100 If there are multiple post-mortem rooms,

consideration should be given to the

45
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

incorporation of an independent “cleaning covering use of PPE for HG3 pathogens. For
station” within each of the isolation post- management of pathogens, see HSE Advisory
mortem rooms. These cleaning stations would Committee for Dangerous Pathogens –
not store all of the cleaning equipment and ‘Management and operation of microbiological
consumables, but only those required for spot containment laboratories’ (2018).
cleaning between sessions.
Figure 6 Example of boot wash unit © Leec Ltd

Post-mortem transit lobby

5.101 A suggested room layout diagram is
included in Appendix A6 for a post-mortem
transit lobby.

5.102 Controlled access to and from the

post-mortem room is essential via the post-
mortem transit lobby, adjoining the staff
changing area. The transit lobby should be the
only access point into the post-mortem zone
for people working in the department.

5.103 The post-mortem transit lobby will

contain a physical barrier that separates
the staff zone and post-mortem zone. It is
recommended that the barrier is a stub wall
approximately 300 mm wide which people
entering the post-mortem zone can sit on to 5.106 All persons should discard used
remove their clean shoes and don their post- protective clothing within the post-mortem
mortem boots. It is feasible that this barrier transit lobby or post-mortem room. Separate
could be a proprietary bench solution; bins should be provided for the disposal of
however, the choice to use this solution should single-use items, and collection of re-usable
be based on a full assessment of the cleaning items pending decontamination/cleaning.
and maintenance requirements. It is not
recommended to use a sunken foot bath or 5.107 The space and layout must reinforce
shower tray. non-clinical and clinical flows to avoid cross-
contamination.
5.104 There should be a shoe rack provided
at the clean side of the transit lobby for “clean” 5.108 Clinical hand-wash facilities with mixer
shoes to be stored. A boot rack should be taps in accordance with HBN 00-10 Part C
provided on the dirty side of the barrier which and HTM 04 01 should be provided for
is easily reached by someone sitting on the washing hands, following the removal of
barrier without the need to stand up. Adjacent protective clothing. A mirror should be
to the boot rack should be a boot wash unit. provided to allow staff to check for
contamination and cleanliness.
5.105 All persons entering the post-mortem
room must change into PPE, protective
clothing, boots etc. Suitable shelving, racks Finishes and fittings
and hooks are to be provided within the post- 5.109 The specification of mortuary and
mortem transit lobby for the storage of PPE post-mortem facility fittings, finishes etc needs
and its decontamination/disposal. The facility to be appropriately robust to withstand heavy
should have a standard operating procedure use, such as regular trolley impact as well as

46
 5.0 Technical approach

vigorous cleaning regimes. Materials should and benches; although porcelain has a high-
be selected to be fit for purpose, requiring quality finish, it is expensive and liable to
minimal redecoration and replacement. damage. Plastic, laminate, wood and wooden
fittings are not suitable as benches/work
5.110 Wall surfaces to at least shoulder surfaces.
height (no less than 1450 mm above the floor),
or ideally to the ceiling, should be impervious 5.116 Post-mortem room sinks and drains
to water and disinfectant and durable to daily must include a sump pot to reduce the
hose/wash-down cleaning. accidental risk of human tissue washing away.
Drains should be of sufficiently large diameter
5.111 Post-mortem room walls and partitions to limit blockages, for instance of sink waste
should be appropriately robust, sealed and pipes. All taps should be elbow-operated or
jointless, with access panels, ledges or gaps hands-free. Refer to HBN 00-10 Part C for
carefully designed to be minimised or guidance.
eliminated wherever possible.
5.117 Special design consideration should be
5.112 Post-mortem room doors should be given to joints at entrances, corners, walls,
appropriately robust, sealed and jointless. If fittings etc that will be subject to heavy and/or
vision panels are required, they should be wet use. Careful detailing and specification to
specified with no ledges or gaps. They should prolong the life cycle of materials in vulnerable
withstand high levels of humidity and regular areas is required.
wash-downs.
5.118 When specifying the post-mortem
5.113 Post-mortem room floors must be very tables, body storage and handling systems,
hard-wearing, jointless, non-slip, coved and specifiers should ensure that all systems are
sealed at wall junctions. The floor should fall coordinated with each other and with surface
sufficiently and evenly, to be self-draining finishes; for example, dual-sided body storage
towards gullies or channels. It is imperative needs a level floor zone of approximately 2 m
that outlets are at the lowest floor level, with for safe hoist operation.
falls to drains to ensure no water pooling, and
to minimise slipping and infection hazards. 5.119 Users should be consulted at an early
Drains are to be designed for easy and regular stage to risk-assess activities and the design
cleaning and disinfection, such as channel of post-mortem facility fittings, finishes etc.
gratings in easily lifted short sections, allowing Identified key risk areas will require rigorous
disinfection by submersion in a sink or assessment, such as a full-scale mock-up for
container. user testing and agreement, constructed at the
earliest opportunity, and certainly prior to
5.114 Post-mortem room ceilings should be handover acceptance.
sealed and jointless, with access panels
minimised. They should withstand high levels
of humidity and occasional wash-downs. Lighting and acoustics
Acoustic design should also be considered, as 5.120 The post-mortem room is an area
the ceiling is the easiest surface to provide the where staff can be working for extensive and
sound absorption essential to ensure intensive periods of time. Where practicable,
appropriate staff audibility and wellbeing. daylight should be considered to promote
wellbeing, through either windows or skylights,
5.115 Post-mortem room fittings are to be positioned or frosted to prevent unauthorised
appropriately robust, sealed and jointless. All viewing. All windows and skylights should be
fittings should be ergonomically designed, with capable of achieving blackout conditions.
minimal ledges, gaps or dishing. Porcelain and
stainless steel are suitable materials for sinks

47
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

5.121 The distribution and location of windows • ceiling lighting should provide good,
should take into account the need for ample even, general illumination of ≥300 lux at
daylight, yet maintain security and privacy, and workbench height
prevent glare or excess solar gain. Windows
are generally preferable to rooflights, but • local task lights must provide ≥1000 lux.
consideration must be given to minimise ledge Situated on articulated arms, they must
design and ensure easy cleaning and cover the whole length of each post-
maintenance. mortem table and the dissecting
benches
5.122 Windows should be capable of • all lights should be an approved colour-
achieving blackout conditions for criminal rendering light source and should be
forensic work/photography. high-efficiency luminaires sealed or
designed to ensure no dust ledges, as
5.123 Post-mortem window units must be
set out in the CIBSE Lighting Guides
fixed and non-opening to avoid loss of control
LG02.
of air movement by the ventilation system,
which is crucial in this area. Glazing should 5.125 Acoustic control and sound absorption
preferably face north or be diffused to measures are needed in the post-mortem
minimise shadows and should not affect room to provide a suitable working
colour tones. environment, particularly where intercom or
electronic dictation is required. The option to
5.124 Artificial lighting in the post-mortem
play music should be considered, for example
room should supplement natural lighting,
the incorporation of ceiling-mounted speakers.
providing low-contrast glare-free background
illumination and high-performance, robust task 5.126 There should be control of noise
lighting: breakout to any bereaved visitors’ areas.

48
 6.0 Non-clinical areas: public zone

6.0 N
 on-clinical areas: public
zone

6.1 With the exception of Level 1 body store 6.5 Acoustic design should be carefully
only facilities, all mortuaries will contain specified to minimise noise transference from
spaces for bereaved visitors to view the other parts of the mortuary.
deceased and potentially receive counselling
and support during their bereavement. This 6.6 There should be clear wayfinding
document will refer to this space as a provided within the hospital and wider hospital
bereaved visitor suite. grounds, that minimises the journey distance
and time for bereaved visitors and avoids
6.2 The bereaved visitor suite is designated areas that may be distressing to the bereaved,
as a non-clinical area within this guidance. such as walking past ED or ward settings
where loved ones may have died.
6.3 The suite will comprise of some or all of
the following spaces:
Entrance and waiting area
• access lobby
6.7 As previously outlined, the number of
• entrance and waiting area entrances and approaches to the mortuary will
be determined by the scale of the facility, its
• visitor toilet location and how it may relate to adjacent
• reception and waiting rooms for centres services.
with high access rates
6.8 Entrances should be obvious in terms of
• viewing room(s) and directly adjacent their function and be kept to a minimum for
bier room(s) and/or combined viewing security. The facility may require the following
and bier rooms entrances:
• body washing facilities, depending on • one for bereaved visitors
cultural requirements at a local level
• one for body delivery and collection,
• interview room, which can also be used which should be through a vestibule that
for counselling. separates the body store from the
entrance
6.4 The bereaved visitors’ suite should be a
serene and reassuring environment. Choice of • one for staff, although in smaller facilities
colours, textures, art and lighting are this can be shared with visitors.
important. This should be designed in
consultation with members of the community 6.9 It is acceptable, but not encouraged, for
and local faith groups. there to be two body entrances, one from
within the hospital and one external, used for

49
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

discharge to funeral directors and potentially 6.17 The visitors’ waiting area can double
receiving community admissions. Any as an interview/counselling room for most
entrance/exit point used for bodies should facilities, and will be the first area visitors are
connect to the body store through a vestibule. escorted or directed to upon arrival. It should
be visible from the visitors’ entrance and the
6.10 Only the external body entrance admin/reception area, if provided. It should be
can be used for facilities management serene and non-institutional.
functions, including deliveries, waste disposal
and disposal of any other dirty material such 6.18 An adjacent wheelchair-accessible WC
as linen and equipment. should be provided in this area, close to the
body viewing room and readily accessible to
6.11 The visitors’ entrance should be mortuary staff.
separated and clearly identified, with the body
entrance distant and concealed from view. 6.19 An open waiting area is not
recommended, as it may be distressing and
6.12 Multiple visitors’ entrances should uncomfortable for visitors to be in public view.
be avoided, as they are not supportive of An open waiting area should only be provided
equality, security or wayfinding. If possible, if a used for short-term wait (for instance less
nearby parking, including disabled parking, is than 10 minutes).
required for visitors and visiting professionals,
for example police or scene of crime officers.
Viewing facilities
6.13 Visitors should be able to report to a 6.20 Appendix A8 includes suggested room
staffed reception, or be seen and escorted layouts for viewing facilities.
immediately to waiting or viewing facilities.
6.21 Viewing facilities may consist of some or
6.14 Preferably, the visitors’ external entrance all of the following:
will be lobbied. Where possible, the lobby
should have an internal access into the main • separate viewing room and bier room
hospital and an external access. Ideally,
• combined viewing and bier room
consideration should be given to the soft
landscaping surrounding the external entry • ritual body washing and preparation
point, to provide healing spaces and hide from rooms, for which the body store body
view any external access point for body preparation room can be considered in
delivery and collection. smaller facilities.

6.15 Access should use an audio/visual 6.22 Viewing facilities should be

intercom in order to secure staff against compassionately designed to provide
incidents of violence and aggression, and a serene viewing facility that allows individuals
where possible should be overlooked by a the space and time to grieve. The environment
staffed area. Where there is 24-hour access should promote calm reflection without affinity
or criminal forensic use, consider both CCTV to any particular religion or world view.
monitor and visual intercom.
6.23 There will often be a mixed caseload of
6.16 Entry should lead to visitors’ waiting age, religion and gender of deceased people
area(s), with interview/counselling room(s) and being viewed, so mortuary staff may
WC facilities off. Clear and appropriate accessorise the viewing room sympathetically.
signage and visual/audible notice should be The decor and design should consider how
provided so visitors know when mortuary staff this can be achieved and how items such as
are available or are being summoned. cool cots, cribs and other decoration and

50
 6.0 Non-clinical areas: public zone

Figure 7 Example of viewing room decor © Grosvenor Interiors

religious paraphernalia can be stored outside Separate viewing room and bier room
of the room.
6.28 The viewing room will directly connect
6.24 Large regional centres should provide with the bier room.
appropriate criminal forensic viewing and
6.29 The access between the viewing room
dedicated infant suites.
and bier room should be managed by an
6.25 All spaces must be compliant with the access-controlled door. There should be a
Equality Act (2010). Equality of access for all is viewing window provided which includes
essential, including young, elderly, those with curtains, blinds or similar to separate these
hearing or visual impairments and wheelchair rooms visually. This will allow visitors both time
users, etc. Considerations such as glazing to prepare and choice in how they interact with
height between the viewing and bier room will the deceased. In some criminal forensic cases
allow both sitting and standing viewing. The bereaved visitors may be suspects, and so
addition of a handrail for support for the physical interaction may not be allowable.
ambulant disabled should be considered.
6.30 Controls for curtain/blinds are to be
6.26 A mobile phone signal is needed, and accessible by the escort from the viewing
access to a cordless phone is required in case room. Curtain/blinds are required to both
of emergency. sides, for example an integral blind operated
by staff in the bier room, and a heavy curtain
6.27 Provision of tea, coffee and drinking to cover the full viewing wall. A handrail at the
water facilities should be considered. This window, or furniture nearby, will provide
should be risk-assessed and reflect all support to viewer.
maintenance requirements.
6.31 When visitors are ready, the escort will
open the curtain/blinds or connecting door for
those who may wish closer access to the

51
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Figure 8 Example of concept design for a separated waiting/viewing room © Grosvenor Interiors

body. The length of stay may vary, and the CCTV monitor, again controlled by the staff
staff escort may leave to allow privacy, but be escort. This CCTV will link to a camera in the
close at hand. body handling area and will allow for body
viewing remotely in monochrome for those
visitors who wish it, as well as criminal forensic
Combined viewing and bier room identification.
6.32 In smaller facilities where viewings will be
arranged with mortuary staff in advance, it is 6.36 Both types of viewing room will have
feasible for bereaved visitors to arrive and be access from a waiting room in the public zone
escorted directly to the viewing without the and the body store in the transition zone. The
need for a separate viewing and bier room. doors into both zones from the viewing
A combined room is allowable. facilities must have access control, which
should be an electronic system that allows
only authorised staff members to operate it.
General environment Members of the public must not be able to exit
6.33 The environment should be serene, with the viewing facilities into the transition zone.
soft acoustics and privacy from the rest of the
mortuary. Furnishings are to be homely, with a 6.37 The body may be prepared for viewing in
range of soft chairs and space for wheelchairs the body handling area and laid out on a
and other mobility aids. draped bier trolley which is then wheeled into
this room. Careful design of the connecting
6.34 Controls for doors, blinds, dimmable doors is required to allow easy, noiseless
lighting, heating and ventilation are to be passage of the trolley, and to provide visual
accessible by the escort from the viewing and acoustic isolation while viewing is in
room. progress. For infection control, the bier room
flooring should be impervious, and walls
6.35 The number of viewing/bier rooms will should be washable but as non-institutional as
vary for each facility and be calculated on the practicable, for bereaved visitors to view the
expected throughput of bereaved visitors body.
within that setting. In large facilities, multiple
viewing/bier rooms may be required, 6.38 Ritual washing and/or preparation
particularly where providing NHS and criminal is often left to funeral directors or local
forensic services. In this situation at least one religious venues; however, if the Equality
room may be provided with a wall-mounted Impact Assessment determines that this

52
 6.0 Non-clinical areas: public zone

facility is required, it should be sited in a wet from post-mortems etc. An adjacent

room accessible to visitors and to the body wheelchair-accessible WC is required. The
store. Religious beliefs may have an effect on room should be near the visitor entrance and
the orientation of this body wash station. As body viewing, but also easily accessible by
set out in Chapter 5 ‘Clinical areas’, it is staff.
feasible to use the body preparation room
within the transition zone to fulfil this function. 6.46 Consideration should be given to the
location of the bereavement centre which may
6.39 Natural lighting, ventilation and thermal be provided within the mortuary or located
comfort control should be provided where elsewhere within the hospital or community. If
possible, to allow user control and choice, and located within the mortuary, special care and
to offer pleasant external views where attention should be given to avoid bereaved
possible. visitors witnessing the transfer of the
deceased.
6.40 Artificial lighting should further enhance
the internal environment, using soft lighting, 6.47 The bereavement centre will deal with
subtle wall washing and dimmable controls many aspects of counselling following a death,
within the viewing and bier rooms. including issuing the death certificate, retrieval
of the deceased’s belongings, tissue donations
6.41 Ventilation should be carefully designed and advice/information on dealing with
to prevent odour transfer from all other parts of bereavement. Different elements are often
the mortuary. HTM 03-01 – ‘Specialised provided by multiple agencies, for instance
ventilation for healthcare premises’ provides social care, charities and the voluntary sector.
further details on the prevention of odour
transfer.
Project option: separate infant and
6.42 Where practically possible, facilities child viewing suite
should provide access to nature, such as a
6.48 Centres which include specialist
garden or outdoor seating. This is considered
paediatric and maternity facilities may benefit
greatly beneficial to the health and wellbeing
from a dedicated infant viewing room.
of bereaved visitors.
6.49 The decision to include a dedicated room
Interview/counselling room will be based on the expected quantity of
infant and child deaths, plus stillbirth and
6.43 There should be a sufficient number
perinatal loss volumes to justify the addition of
of interview/counselling rooms to allow
a dedicated viewing room. High volumes of
appropriate visitor gathering and segregation if
activity are likely to benefit from a dedicated
required, both pre- and post-viewing.
combined viewing/bier room. This more
6.44 The environment should be non- comfortable environment, without a screen
institutional, with soft furnishings, art, barrier, enables parents to sit and hold their
comfortable chairs and a small table, and child.
heating and lighting should be controlled
6.50 It is likely that such rooms will be used
in-room, with natural light and ventilation if
for prolonged periods and will require
possible. Beverage facilities may be provided.
measures to keep the bodies cool. Recent
6.45 These rooms may be shared across research into bereaved parents’ experiences
agencies, so may be used by mortuary staff, of using cooling facilities conducted by York
police or others to comfort the bereaved, University demonstrates the benefits of
explain procedures following a death or post- providing such facilities to those highly
mortem, or discuss tissue donations, findings traumatised by the death of a child.

53
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

6.51 Rooms providing this facility should have spend contemplative or remembrance time is
the ethos of a “cooled bedroom” using cool to be considered. It may be part of, or slightly
cots, cooling systems and/or cooling blankets separate from, the mortuary, such as part of
to facilitate multiple hours of contact between larger campus gardens and/or bereavement
parents and their deceased children. Any centre facilities. This option could benefit from
cooling system should have an element of endowment or charitable funding.
local control within limits established by
mortuary staff. 6.53 If a garden is provided it should be
designed to enhance the ecological value of
the site, provide places for reflection that can
Project option: quiet room/spiritual be designed to protect users, and include
space or garden appropriate ambient lighting.
6.52 Access to or provision of a quiet room/
spiritual space or garden where visitors may

54
 7.0 Non-clinical areas: staff zone

7.0 Non-clinical areas: staff zone

7.1 Staff welfare facilities and administration 7.5 Some mortuaries will provide additional
spaces will be required independently of the facilities for teaching and research purposes;
main staff facilities elsewhere in the building. these facilities will comprise of some or all of
the following spaces:
7.2 The majority of mortuary facilities will
contain a staff administration and welfare • meeting/seminar rooms
suite, which can be separated into two distinct • open-plan office
functions:
• library.
• staff administration and welfare facilities
• teaching and research facilities.
Staff administration and
7.3 The staff zone is designated as a non- welfare facilities
clinical area within this guidance.
7.6 The functions and scale of the overall
7.4 The staff administration and welfare facility will affect the quantity and type of
facilities will comprise of some or all of the activities in the staff and support provision,
following spaces: including storage, offices and meeting rooms.
Although it is beneficial to keep these
• pathologists’ office functions contiguous, to provide staff support,
often the location of these facilities is and
• technologists’ office should be driven by a need to support the
• administrative office other key functions, for instance a technician
office oversees the body entrance; an admin
• multi-disciplinary team office/meeting office oversees the visitors’ entrance.
room
7.7 Small “body store only” facilities should
• staff changing and showers
provide, as a minimum, a staff WC and wash-
• staff WCs hand basin, with nearby access to shared
changing, lockers, shower and rest provision.
• staff rest and kitchen
7.8 A staffed area, such as the technologists’
• meeting room
office, should oversee the body receipt,
• observation room storage and removal facilities.
• linen store 7.9 Larger facilities, with higher volumes of
• housekeeping store. storage and post-mortems, should provide all
of the staff administration and welfare
provision needed for mortuary staff to be
dedicated to the mortuary.

55
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

7.10 All administrative rooms should have • post-mortem suite: for all authorised
appropriate data connectivity and telephone personnel, staff and visitors, prior to
connections. entering or exiting the post-mortem
room(s) – storage for all outer garments
(overcoats, jackets and hospital white
Pathologists’ office coats, worn outside the mortuary).
7.11 The function of the pathologists’ office(s) Toilets, showers and changing facilities
is to provide space for consultations and are also required. This will be dedicated
writing reports. It should benefit from natural to the mortuary and should link from the
ventilation and light. controlled staff zone corridor into the
post-mortem transit lobby, which leads
7.12 The room should be accessed from to the post-mortem room. It can provide
the circulation route leading to the staff facility for core use.
changing facilities and the body handling area.
7.17 Changing facilities should suit local policy
and follow the Equality Act range of
Technologists’ office “protected” characteristics, including disability
7.13 This room(s) should be situated adjacent etc, as identified in the project Equality Impact
to the body store and, where possible, body Assessment. There are two main layout
entrance/service yard for passive security. It options:
should benefit from natural ventilation and light
and be accessible from the main circulation • open-plan: providing a single flexible
route leading to all parts of the mortuary. A locker room, with WC and shower
close proximity to both body viewing and room(s) and changing cubicle(s).
bereaved visitors’ facilities will enable quick Designers must ensure that there is
response times. at least one of each functional unit
accessible to each agreed “protected”
7.14 The staff call, bells, audio or visual equality characteristic
intercoms for funeral directors’ and visitors’ • traditional: multiple gender-segregated,
entrances are likely to be located here. small changing rooms, each with
Consideration should be given to how the lockers, WC and shower, so that all
proposed call systems will practically work functions are accessible to each agreed
without the need for multiple pieces of “protected” equality characteristic.
equipment in the office but also during staff
breaks and out-of-hours. 7.18 The functions and scale of the mortuary
and post-mortem services will affect the extent
7.15 This office is also the most likely place for of the staff changing suite provision. However
local plant and equipment alarms and any generally, the “open-plan” option above is
equipment that allows the remote control of more flexible and may also be more economic
any specialist plant and equipment. in space/operation.

Staff changing 7.19 Post-mortem suite WC/wash areas

should allow face and hand washing in a
7.16 Staff changing has two functional clinical or general wash basin. A mirror should
requirement levels: be provided to allow users to check for
• core: for all staff – storage of coats and cleanliness. An option to provide a WC within
personal belongings; standard toilet and the post-mortem zone may be considered to
shower provision with changing facilities. allow use during long post-mortem sessions,
These should be within, or in very close without compromising ‘clean’ zones. If a post-
proximity to, this facility/department mortem WC is provided it should only be

56
 7.0 Non-clinical areas: staff zone

accessed from the dirty area within the transit Post-mortem observation area
lobby.
7.27 A suggested room layout diagram is
7.20 The requirements for staff changing included in Appendix A7 for an observation
should be established early in the briefing room.
process, when the overall scale, key activities
7.28 Depending on the scope of the facility, a
and projected numbers are known.
post-mortem room may require an observation
Consideration should be given to factors such
area for police, students etc to view post-
as off-floor storage for outdoor footwear and
mortem procedures. There are two options:
clothing and a drying room for wet-weather
clothing and helmets. • an open-plan area, accessed directly
from the staff circulation space
Staff rest room • a physically separate room.
7.21 In all but the very smallest facilities,
a dedicated staff rest room should be provided 7.29 The only entrance to the observation
in the staff zone. Staff should be able to take area should be from within the staff zone.
breaks and relax without disruption. Designs should consider how to combine
observation, study/work spaces and hot desks
7.22 The room size is dependent on numbers into a multi-purpose space.
likely to take breaks at one time, but should
include food preparation, dining and soft 7.30 The observation room should ideally be
seating. The area should benefit from natural located on a raised platform if observation is
daylight and ventilation, with views and/or going to be direct, so that those observing a
access to green space where possible. post-mortem are looking down on the
procedure and dissecting bench.
7.23 This room may contain general staff
lockers. 7.31 It is allowable to provide a remote
observation room within the mortuary,
7.24 The staff rest room and staff lockers elsewhere within the larger facility or
should be separate from, but nearby, any externally. This room can be multi-functional.
offices. A joined-up office and staff rest room
may be permissible in smaller-scale, more 7.32 Video links and audio intercom facilities
remote facilities, or when determined by a lone enabling two-way speech should be provided
working risk assessment. in both direct and remote observation rooms.
The observation area should accommodate
7.25 If required, a joined-up office and staff between one and 16 people, depending on the
rest room should contain clearly separated anticipated use, such as teaching or oversight
clerical, rest and pantry zones, as food by clinicians or police officers.
preparation and social functions are likely to
disturb work functions and vice versa, unless 7.33 Audio facilities providing two-way
staff numbers are extremely small, for dialogue will be turned on by the pathologist in
instance fewer than three. the post-mortem room. Within both the
observation room and post-mortem room
7.26 Staff change and rest areas would also there will be functionality to mute discussions
benefit from mechanical ventilation/heating/ to the other side.
cooling. The recent pandemic demonstrated
that staff-to-staff transmission was increased 7.34 The video link between the two rooms
in welfare/rest areas due to poor ventilation. will be dedicated to the post-mortem facility; it
must not be shared with the general CCTV
system. The video link will connect to several

57
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Figure 9 St Pancras Mortuary main observation room © Paul Murphy Architects

HD cameras located around the post-mortem attending a post-mortem to change into

table and dissection bench. The system will be protective clothing. The observation
powered on by the pathologist in the post- area size will vary according to local
mortem room but controlled by those in the arrangements and facilities required, for
observation room. The system may be linked instance a workbench and phone for police
to external secured connections, for instance use.
to police facilities or universities. The need to
record or take photographs should be 7.38 If there are overwhelming reasons for
confirmed. clinical staff or others to be admitted into the
post-mortem room, they will be required to
7.35 All audiovisual equipment located enter via the post-mortem transit lobby,
in the post-mortem room should be accessible change into the protective clothing provided
and amenable to cleaning and and observe the agreed local protocol.
decontamination.
7.39 Local policy may seek to limit direct
7.36 The Equality Impact Assessment will observation during post-mortem examination
determine access requirements for this as and arrange for a demonstration of case
a restricted “public” area, for example whether findings to take place remotely, such as in a
a tiered floor/fixed seating used to optimise local meeting/training room or off-site facility.
sight lines or a flat area (or CCTV) for
wheelchair observation is required.
General-purpose and linen store
7.37 The availability of an observation area 7.40 A general-purpose store should be
will obviate the need for some personnel provided to house a wide variety of stock

58
 7.0 Non-clinical areas: staff zone

items and linen that do not require special • control of air movement in the whole
conditions such as for security and post-mortem suite
contamination. As stock dimensions vary
considerably, adjustable shelving should be • control of entry to the post-mortem suite
used. Adequate space should be allowed for and mortuary, and the means by which
the storage of bulky goods. Good natural or unauthorised movement is prevented.
mechanical ventilation is required.
7.46 Disposal areas should be organised so
7.41 Arrangements for supplies and storage that clinical waste, linen and domestic waste
facilities will be in accordance with local are not mixed together, including waste
policies. This may require alignment and recycling segregation prior to collection.
agreement of protocols across multiple
agencies to ensure a sustainable and efficient Teaching and research
service.
facilities
7.42 The store should be accessible to staff 7.47 Staff training, accreditation and
servicing all areas of the facility, for instance continuous professional development are an
body handling, visitor viewing areas and the integral part of all professional bodies
post-mortem suite. including mortuary and post-mortem services.
Major regional centres should have dedicated
Waste disposal room space for teaching and research; other
facilities will require access to a shared
7.43 The safe disposal of used items will resource, ideally nearby.
depend on local policy and must be in
accordance with current legislation and NHS 7.48 Teaching rooms for conferences,
guidance, for example COSHH and HTM seminars and training should be both flexible
07-01 – ‘Safe and sustainable management of and adaptable. For example: provision of
healthcare waste’. visual and audio communication with the
post-mortem room allows both clinical training
7.44 A secured waste disposal room must be and temporary expansion of observation/office
provided, with adequate space for the facilities in an exceptional event/major
temporary storage of securely packed, incident; it should also be bookable across
segregated, recycled refuse and dirty linen agencies.
bags (appropriately colour-coded, labelled and
carrying identifiable location source tags), with 7.49 Research is often multi-agency, for
easy access from both the dirty utility room example university, NHS and the coroner
and externally, for their collection by the waste service, and may require temporary additional
management company. staff and facilities. Potential implications
include increased ICT, security and storage,
7.45 The post-mortem room access to and flexible office space including hot desks
the waste disposal room is also a key and touchdown spaces.
consideration to prevent access via clean
areas. If the waste disposal room is located 7.50 If the teaching of post-mortem services
directly off the post-mortem room, consider: for undergraduate medical students is to take
• waste and dirty linen generated in the place in the proposed facility, and their
post-mortem suite must be placed in the numbers justify it, a dedicated seminar room
correct container or bag, complete with should be provided. Such rooms will most
identification labels and source tags, likely only be located in major regional centres.
within the post-mortem suite before These rooms should be available to multiple
being deposited in the disposal hold agencies to support post-mortem skills

59
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

resilience for all local system partners and screen, a whiteboard, a smartboard and
their university partners. This investment is conference call/video conferencing
further justified if these spaces are required equipment
under regional exceptional events/national
major incident plans. • the opportunity to transmit a post-
mortem via a live visual and audio link to
7.51 If the teaching of post-mortem services trainees, including cameras above the
for undergraduate medical students is to take post-mortem table and dissection
place in the proposed facility, and their benches with a clear view of all
numbers justify it, a dedicated seminar room procedures with the option of recording
should be provided. Such rooms will most for further analysis
likely only be located in major regional centres. • an area for exceptional events/major
These rooms should be available to multiple incident coordination with police and
agencies to support post-mortem skills other agencies, which is also useful for
resilience for all local system partners and major criminal cases
their university partners. This investment is
further justified if these spaces are required • a small kitchen/beverage bay serving
under regional exceptional events/national this room that can be part of/shared with
major incident plans. other mortuary staff welfare facilities.

7.52 In facilities where a seminar room is a 7.53 In facilities where a hot-desk office is a
project option, the following should be project option, provide a flexible space for
provided: administration, study, research, tutorials and
storage for visiting staff, post-grad students etc
• teaching, seminar and presentation who need a work base.
equipment, such as IT, a projector, a

60
 8.0 Engineering

8.0 Engineering

Introduction 8.4 Documented evidence that shows

compliance with the technical guidance should
8.1 General and specific technical guidance provide supporting material to underpin
on engineering services for hospitals and evaluation of the healthcare facilities.
healthcare facilities is provided in the HTM
series of documents. Users of this HBN should 8.5 All engineering systems and equipment
refer to the core document HTM 00 – ‘Policies should be fit for purpose and designed
and principles’, which provides comprehensive to have an initial capacity to safely
guidance on engineering services, and to: accommodate peak maximum loads plus an
additional suitable allowance for future
• HTM 01 – Decontamination expansion. A regular review of systems’
• HTM 02 – Medical gases capacity should be maintained to ensure that
they are capable of meeting the demands
• HTM 03 – Heating and ventilation required by the services being provided.
systems
8.6 All principal items of plant and equipment
• HTM 04 – Water systems
should have an indicative life expectancy as
• HTM 05 – Fire safety described in CIBSE Guide M – ‘Maintenance
engineering and management’.
• HTM 06 – Electrical services
8.7 Materials and components that will
• HTM 07 – Environment and
require maintenance and replacement during
sustainability
the life of the facility should be selected,
• HTM 08 – Specialist services. located and fixed in such a way as to minimise
future inconvenience and disruption and to
8.2 Everyone concerned with the avoid temporary closure of all or part of the
management, design, procurement and use of facility.
the healthcare facility should understand the
requirements of business-critical building and
engineering technologies in order to ensure Scope of this chapter
optimum safety for all present. 8.8 This chapter sets out recommendations
for engineering services for rooms/areas
8.3 The resilience and maintenance of critical described by this HBN, providing specific
engineering services and business continuity advice and guidance on their design,
– linked to policies for emergency installation and effective operation.
preparedness and the ability to respond to
major incidents – should be high on a provider 8.9 Specific engineering services
organisation’s agenda. requirements should be formulated in
discussion with end users such as:

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

HTM 00 explains:

“It is recommended that boards and chief executives, as accountable officers, use the
guidance and the references provided:
• when planning and designing new healthcare facilities or undertaking refurbishments
• when developing governance and assurance systems which take account of risk and
the safety of patients, staff and visitors
• to establish principles and procedures which:
– recognise and address both corporate and individuals’ responsibilities
– recognise the link between business-critical engineering systems and emergency
preparedness capability
– reflect the important role that engineering policies and principles, as implemented
by suitably qualified professional and technical staff, have in support of direct
patient care.

Once boards and chief executives have embraced the principles set out within this document
and taken the necessary actions, their duty of care responsibilities are more likely to be
fulfilled, as will their ability to maintain public confidence in the NHS at local level.”

• clinicians particular environmental requirements, so that

these can be met by the design.
• FM and estates professionals
• design teams 8.11 Designers should aim to create an
environment that is conducive to the wellbeing
• all relevant specialist Safety Groups of staff and visitors (see HBN 00-01).
including:
– the Ventilation Safety Group (VSG) Inclusions
– see HTM 03-01
8.12 This chapter is not intended to
– the Electrical Safety Group (ESG) cover every possible scenario; it provides
– see HTM 06-01 appropriate standards and principles that
should be adhered to and highlights specific
– the Fire Safety Group (FSG) – see issues relating to engineering services for this
HTM 05-02 HBN, including:
– the Water Safety Group (WSG) – see • management
HTM 04-01
• design
• manufacturers of specialist equipment.
• commissioning
8.10 Consultation should take place at the
outset of the design process to determine • validation and verification.
whether any equipment proposed for use has

62
 8.0 Engineering

Exclusions • CIBSE technical memoranda, which

provide further information that will
8.13 This chapter does not cover any areas
inform the evaluation of the whole-life
outside of the rooms or infrastructure.
carbon impact and should support the
Reference should be made to the associated
production of the cost model. Examples
HTMs, with which the designer should be
include:
familiar.
– TM63 – ‘Operational performance:
building performance modelling’
General engineering
– TM65 – ‘Embodied carbon in building
considerations services: A calculation methodology’
Achieving “Net Zero” (NZ) carbon – TM66 – ‘Creating a circular economy
in the lighting industry’
8.14 Targets for achieving NZ are being set
out by NHS England in the NHS NZ Building • BREEAM, which is a science-based
Standard. suite of validation and certification
systems for a sustainable built
8.15 Design teams will be aware that environment. It provides criteria and
engineering services can play their part to assessment tools for evaluating the
assist in meeting NZC; for example, wherever energy efficiency and performance of
possible, natural ventilation is the preferred buildings. In addition to the legislative
option. Where mechanical ventilation is requirements, implementation of best
required, it should be efficient and controllable practice guidance and advice should be
to minimise energy consumption. incorporated into the design to help
deliver energy efficiency.
8.16 Measures to reduce the lifetime carbon
footprint for the rooms/areas will be described 8.18 All meters should be linked to a building
in the NHS NZ Building Standard. management system to allow usage to be
monitored and inefficient areas to be targeted
Energy performance for improvement.

8.17 Minimum energy performance of new

and refurbished buildings is governed by Engineering services capacity
legislation and guidance such as: 8.19 Consultation should take place at
• Building Regulations Part L2 – ‘Energy an early stage of the design process to
conservation’, which contributes to determine whether any equipment proposed
compliance with over-arching legislation for use has particularly demanding services
for net zero carbon emissions requirements (electricity, water, data etc) so
that provision can be made within the design.
• HTM 07-02 – ‘Making energy work in Other guidance for specific engineering
healthcare’ which gives advice on services provides advice on maximum
energy-efficient design and operation demand, diversity and spare capacity for
future use.
• the Chartered Institute of Building
Services Engineers (CIBSE) TM39 – 8.20 Where specific equipment requirements
‘Building energy metering’ which gives are not known at the main services design
recommendations for metering to stage, typical requirements based on other
facilitate operational monitoring of installations and consumption data may be
energy use used to ensure sufficient capacity without
over-designing.

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

8.21 This strategy will allow the healthcare Commissioning of engineering

provider time to select the latest equipment services
that best suits their requirements in line with
their procurement strategy. 8.24 The engineering services commissioning
programme and management should form
part of the project planning. During the design
Routing of engineering services of engineering services, any particular facilities
8.22 Consideration for the routing of the main required specifically for commissioning should
services should take into account maintenance be identified and included.
access requirements and any disruption this
could cause to the normal functioning of the 8.25 The contractor should install and test
building. Main services should be routed individual components of the system, followed
through non-clinical areas, and only the by commissioning of the overall system. This
services required for any particular transitional consists of operating the system, taking
and post-mortem zones should enter that measurements and making any adjustments
area, including ceiling and floor voids. required to meet the design specification. The
Services should be concealed within the fabric contractor should demonstrate the compliant
of the building so that they do not present system to the commissioning engineer and
difficulties for cleaning and infection control Authorising Engineer for witnessing and
measures. Where items of adjustment are validation. Commissioning data should be
unavoidable within sealed ceiling spaces, recorded and provided to the client in the
suitable (cleanable) easy access for items of commissioning report. Client representatives,
equipment that may need adjustment must be such as estates teams and end-users, may
included, i.e. duct cleaning access doors, fire provide preferred settings for implementation
dampers, sensors, and volume control as part of the commissioning process.
dampers access. Commissioning data should be recorded and
provided to the client in the commissioning
report, inclusive of all witnessing signatures.
Engineering services isolation
facilities 8.26 HBNs, HTMs, CIBSE and IHEEM
guidance provide advice on the
8.23 Health and safety regulations require that commissioning process and its management
plant and equipment is made safe before work for specific types of facilities and engineering
is carried out, and this is often achieved services. Guidance from CIBSE includes a
through the use of lockable isolation devices range of commissioning codes, technical
such as electrical disconnect switches and memoranda and digital engineering guides.
shut-off valves. These devices should be
located in areas such as plantrooms and 8.27 The services for some equipment,
service risers where access is restricted to including imaging equipment, may need
authorised maintenance personnel. For some to be commissioned before the final
engineering services and equipment, it may completion of the engineering contract
be necessary to provide emergency isolation programme to allow the equipment
devices such as shut-off valves and commissioning to be completed prior
emergency stop push-buttons for end-users. to occupancy. If this commissioning is
These devices must be accessible for concerned with radiation safety, the approval
emergency use services and protected against of the radiation protection adviser (RPA) must
inadvertent use and misuse. All isolation be obtained.
devices should be clearly labelled. HTM
guidance documents for specific engineering
services provide further advice.

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 8.0 Engineering

Waste management consideration to site-wide changes in the

move towards NZ targets (for example mean
8.28 HTM 07-01 – ’Safe management of
water temperatures to be utilised).
healthcare waste’ covers a range of waste
streams produced directly from healthcare 8.33 Heating-system components located
activities. in clinical areas should be designed to be
easily and effectively cleaned as part of IPC
8.29 The management of healthcare
measures.
waste is an essential part of ensuring that
healthcare activities do not pose a risk or 8.34 The maximum surface temperature of
potential risk of infection and are securely any accessible heat emitters should be
managed. HTM 07-01 guidance provides controlled within safe limits.
a framework for best practice waste
management in order to help healthcare 8.35 The ventilation system may be used to
organisations, and other healthcare waste provide or assist the heating system in
producers, to meet legislative requirements as accordance with HTM 03-01.
well as to identify opportunities to improve
waste minimisation and reduce the associated
environmental and carbon impacts of Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
managing waste. 8.36 Reference should be made to the
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
8.30 When designing access and egress for (HVAC) guidance in HTM 03-01.
healthcare properties, an assessment is
carried out on the transportation of all waste 8.37 Spaces heated by low-pressure hot
streams. water systems should use low-surface-
temperature radiators or overhead radiant
ceiling panels. The surface temperature of
Mechanical services wall-mounted radiators should not exceed
43ºC. Ceiling radiant panels can exceed this
Heating surface temperature and allow space savings.

Healthcare buildings generally 8.38 Radiators should be located under

8.31 The heating system should be windows or against exposed walls. There
designed to provide a safe and comfortable should be space between the top of the
environment. Thermal modelling should be radiator and the windowsill to prevent curtains
utilised to accurately calculate the heating reducing the output. There should be
requirement and produce an energy-efficient adequate space underneath to allow cleaning
heating system design. machinery to be used. Removable grilles will
enable cleaning and decontamination behind
8.32 Consultation should take place at the radiator.
an early stage of the design process to
determine the most appropriate method of 8.39 Where a radiator is located on an
heating that meets the criteria for the room or external wall, back insulation should be
area, the level of resilience required, the provided to reduce the rate of heat
maintenance access requirements and the transmission through the building fabric.
room occupancy type and schedule. The
8.40 All radiators should be fitted with
control system should ensure that the
thermostatic control valves. These should be
environmental parameters are met and that
of robust construction and selected to match
energy use is minimised – in addition to
the temperature and pressure characteristics
minimising the carbon impact, with
of the system. The thermostatic head should

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

incorporate a tamper-proof facility for pre- • prioritising the plant replacement

setting the maximum room temperature. It programme
should be controlled via a sensor located
integrally or remotely. To provide frost • decommissioning and removal of
protection, the valve should not remain closed redundant equipment.
below a fixed temperature.
8.45 Choosing the least energy-consuming
8.41 Radiators should be used to offset only ventilation method that meets the criteria for
building fabric heat loss in mechanically the area will reduce energy costs, provide a
ventilated rooms. All rooms should have local more sustainable healthcare estate and
heating controls. The facility should be support the declared NZC target.
controlled throughout by the building
8.46 Within post-mortem rooms, consideration
management system (BMS). Natural
should be given to providing a suitable and
ventilation is preferred wherever practical.
comfortable working environment for staff
wearing full PPE for a large number of hours
Ventilation – measures will need to include controlling the
temperature and humidity of the room when in
Healthcare buildings generally use.
8.42 Ventilation provision should comply with 8.47 When designing the ventilation system,
HTM 03-01. natural ventilation should be the first method
considered, followed by mixed-mode
8.43 Ventilation is used extensively in all types ventilation where natural ventilation is assisted
of healthcare premises to provide a safe and by mechanical means, followed by mechanical
comfortable environment for patients and staff ventilation as required to meet the design
and to control odours. More specialised specification and designation of the room or
ventilation is provided to help reduce airborne area including occupancy schedule.
infection risks in some areas – such as
operating departments, critical care facilities, 8.48 Selection of the ventilation method
isolation rooms and primary patient treatment should take into consideration that in certain
areas. rooms or areas it may be required to help
control airborne substances hazardous to
8.44 The Ventilation Safety Group should health, for compliance with the Control of
assess all aspects of ventilation safety and Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
resilience required for the safe development regulations and also within rooms where
and operation of healthcare premises. The aerosol-generating procedures are
assessment should inform the following areas: undertaken.
• the design process for new healthcare
premises 8.49 The control strategy system should meet
the design criteria while minimising energy
• the design process for modifications to use.
existing premises
8.50 Consideration should be given to the
• the commissioning and validation level of resilience required, which may have an
process influence on the configuration of the ventilation
• operational management and system such as the zoning of any rooms or
maintenance areas served by common plant.

• annual verification and performance 8.51 The location of air supply diffusers or
testing similar should be chosen to avoid draughts

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 8.0 Engineering

being experienced by the occupants of the 8.56 The clinical area must have negative
room or area. ventilation pressure and cascade from the
non-clinical areas into the transition zone and
8.52 The level of maintenance required and then into the post-mortem zone. Therefore,
any disruption this may cause to the normal the ventilation system should extract greater
function of the building should be considered volumes than is supplied. If an isolation post-
during the selection and location of equipment. mortem room is required, this will require
Ventilation equipment requiring regular routine specialist engineering advice.
maintenance should have appropriate access
provided and should not be located within 8.57 The mortuary should follow a cascade
clinical areas. approach to ventilation pressures to ensure
that odour and contaminates never reach
non-clinical areas and the wider hospital:
Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
8.53 Designers should reference HTM 03-01, • non-clinical area, both staff zone and
Part A, Appendix 2, which details ventilation public zone, should be positively
requirements for some of the rooms included pressured, except for bier rooms/
in this document. A full risk assessment combined viewing rooms, which should
should be undertaken to confirm the be neutrally pressured
ventilation rates based on the chosen • transition zones, including the body store
equipment and expected use of the space, and body preparation room, should be
with specific reference to any COSHH negatively pressured
requirements.
• the post-mortem zone, excluding the
8.54 The significant findings from the HSG- isolation post-mortem room, should be
283 risk assessment should inform design. negatively pressured
A holistic approach needs to be taken for all
• the isolation post-mortem room and any
possible airflow pathways and requirements
associated rooms should be specifically
for the facility to include any specialist
designed by an engineer to ensure that
equipment, down-flow tables, dissection
they are sufficient for the services
benches, safety cabinets and body storage
provided. It is anticipated that these
equipment. This will give the overall “air in”
rooms will be negatively pressured to a
requirement, which then needs to consider the
greater negative rating that the main
return air pathways and make-up air routes
post-mortem zone rooms.
either specifically by dampers (or variable air
volume (VAV) configuration) or by free flow 8.58 The post-mortem room should be
non-draught ventilation grilles/ducts. This is designed with supply and extract systems
not to be underestimated, as the combined air designed to maintain negative pressure.
change rates for a post-mortem suite can be Negative pressure will range from –5 Pa to
significantly in excess of the minimum rates –15 Pa. They should normally use 100% fresh
stated within HTM 03-01. air. Temperature control should be achieved by
means of reheat coils in supply air systems.
8.55 Mechanical ventilation must be provided
to all rooms in the clinical areas and rooms 8.59 The shape of the building and/or spatial
linking the non-clinical area to the clinical relationships should be optimised for
areas. This includes all rooms within the sustainability and whole lifecycle costs.
transition zone and post-mortem zone,
including any rooms linking directly to those 8.60 Internal rooms are to be minimised, but
areas, such as transit lobby, specimen store, where they exist, they should be reserved for:
plantrooms, toilets and disposal areas.

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Figure 10 Mortuary and post-mortem suite ventilation requirements

• room functions that require mechanical • to minimise the possibility of infection of

ventilation irrespective of whether their staff and visitors by contaminated
location is internal or peripheral (for airborne droplets
example the body store or post-mortem
dirty utility room) • to maintain a comfortable working
environment
• spaces that only have brief/transient
occupation and will benefit less than • for public safety and security (for
others from daylight and views, requiring example COSHH and LEV safe
less mechanical ventilation (such as discharge locations).
toilets or stores).
8.63 Consideration should be given to the
8.61 No naturally ventilated space should link following potential hazards:
directly with the post-mortem room without an • leakage/recirculation between intake and
intervening lobby or corridor to reduce the exhaust air streams
dirty air outflow risk from the post-mortem
room. • biohazards to maintenance staff
• chemical reaction on plant
8.62 Special attention must be given to the
need for adequate ventilation in the post- • LEV impacting on air distribution and
mortem room, and the provision of local achievement of designed air changes for
extract systems (LEV): the room as a whole.
• to minimise the spread of offensive 8.64 The air supply to the post-mortem room
odours in conjunction with the extract should promote

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 8.0 Engineering

good air distribution without generating undue the ventilation system when there is any
turbulence at the working stations. The system activity in the room.
should be designed to minimise noise
(especially that which interferes with sound 8.71 The functionality of the ventilation system
recording equipment and intercoms) and for the post-mortem room should include a
draughts and should ensure that the designed run-on timer to allow it to run for a fixed period
rates are obtained whilst ensuring the comfort of time (minimum 30 minutes) after last
of staff working in the environment. sensing any activity in the room. This will
purge any residual odours and assist in the
8.65 Some users prefer the specification of drying of washed surfaces. Shutting down the
down-draught post-mortem tables along with system when not needed will contribute to the
appropriate ventilation design to help reduce efficient use of energy within the building. An
risk of infection and odours for staff. Such out-of-hours “boost” button will be used to
solutions may require floor ducts to be override settings as necessary.
provided, which need to be sealed but
accessible for cleaning and inspection 8.72 When the post-mortem room is not in
purposes. use, there should be a low level of continuous
extract ventilation provided; the rate of this
8.66 Where down-draught post-mortem tables ventilation should be determined by a
are not preferred, ventilation methods for the thorough risk assessment. Low levels of
room should be employed which help reduce continuous ventilation will also prevent a
risk of infection and odours. build-up of heat which may affect the
efficiency of adjacent body storage units.
8.67 The air supply and extract requirements
for down-draught tables and similar equipment 8.73 Consideration should be given to the
can alter the designed air flow and air change ventilation system’s resilience and provisions
rates for the wider room. The potential effects to facilitate maintenance while continuing to
should be factored into any design. deliver services as required.

8.68 Ventilation at the rear of the dissecting 8.74 Mechanical ventilation to internal rooms
bench is essential, and the exhaust volume other than to the post-mortem suite should
resulting from a properly designed bench and conform to the requirements of the building
table will comprise a significant proportion of regulations. In some cases, cooling will be
the total extract from the post-mortem room. necessary to maintain thermal comfort/safety.
Supplementary exhaust grilles should be sited A low-velocity mechanical ventilation system
at low level. The control of air movement in the should be used.
post-mortem room may be achieved partly by
using air supplied to the body handling area, 8.75 Diffusers and grilles should be located to
the observation area (when provided), and by encourage uniform air movement without
air drawn into the post-mortem room from causing discomfort to staff. The design should
other areas of the accommodation. allow for airflow from naturally ventilated
spaces/spaces with a mechanical supply to
8.69 Ventilation systems in the post-mortem spaces that have only mechanical extract
rooms should have an alarm or visual warning ventilation, via transfer grilles in doors or walls.
system to notify staff of ventilation failures.
The air flow failure alarm should be located in 8.76 The design should avoid the introduction
each of the post-mortem rooms, with a of un-tempered air and should not prejudice
repeater panel located in the office area. other performance needs, including fire safety,
privacy, security and comfort.
8.70 The ventilation within the post-mortem
room should be linked to sensors that activate

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

8.77 The supply air distribution system should when solvents are employed, or when
not distort the unidirectional and stable airflow specimens in formaldehyde are opened.
pattern required for the mortuary tables. All are subject to risk assessment, such as
Supply air ceiling diffusers or grilles should not COSHH and Healthcare Acquired Infections.
discharge directly towards mortuary tables,
unless the terminal velocity is such that the 8.84 Air should flow towards dissecting
airflow pattern is unaffected. benches from adjoining spaces. Local
ventilation should limit the concentration of
8.78 The design should ensure that air formaldehyde vapor within the breathing zone
movement patterns occasioned by the of the operator. The threshold limit should be
opening and closing of doors or windows in 2 ppm (parts per million).
the facility do not have an adverse effect on
the performance of the mortuary tables. 8.85 The following parameters are aimed at
A door closing/damping mechanism may maintaining a concentration below 1 ppm:
assist.
• a continuous run of benching (with
8.79 The airflow rate for the mortuary spaces a continuous up-stand at the rear)
will be determined by the following: should be provided for dissecting
activities. Benches should be a
• infection and odour control, for example maximum of 650 mm deep, from front to
min. ac/h (when occupied) rear
• internal heat gains, such as equipment, • each dissecting position should have a
plant or services/service voids linear extract grille mounted with its face
flush with the upstand
• operational and environmental heat
gains. • the bottom of the grille should be as
close as practicable to the level of the
8.80 Design of ventilation systems for summer working surface. For cleaning purposes,
conditions should be in accordance with the minimum height of the bottom of the
current guidance, including CIBSE Guide A, grille opening above the working surface
HTM 03-01 and TM52. should be 75 mm
8.81 Extract fans should be located close to • each dissecting position should be
the point of discharge to ensure that the ≥1.2 m long. The extract grille should be
extract system within the building is the same length and ~150 mm high. It
maintained at negative pressure. should be mounted on a purpose-
designed plenum box to ensure a
8.82 External discharge arrangements for minimum uniform face velocity of 1 m/s
extract systems should be protected from back along the total length, and across the full
pressure from adverse wind effects and height of the grille opening
located to avoid contamination, including
exhausted air re-entering the building via air • the grille should be easily demountable
intakes and windows. Refer to HTM 03-01. to permit periodic internal cleaning of the
plenum box and any guide vanes

Dissecting benches • filtration of the extract system is not

necessary.
8.83 Dissecting areas should have bench
extract systems that ensure that air flows away
from operators’ faces. Low-level extract should
be provided adjacent to equipment for use

70
 8.0 Engineering

efficient air-cooled chiller plant using

NOTE: environmentally friendly refrigerant should be
used.
Ventilation systems provided to meet the
foregoing will be classed as Local Exhaust 8.93 Any cooling system will be designed
Ventilation (LEV) under the COSHH to meet the requirements of HTM 04-01,
Regulations. And as such the complete HSG274 and ACoP L8 to prevent the growth
installation will be subject to a Statutory of water pathogens.
Inspection.
8.94 On refurbishment projects, assessment
should be made of the overall performance of
Cooling the HVAC system installed by the inclusion of
peripheral cooling equipment.
Healthcare buildings generally
8.95 There may be a need to maintain
8.86 Cooling may be required to provide a
temperatures within specified limits to prevent
safe and comfortable environment.
equipment failure. Temperature limits should
8.87 Thermal modelling should be utilised to be obtained from equipment manufacturers.
identify and minimise unnecessary heat gains
8.96 Consideration should also be given to
and hence minimise the cooling requirement,
the selection of a chilling plant that offers low
leading to a more energy-efficient design.
ambient free cooling to applications requiring
8.88 Where cooling is required, it should year-round cooling, for instance chilled water
be achieved via the ventilation system in circuits serving fan coil units in equipment
accordance with HTM 03-01. rooms.

8.89 Consideration should be given to the Domestic water services

required level of resilience of the cooling
functions as part of the overall ventilation
Healthcare buildings generally
system design.
8.97 Water services should be designed in
8.90 The control system should ensure that accordance with HTM 04-01 and agreed with
the environmental parameters are met and the Water Safety Group (WSG).
energy use is minimised.
8.98 The Water Safety Group (WSG) is pivotal
in ensuring that decisions affecting the safety
Mortuary and post-mortem facilities and integrity of the water systems and
8.91 Cooling is to be minimised, but where associated equipment do not go ahead without
required, sustainable passive systems should being agreed by them. This includes
be considered. As a last resort, chilled water- consultations relating to decisions on the
cooling systems should be used rather than procurement, design, installation and
the direct expansion type. If the location commissioning of water services, equipment
permits, the mortuary facility could be and associated treatment processes.
connected to the main hospital or campus
chilled water plant.
Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
8.92 Evaporative-type heat rejection plant 8.99 Hot and cold water systems to mortuary
should not be used. If cooling cannot be and post-mortem facilities should be designed
provided from a central chilling plant, a safely, for example independent of hospital
separate low-noise, anti-vibration and energy- cold water storage tanks and hot water

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

generators. Signage should state where the criteria; designers on each individual project
water is non-drinkable. The system should should develop these.
contain type ‘A’ backflow prevention
separation to prevent any contaminants 8.108 A specialist acoustic adviser should
entering the supplier’s water system. The be used to take a holistic approach to the
system design should be issued for comment acoustic design.
to the water supply company.
8.109 A detailed acoustic theory is
8.100 The hot water may be point-of-use, or not included in this Health Technical
≥60ºC at the storage vessel outflow, ensuring Memorandum, although sufficient detail is
a return minimum of 55ºC. given for a basic understanding of the acoustic
issues. It would be unwise to design a
8.101 Safe outlet temperatures and fittings for healthcare development without specialist
washbasins, sinks and showers should be acoustic advice right from the outline design
designed to prevent scalds. stage.

8.102 All water supply pipework, valves,

flanges etc should be insulated and vapour- Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
sealed. 8.110 The acoustic environment for both staff
and bereaved visitors requires careful briefing
8.103 Hot and cold water systems must be and early design consideration.
designed in accordance with regulations and
guidance to limit the risk of legionellae, 8.111 The layout design should mitigate the
including HTM 04-01, HSG274 and ACoP L8. noise transmission from the post-mortem
suite, body handling and storage areas to
8.104 The cold water system should be bereaved visitor areas. This noise is
designed and maintained at a safe particularly transmissible via the viewing
temperature, of ≤ 20ºC, to inhibit areas.
microbiological growth. Water storage, pipe
location, size, flow etc must evidence the limit 8.112 The transmission of noise between
to thermal gains, for example “realistic” DSM spaces within the non-clinical area should also
model. be attenuated, providing privacy for the
bereaved in viewing spaces and confidentiality
Acoustics for people in interview rooms/offices.
Consideration should also be given to
provision of cross-talk attenuation on
Healthcare buildings generally ventilation systems.
8.105 HTM 08-01 has been written for
healthcare professionals to understand 8.113 The specification of services, systems
acoustic requirements and to help those and acoustic measures, such as ceilings, soft
involved in the development of healthcare finishes, furnishings and equipment, to
facilities. mitigate intrusive noise is required, for
instance acoustic “art” wall panels, floor
8.106 It sets out acoustic criteria for the coverings, heavy curtains and soft-closing bin
design and management of new healthcare lids.
facilities.
8.114 IPC and maintenance should be
8.107 The Health Technical Memorandum considered when designing acoustic
does not give solutions to meet the acoustic measures.

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 8.0 Engineering

Pneumatic tube systems windows are open. Other examples of BMS

functions include automatic testing of
Healthcare buildings generally emergency lighting out of hours and
monitoring of fire alarm and security systems.
8.115 Following risk assessment, for instance
chain of evidence and formalin fixed 8.120 A BMS can enable substantial energy
specimens, a pneumatic tube system is a savings to be made by optimising control
project option for the transfer of specimens to strategies.
and from other departments.

Mortuary and post-mortem facilities

Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
8.121 All supply and extract systems should
8.116 There may be a requirement to transfer have local control systems. These should be
specimens to the pathology department. integrated with the overall Building
Following risk assessment, for example chain Management System (BMS).
of evidence and formalin fixed specimens, a
pneumatic tube system is a project option for 8.122 Engineering plant and equipment should
the transfer of specimens to and from other be monitored and regulated by the BMS.
departments. The system may be designed to
SHTM 08-04A & B – ‘Pneumatic tube 8.123 Plant and system operational data
systems’. should be recorded and reported. The BMS
should also monitor, measure and record
energy consumption and incoming water
Building management system temperatures etc for the facility. All data
collected should be capable of being
Healthcare buildings generally presented in an appropriate format to prove
8.117 Specialist engineering plant and compliance, reporting to safety committees
equipment should be monitored and regulated and into annual validation data sets such as
by the BMS. The systems operational data ERIC and PAM.
should be recorded and reported through the
BMS system. 8.124 If the main site has a BMS, the
mortuary facility should be set up as an
8.118 A building management system (BMS) outstation so that systems serving the facility
may be utilised to monitor and control can be monitored and controlled at a central
engineering services within the building. station. The engineering systems within the
Equipment and devices such as heating, facility should be capable of management from
ventilation, cooling, lighting, emergency both the central station and the outstation
lighting and window switches may be itself.
connected to the BMS network.
8.125 Controls should include temperature,
8.119 Consultation should take place with pressure and time-switching functions. Their
relevant stakeholders, such as engineering selection should take account of the extent to
estates teams, at an early stage of the design which they can be linked to the BMS serving
process to determine the BMS strategy. the whole hospital.
Examples of energy-efficiency measures
include using occupancy sensors together with 8.126 Supply and extract fans should be
normal working patterns to switch off lighting interlocked. The extract fan should start first
in non-critical areas, setting heating and and air flow be established in the extract
ventilation systems to set-back mode out of system before the supply fan starts. This will
hours, and switching off heating when ensure that the post-mortem suite always
remains at negative pressure relative to

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

surrounding areas and that odours are adjacent to the post-mortem room.
contained when the system is in use. If the Therefore, local controls for operating
extract fan fails, the supply fan should shut any associated ventilation plant will be
down. necessary. Note this will be classed as
an LEV system under the CoSHH
8.127 All heater battery coils and filters should Regulations
be provided with frost protection control.
• Where “make up” air is provided by
8.128 Control systems should incorporate mechanical ventilation, a supply air
energy-efficient equipment; this may include failure warning system should be
the following technologies amongst others: provided. If any safety enclosure or room
extract system fails, the associated
• high-efficiency motors supply system should be capable of
• suitable air-to-air cross-flow heat being shut down automatically or
exchanger. reduced, to prevent pressurisation of the
room and possible contamination of
8.129 Mortuary air-conditioning systems adjacent areas due to reverse air flows
should be controlled to ensure comfort,
• The ventilation control system for safety
operational safety and regulatory compliance,
cabinets should incorporate a five-
and should also satisfy process constraints.
minute delay timer. This will ensure that
A well-controlled system should provide
the system will continue to run after work
flexibility, sustainability and minimise whole life
has finished and purge any remaining
cycle costs.
contaminants
8.130 A control system should provide the • The BMS control functions should be
following minimal safety responses: fully developed and agreed at the design
• detection of equipment failure by the stage to ensure that all of the required
BMS and automatic initiation of standby engineering functions correctly integrate
equipment with one another to ensure that facility
functionality and safety are maintained
• maintenance of relative negative at all times whilst managing the energy
pressures in the post-mortem rooms and operational issues to maximise
efficiency.
• The control of supply air volumes using
a variable air volume (VAV) type system
is recommended for large post-mortem Electrical services
rooms. Supply and extract air volumes
should be balanced to achieve desired Electrical Engineering Services
pressurisation levels. The VAV supply
system is to provide temperature control 8.131 The primary objective is to deliver
and maintain the minimum room designs that are both safe for staff, patients
ventilation rate and visitors, and available when they need to
use these systems. HTM 06-01 provides
• Mortuary spaces should be comfort guidance on electrical distribution within a
cooled without local humidity control. healthcare estate, addressing both of these
Large mortuary spaces should be issues, and forms the basis on which design
zoned, with each zone/room equipped proposals should be assessed.
with a thermostat for individual control
8.132 As required by HTM 06-01, regardless
• It may be necessary to have one of the method of project procurement (design,
microbiological safety cabinet within or design and build, or design, build and facilities

74
 8.0 Engineering

management), the design team should 8.136 Electrical supply connections to all
collaborate with the Electrical Safety Group at medical electrical equipment should comply
the initial design stage of the project and with BS 7671 and associated guidance notes.
before any fundamental decisions are taken
on the electrical infrastructure. Regular 8.137 Designers should ensure that the
progress meetings should be convened by the electrical loads are balanced across the
chair of the Electrical Safety Group with all infrastructure network and that there is
stakeholders throughout the life of the project sufficient capacity to meet current and
(including the operational phase) to address potential future demands.
any issues and record the risk.
8.138 The requirements for backup systems
8.133 The Electrical Safety Group is a should be determined within the design brief
multidisciplinary group formed to assess all and may be different for a building within a
aspects of electrical safety and resilience hospital site or a stand-alone building. In either
required for the safe development and case, the capacity of the system required
operation of healthcare premises, and it would need to be determined with the client
should inform the following areas: clinicians and the design team. The design
brief should determine the systems which
• the design process for new healthcare require backup UPS/IP back-up systems,
premises shutdown processes and governance.
• the design process for modifications to
existing premises Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
• commissioning 8.139 Electrical installations should comply
with BS 7671 and guidance from HTM 06-01.
• operational management
Care should be taken to avoid mains-borne
• maintenance interference and electrical radio frequency
interference affecting diagnostic and
• decommissioning and removal of monitoring equipment, computers or other
equipment. sensitive electronic equipment. The installation
should comply with current codes and
Electrical power distribution standards.

8.140 The facility’s main electrical intake

Healthcare buildings generally houses the main isolators and distribution
8.134 Risk is addressed from two different board. It should be:
viewpoints: the effect on the patient (clinical
risk, life safety) and on continuity of service • sited within the facility/department away
(business continuity); that is, while a patient from public areas
may be safe, the loss of a facility such as IT • accessible directly from a circulation
servers over a prolonged period will prevent area providing clear, adequate and safe
the functioning of the hospital. access for maintenance staff (access
space may be part of the circulation
8.135 The planners and designers should area; but care should be taken to ensure
agree the level of clinical and business risk that safety is not compromised during
that could be seen through loss of power in an maintenance by passing traffic or the
area. opening of adjacent doors)
• sited away from water services, and
lockable.

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

8.141 Equipment should be mounted at a luminaires charged continuously from the main
height that gives safe and easy access from a supply and capable of providing illumination
standing position. All switchgear should be for a period of three hours.
lockable in the “off” position.
8.149 The local exhaust ventilation systems
(LEV) should be connected to emergency
Emergency electrical supplies essential supplies, and in the event of post-
8.142 Emergency electrical provision mortems continuing during power failures, the
should comply, as a minimum, with the ventilation plant and down-draught tables
requirements of HTM 06-01 – ‘Electrical should continue to operate.
services supply and distribution’.

8.143 The emergency generator providing

Small power distribution systems
electricity in the event of a mains supply failure 8.150 Depending upon the available capacity
should be capable of providing appropriate of the emergency generator installation it may
mortuary backup as determined during the be necessary to provide separate essential
resilience risk assessment. and non-essential small power distribution
systems; to comply with HTM 06-01 and BS
8.144 Body store fridges and freezers must 7671. 13-amp switched and shuttered socket-
take priority on any emergency backup outlets in accordance with the room data
system. There should be an alarm system sheets requirements should be provided and
provided which alarms locally, usually within connected to ring or spur circuits.
the technologists’ office, and which is
monitored remotely. The alarm system may 8.151 Consideration should be given to the
also be connected to the on-call manager need for socket-outlets supplied by backup
system and notifies on-call managers’ mobile generators and/or UPS systems, and where
phones of power failures and temperature they are provided, they should be labelled/
failures. coded in accordance with BS7671.

8.145 Backup is not required for comfort 8.152 Medical IT systems are primarily used
cooling. to ensure patient safety in the theatre
environment within hospitals and other Group
8.146 If an existing generator is to be used, 2 locations within hospitals. It is highly unlikely
the extent of emergency coverage will be that this level of isolated power supplies/
dependent on the spare capacity available, infrastructure would be required in this
subject to a minimum provision. If this environment. The specification of suitable
minimum requirement cannot be met, electrical protection and suitably rated
it will be necessary to either replace the accessories fit for the environment should be
existing generator or provide an additional sufficient to ensure the protection of users.
generator dedicated to the facility.
8.153 It is preferable to locate power outlets
8.147 Equipment and systems that are unable outside of cleaning “hose down” zones, or
to sustain a break in service inherent in areas where they will come into frequent
bringing a generator supply on line, such as contact with water/fluids. Where locating
computers, should be protected against sockets in such areas is unavoidable, they
outages by the provision of solid-state non- should be water-resistant IP65 (min) rated, IEC
interruptible power supplies. 60309 type socket-outlets that require a plug
to be inserted or the integral cover to be
8.148 In the event of a main supply or local securely tightened down before cleaning
final circuit failure, escape routes should be commences. Where equipment is permanently
illuminated by self-contained, battery-powered installed, or where there is a possibility of

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 8.0 Engineering

equipment theft, switched double-pole 13-amp 8.160 Where daylight sensors are specified,
spur-outlets should be used in preference to proposals should reflect the guidance set out
socket-outlets. The spur-outlet should in CIBSE Lighting Guides with particular
incorporate a red neon lamp indicating when reference to LG02 – ‘Hospitals and healthcare
the supply to the equipment is live. buildings’.

8.154 Equipment requiring a three-phase

supply should be permanently connected Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
to a separate sub-circuit. The sub-circuits, 8.161 To achieve energy efficiency, lighting
incorporating a circuit breaker, should be fed systems should be designed to:
from the distribution board and should
terminate in a local isolator. • maximise natural daylight
• avoid unnecessarily high levels of
8.155 Adequate provision should be made in
illumination
circulation areas, for instance corridors and
lobbies, to permit the use of domestic cleaning • incorporate efficient luminaires, control
equipment having flexible cords up to 9 m gear and lamps
long.
• incorporate effective controls.
8.156 Lockable isolation switches should be
provided immediately next to all engineering NOTE
plant and equipment, and clearly labelled to
identify the equipment they serve. See CIBSE guides F and LG2 for further
information.
8.157 Refrigeration, heating appliances and
automatic equipment should be provided with 8.162 For detail regarding illumination levels
red neon lamps indicating when they are live. and luminaires, consult BS EN 12464, BS EN
The neon lamps should be incorporated in the 60598-2-25, IEC 60598-2-25 and CIBSE
control panel of the equipment, in the control Guide LG2.
switch, or in the socket-outlet or spur-outlet
from which the equipment derives its supply. 8.163 Lighting should be closely coordinated
with architecture/interior design. In particular,
ensure decorative finishes are compatible with
Lighting
the colour-rendering properties of lamps and
the spectral distribution of the light source is
Healthcare buildings generally not adversely affected. Lighting should be well
8.158 The use of as much natural daylight as distributed and located, with space for
possible will help in creating a bright and airy maintenance access. See NHS-funded
feel to the space. research ‘Lighting and colour for hospital
design’ (2004).
8.159 Artificial lighting should be provided to
supplement as required and achieve the 8.164 Lighting switches to be provided in
desired light levels and environment conditions easily accessible positions within each area,
while considering energy consumption. This and at appropriate locations in corridors and
can be manual, by switching individual groups general circulation areas. In areas with
of lights, or dimming the overall lighting as multiple luminaires, switching should permit
required, or it can be automated by using the selection of luminaires appropriate only to
daylight sensors to control the dimming. that area requiring illumination. In areas of
more complex lighting layout design, it is
recommended that signage detailing lighting

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

controls is located near the corresponding light and preferably have natural ventilation with
switches. views of green space.

8.165 Where local circumstances permit, 8.174 Distribution and location of windows
timed switches with absence/occupancy should take into account the need to maintain
detection, using acoustic or ultrasonic security and privacy. Post-mortem rooms and
detectors, should be considered. any directly linked rooms must have fixed,
non-openable windows.
8.166 Generally, luminaires should be fitted
with high-efficiency LED sources with 8.175 Glazing solutions should achieve good
ultra-low-loss drivers or highly-efficient daylight in all occupied spaces, without glare.
fluorescent lamps equipped with low-loss Consideration should be given to the use of
or high-frequency control gear. Where high-performance glazing in order to balance
luminaires are infrequently used, or where the daylight and natural light penetration whilst
interior design ambience dictates, compact controlling solar gain. Controls systems are
fluorescent, LV or tungsten lamps may be now incorporating GPS tracking to open and
used. close windows for natural ventilation and blind
adjustments for solar gain.
8.167 Colour-corrected lighting to CIBSE LG2
should be provided in all work rooms.
Lightning protection
8.168 Where necessary, general lighting 8.176 Protection of the building against
should be supplemented with dedicated task lightning should be provided in accordance
lighting. with HTM 06-01, BS 7671 and BS EN 62305.
8.169 In the viewing room, bier room
and other areas used by relatives, lighting Call systems
should be provided and selected to create
a domestic rather than an institutional Healthcare buildings generally
ambience.
8.177 Addressable call systems should be
8.170 Lighting installations within viewing designed in accordance with HTM 08-03
rooms and bier rooms should have the facility – ‘Bedhead services’. Outlet quantities
for the lighting levels to be reduced by means identified should form the starting point for
of local dimmer switches. discussions with the users and should be
included in the project’s room data sheets.
8.171 In areas where VDUs are in use,
lighting should be designed to avoid any bright Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
reflections from the screen.
8.178 Staff call points should be provided in
8.172 Safety escape lighting should be all spaces accessible to the public. This call
provided on primary escape routes in system will provide a level of security for staff
accordance with the provisions of HTM 06-01, who need to call for help with bereaved visitors
BS EN 12464, BS EN 60598-2-25, IEC 60598- who are either agressive or distraught.
2-25 and BS 5266.
8.179 Each call unit should include a push-
8.173 Within the visitor and staff areas where button or pull cord, reassurance lamp and
people spend greater amounts of time, such reset unit.
as >10 or >30 minutes respectively, should be
located where they can benefit from daylight, 8.180 A visual and audible indication of
operation of each call point should be provided

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 8.0 Engineering

to reassure the visitor and report an the accepted policy: even post-mortem rooms
unambiguous location of the source to a may have a camera focusing on the fridge
reception area or staff base. doors but not the dissecting benches or post-
mortem tables. It is essential to have CCTV
8.181 A repeater unit should be provided where you can see people coming in and out
within the staff rest room or technologist office, of the space and where you can see bodies
or any other area that staff who are able to coming in and out of fridges.
provide support, regularly occupy.
8.186 Entrances, work areas and other
sensitive spaces should be protected wherever
Security possible by passive security, plus one of the
variety of electronic access control systems
Healthcare buildings generally available.
8.182 CCTV must be provided for general
safety and security, which should include 8.187 Visitors and funeral directors will only
surveillance of restricted areas to monitor any gain access to the mortuary after operating an
unauthorised access. The location, capacity audio/video intercom at the appropriate
and requirements of the system should be entrance.
agreed with the Trust’s security committee.
8.188 CCTV provided in mortuary facilities will
8.183 The CCTV system should comply need to be capable of being isolated if
with relevant legislation, codes of practice, required.
national and local policies and procedures.
Notices should be provided in areas covered 8.189 Consideration should be given to wall-
by CCTV surveillance (see ‘Data protection mounted panic alarms in publicly-accessed
and your business: using CCTV’, www.gov.uk). spaces, and to personnel attack alarms being
Patient privacy and the confidential nature of available to staff. Preference should be given
footage should be taken into consideration to a type capable of identifying the location of
when positioning cameras and managing the a member of staff in difficulty.
data obtained.
Information and communications
Mortuary and post-mortem facilities technology
8.184 Any parts of the facility that are only
used during the day should be protected out of Healthcare buildings generally
hours by an intruder alarm system, to either 8.190 Designers should consult with the
BS 4737 or BS EN 50518 as appropriate. healthcare provider’s ICT lead to identify
specifications and requirements for the facility.
8.185 Points of ingress and egress from
the facility, including body storage and 8.191 The ICT provision, such as connection
receiving areas, even if temporary, should all to existing infrastructure, server rooms,
be monitored by high-definition CCTVs. These cabling, data outlets and Wi-Fi hubs, should
should be equipped with a pan and tilt facility be agreed with relevant stakeholders.
and be capable of producing high-quality
images in low levels of light. Positioning of 8.192 The Institution of Engineering and
cameras should be determined with care, Technology’s (IET) ‘Code of Practice: building
selecting optimum positioning for maximum infrastructures for healthcare ICT’ (2020)
field of coverage. Monitors should be sited at a provides guidance and best practice advice in
location that is permanently manned whilst the this area.
facility is in use. Use of CCTV everywhere is

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Mortuary and post-mortem facilities specified telephone system.

Consideration might also be given to
8.193 Planners should ensure that the
audiovisual communication between the
data network in any mortuary should be
body handling area and viewing room,
sufficient to meet the needs of that mortuary
post-mortem room and teaching rooms,
provision; for instance, if a CT scan is
such as CCTV and monitors
required, the correct bandwidth should be
used. • dictation: a custom-built dictation
system, suitable for the conditions within
8.194 Provision for dedicated disaster the post-mortem room, may be provided.
mortuaries should be agreed with local The field of voice recognition, voice
partners. command and audiovisual technology is
continually improving, and the latest
8.195 The provision of an effective advances should be considered in any
communications and IT system or systems is new or refurbishment projects. This may
necessary for the efficient management of a include electronic transmission of
mortuary and post-mortem room facility. dictation files or voice recognition
These requirements can be identified in five software displaying notes on a screen
main categories: within the post-mortem room
• telephones: to be provided as per local • computer: intranet and internet access,
policy for communication internally and/ email and server access are required in
or externally; ideally VOIP, all with direct all areas.
line etc, but at a minimum, direct lines
for one phone and one fax. (Despite its
decline in use and NHS policy, “fax” Lifts installations
communication is occasionally required 8.196 HTM 08-02 – ‘Lifts’ covers all types of
for funeral directors, criminal forensic lifts, including new lifts installed in healthcare
services or in an emergency.) Robust buildings, and can also be used as guidance
cordless phone handsets, with excellent for the upgrading of the safety and
sound quality and range and with a performance of existing lifts.
≥8 hr battery life, are required for visitor
and staff use. Hands-free/loudspeaker
and wall-mounted options are required, Fire safety
including in the post-mortem, body store
and observation areas. Options for Healthcare buildings generally
hearing and sight impairment will also be
8.197 Health Technical Memorandum 05-02
needed
– ‘Firecode: Fire safety in the design of
• staff call: there is a need for visitors healthcare premises’ provides
and funeral directors to alert staff to their recommendations and guidance on the design
arrival at the mortuary. An audiovisual of fire safety in healthcare premises.
intercom should be provided at all
appropriate entrances. Staff audiovisual 8.198 A fire risk assessment and evacuation
intercoms should be able to be strategy should be developed at the design
answered from the technicians’ office stage and should include wide consultation
with stakeholders including the users, the Fire
• intercom: the majority of Safety Group and the local fire and rescue
communication needs within the service.
mortuary and post-mortem facility, and
between it and the pathology laboratory, 8.199 Addressable fire alarm systems should
should normally be satisfied by the be designed in accordance with BS 5839. The

80
 8.0 Engineering

functions performed by the fire alarm panel, connections. The system should be sufficiently
typically presented as cause-and-effect vented to retain the integrity of water seals.
diagrams, should be agreed with the
stakeholders. 8.205 Provision for inspection, rodding and
maintenance should ensure “full bore” access
and be located to minimise disruption or
Mortuary and post-mortem facilities possible contamination. Manholes should not
8.200 Consideration should be given to the be located within the unit.
fire safety strategy during the design stage.
The architect and engineer should verify the Mortuary and post-mortem facilities
proposals with the relevant fire authority. The
project team and all other planning staff 8.206 Mortuary waste systems should be
should be fully acquainted with the fire safety made of heat-sealed polypropylene. High
strategy. This will include operational aspects, silicone iron alloy (14.5%) should be used
for instance staff responsibilities, evacuation below ground.
protocols, equipment provision, and building
and engineering layouts. 8.207 Mortuary facilities should be provided
with an acid-resistant waste and vent system
connected, after dilution, to the foul sewer
Body storage in mortuary outside the building perimeter. Space should
and post-mortem facilities be available for a neutralisation tank, since this
is likely to be required in the future.
8.201 Storage of the deceased should
always be safe and carried out with due 8.208 Sink traps and piping to floor drops
dignity. Body storage must be in a secure, cool should be made of acid-resistant materials.
and appropriate space, where the duration Below ground, acid-resistant pipes will not be
and temperature can be monitored. damaged by minor quantities of acids and
solvents. Vents should be routed through the
8.202 Refrigeration should be provided at an roof and not connected to sanitary vent piping.
optimum 4–6ºC; and freezer storage at an
optimum –20ºC for stays of over 30 days. The 8.209 Drainage systems from pathology
resilience of any building services related to laboratories may contain pathogens. To
body storage is an essential requirement. prevent any risk of cross-infection, the system
should be routed to avoid other hospital
8.203 Alarm systems must be tested accommodation such as critical care areas,
regularly (normally once a month, with at least operating theatres and catering departments.
one “no notice” test each year) to ensure they
are functioning as expected and will alert staff 8.210 Drainage may also contain chemicals
to a failure of storage units both in and out of and should be designed for maximum dilution.
hours. Frequently-used large-volume appliances
should be located upstream.
Public health services 8.211 The internal drainage system should
be connected to the main drainage system
Drainage and waste systems as far downstream as possible to ensure
maximum dilution. The designer should liaise
Healthcare buildings generally with the statutory authority on volumes and
the agreed method of connection to main
8.204 The internal drainage system should
services.
use the minimum of pipework and remain
water- and air-tight at all joints and

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

8.212 The drainage system should allow removed. The floor between the post-mortem
easy access for inspection and maintenance. tables should be graded and should drain into
Access should be above the appliance flood/ suitable gullies.
rim level so that spillage of contaminated
effluent can be minimised. Access for cleaning
should cause minimal disturbance to facility
Drainage effluent
staff. 8.218 Whilst most discharges from mortuary
processes are acceptable for discharge to the
8.213 The briefing documents should identify foul sewer, care should be taken to ensure that
the types of discharge produced by specialist the Trust has the appropriate Trade Effluence
equipment and the effect that the mixing of Licences and permission from the local water
various chemical discharges may have upon board, as each will have a different policy.
the drainage system.
8.219 Discharge from any washer-
8.214 If radioactive effluent is to be disinfectors used must be below 43ºC upon
discharged into the drainage system, the entry to the main drain; appropriate pipework
requirements for catch-pot recovery, dilution should be manufactured to take account of
and maintenance should be discussed and such elevated discharge temperatures.
agreed with the Radiological Protection
Advisor. 8.220 Special attention must be given to the
need to comply with the requirements of the
8.215 Autoclaves (except those used for National Guidance for Healthcare Waste
decontamination of infected material), Water Discharges (2014) document, by www.
glassware washing machines and refrigerators water.org.uk and the requirements set out by
should not be connected directly to the the Environment Agency. Designers in home
drainage system. They should have an air gap nations should refer to their local regulators,
appropriate to local water regulations. Consult such as SEPA in Scotland, for information on
with the water regulator for further information. local obligations.

8.216 The sterilizer for discarded material 8.221 Where discharge effluent contains
should be connected to the drain via a vented pH-neutral enzymatic detergents, hydrogen
break tank and trap. The break tank should be peroxide, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale
vented outside the building. The vent inhibitors, antifoams, bio-dispersants,
termination should be above roof level and at formaldehyde, phenol, methanol or glycerine,
least 2 m clear of any ventilation inlet or the owner is responsible for contacting the
window. The trap should be positioned sewerage provider to discuss whether
between the break tank and the connection to discharge consent is required.
the drainage system.
8.222 The discharge is acceptable provided
8.217 Stainless steel floor gullies should be that levels of formaldehyde do not exceed
located between tables to ensure that waste 100 mg/L or 10 mg/L phenol at the discharge
water/spillages can be easily and safely point to the public foul drain system.

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 8.0 Engineering

Part 3: E
 states considerations
for emergency spaces

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

9.0 E
 mergency preparedness,
resilience and response

9.1 As set out in Chapter 6, it is expected that • the installation of a temporary, free-
those planning and designing a mortuary and standing refrigerated store, for example
body store will factor in allowances for excess a Portakabin, which is secure, suitably
death periods which occur regularly/ screened, has discreet access and is
seasonally. adjacent to the mortuary.

9.2 There will occasionally be periods of

excess deaths which are exceptional and Events outside health
unforeseen, for which including additional service operational
permanent body storage facilities will not be
economically feasible. It is expected that responsibility
designs for mortuaries will consider the 9.4 Mass fatality events and mass casualty
potential for such eventualities and provide events have also highlighted in recent years
space which could be used to accommodate the importance of local civil contingency plans
temporary body stores. This space could be in and the need for sufficient mortuary provision
the mortuary facility or in close proximity in localities to address unforeseen but
externally to the mortuary. immediate requirements.

9.3 A variety of capacity mitigation measures 9.5 In mass fatality events there is specific
should be planned, and will include: guidance, issued primarily by the Cabinet
Office, around the provision of temporary body
• negotiation with a local network of
stores and post-mortem facilities. These are
mortuaries (both public and private)
referred to as Dedicated Disaster Mortuaries
• negotiation with funeral directors, within this document.
crematoria etc to increase throughput
9.6 Home Office guidance states that:
• the purchase or rental of “flat-pack” “Hospital mortuary facilities may be
temporary fridges, installed in a suitable considered but should not be relied on when
internal space, preferably within or considering the designated mortuary for a
adjacent to the mortuary mass fatality incident.”
• the provision of a cold room with thermal
9.7 When investing in new hospitals, planners
curtain and storage racks, which may be
should have detailed discussions with local
used as a normal store room when not
system partners and civil contingency
in use for bodies
planners to assess the requirements of local

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 9.0 Emergency preparedness, resilience and response

systems for dedicated disaster mortuaries and • Thames Safety Inquiry, Final Report by
temporary body stores. Lord Justice Clarke, 2000

9.8 If a hospital is deemed to be a realistic • Cabinet Office, Data protection and

option to bolster local contingency plans, sharing guidance for emergency
planners are recommended to read the planners and responders, 2007.
following documents when considering the
scope of emergency response provision
required in a new facility:
Dedicated disaster
mortuaries
• Regional Local Resilience Forum
Mortuary Plans (it should be noted that 9.9 The establishment of a dedicated disaster
many of these plans will be classified as mortuary during a mass fatality event is co-
Official Sensitive documents and may ordinated by the Coroner, alongside the police,
not be openly available, therefore liaison local authority and other public agencies
with local civil contingency planners is active in that area. As such when planning a
essential) mortuary within a hospital due regard should
be given to the potential loss of control of
• Cabinet Office, Lexicon of UK civil some or all of the facilities in the mortuary.
protection terminology, version 2.1.1,
2013 9.10 The spatial requirements of a dedicated
disaster mortuary should not be
• Managing the deceased during a underestimated, and sufficient external space
pandemic, guidance for planners in and infrastructure should be provided.
England, 2020 Hospitals should therefore only be considered
• Pandemic Influenza Excess Deaths: as a realistic option if this space can be
Good practice guide for the collection provided without significant detriment to
and storage of the deceased, 2009 existing healthcare provision and operational
integrity.
• Cabinet Office, Guidance on dealing
with fatalities in emergencies, joint 9.11 It is feasible for the permanent body
publication, 2006 store to be retained for use by the hospital
through a mass fatality response, whilst
• National College of Policing, Disaster
surrendering control of the post-mortem room
Victim Identification Authorised
and support facilities to the coroner. If liaison
Professional Practice
with local civil contingency planners identifies
• Cabinet Office, Human Aspects in the hospital as a realistic and beneficial
Emergency Management. Guidance on addition to the Regional Local Resilience
supporting individuals affected by Forum Mortuary Plans, planners and
emergencies, 2016 designers should consider:

• Disaster Action, Guidance for • the effect on the model of care and
Responders operational policies of the hospital
mortuary during times of emergency
• ‘The patronising disposition of response. This should include how
unaccountable power’. A report to bodies not part of the emergency
ensure the pain and suffering of the response will be transferred to funeral
Hillsborough families is not repeated, directors, and alternative locations and
2017 transportation arrangements for post-
• The Kerslake Review into the mortem examinations
Manchester Bombings, 2017

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Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

• how to provide internal zonal separation 9.14 When planning the site, some situations
between the retained hospital body store may require space for radiological diagnostic
and emergency response zones equipment, especially for odontology. A
radiology exclusion zone should be provided in
• access, egress and transportation such situations.
between the sequestered facilities and
the temporary facilities provided in 9.15 All spaces provided must be secured
external spaces on site. with temporary fencing and will require privacy
coverings for the access routes and facilities
9.12 A number of factors will influence included above, for example tented structures.
the decision-making over the location and
functional content of a dedicated disaster 9.16 Dedicated disaster mortuaries are
mortuary, including type of incident, types of licensed by the HTA and are required to be
ongoing threat and condition of the bodies. constructed to the same requirements as a
permanent mortuary.
9.13 Dedicated disaster mortuaries will
include a large range of facilities which need 9.17 Body viewing and bereaved visitor
to be coordinated into an operationally efficient spaces are likely to be undertaken away from
facility. These facilities must be secured, and the dedicated disaster mortuary.
adequate access arrangements for large
numbers of people and vehicles must be 9.18 The number of people accessing the site
provided to support the emergency response will be considerable – it is estimated that a
without affecting the operational integrity of moderate sized event will require
the hospital hosting the facility. The facility accommodation for approximately 70 staff per
may include some or all of the following shift, with potentially three shifts per day. This
spaces: is in addition to transient staff visiting,
delivering and securing the site.
• a mobile CT scanner, including
necessary access to power, water, 9.19 Mass fatality events will attract significant
drainage and data infrastructure attention from members of the press and
• an emergency generator members of the public, including distressed
relatives seeking information about missing
• a body reception area loved ones. It is essential that any plans
• body storage facilities considering dedicated disaster mortuary
status consider how and where to host press
• decontamination facilities attendance and information zones safely and
without affecting the operational integrity of
• staff rest and welfare facilities the hospital.
• catering and canteen arrangements
9.20 Consideration should be given to
• administration facilities operational facilities management issues, such
as ensuring that deliveries are maintained and
• wash down and drying facilities
that waste management contracts can be
• car parking or bus access points for staff flexed in order to accommodate the significant
amounts of waste produced by a dedicated
• storage units for equipment and disaster mortuary.
consumables
• personal effects and evidence storage
units
• a waste disposal area.

86
 9.0 Emergency preparedness, resilience and response

Figure 11 Example of a dedicated disaster mortuary layout

Engineering considerations 175 amp supplies and plug-in points

for generator support
9.21 If a proposed facility is considered
suitable to accommodate an emergency • water distribution points
provision of any type, designers should liaise
• drainage points
with local system partners to determine the
scale and type of engineering service support • data and communication connectivity,
required in external areas to address the including reliable Wi-Fi connectivity
potential site setup. Consideration should be across the whole of the proposed area
given to: and high-speed ISDN lines for secure
transmission of high-resolution images
• electrical distribution points
and information. Such networks must
– additional requirements for mobile CT be designed to comply with the
scanners, for instance 400V, requirements of the appropriate security
rating, for instance secure connection to

87
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Figure 12 Example of a previous dedicated disaster mortuary

the Police National Network must be

facilitated within any system provided
• appropriate ventilation if the proposed
facility is within an existing structure.

88
 Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A – M
 ortuary-specific
room designs

Body store spaces

Appendix A1 – General body store

Appendix A2 – Bariatric storage, including walk-in fridge

Post-mortem facilities
Appendix A3 – Post-mortem room with three tables

Appendix A4 – Isolation post-mortem room

Appendix A5 – Post-mortem dirty utility

Appendix A6 – Post-mortem transit lobby

Appendix A7 – Raised platform post-mortem observation room

Viewing and bier rooms

Appendix A8 – Viewing room and bier room and combined viewing room

89
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A1 – General body store

90 91
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A1 – General body store (contd)

92 93
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A2 – Bariatric storage, including walk-in fridge

94 95
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A2 – Bariatric storage, including walk-in fridge (contd)

96 97
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A3 – Post-mortem room with three tables

567–660 900 (750)

Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Bariatric Bariatric Bariatric Bariatric
Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary Mortuary
Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray Tray

65 st power
trolley 00
20

2430
R 600
815 R2
Space for
4000 (3500)

manoeuvring
trolley or hoist,
for transfer and
for parking
(see note 2)
1975–2350

Pathologist's 1000 (800)

workspace
580–730
3000

800 1000 (800) 1000 (800) 1000 (800) 1000 (800) 800 750–900

Space to work at Pathologist's Pathologist's Pathologist's Space to work Zone for

dissecting workspace workspace workspace at dissecting fittings,
worktop or sink worktop or dissecting
sink bench
worktop sink
2032–2590

600
PM PM PM and for
Standing parking
1975–2350

table table table

close to equipment eg
table saw
allowing instrument
occasional 700
trolley
passing
800 600 Mobile Hoist

Circulation space
carrying dissecting
tray or bowl

610–900 2000
1000 (800)

Space to transfer from trolley or

hoist, to work at table and restricted
workspace whilst passing

1200
Reduced circulation
Space to work at
space whilst table
800

dissecting
rotated through 180º
worktop or sink

98 99
 worktop or sink

Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A3 – Post-mortem room with three tables (contd)

Drawing Notes

preferred minimum (restricted minimum) 2. The dimensions are based on the 3. Some tables incorporate sinks or 4. Tables may be installed offset or
longest standard size mortuary trolley. adjoin dissection benches, therefore rotated in relation to each other.
restricted minimum not
recommended for general use Note: bariatric trolleys will impact on these will not need to be provided 2000 mm is still to be allowed between
minimum dimensions. If a smaller separately unless there is a the long sides of two tables.
trolley is used and/or trolley or hoist is requirement to dispose of aqueous 5. Consider location of bariatric body
1. A minimum of two tables is parked alongside post-mortem table radioactive substances. store bays in relation to post-mortem
recommended for all post-mortem for transfer, dimensions can be If small tables are installed, room tables. There may be more flexibility at
services. reduced. dimensions can be reduced, but the perimeter of the room where zones
adequate space to transfer, to work at for other activities can be shared.
the table and to pass is still to be
allowed.

100 101
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Appendix A4 – Isolation post-mortem room – 32 m2

5600
Optional observation
into post-mortem room

Equipment
trolley

Dissection table

Ceiling
mounted Optional
light access to
dirty utility
Sink

1500
sack
holder

Stool
5700

clinical
wash-hand
basin

paper towel
dispenser

sack glove &

holder apron
dispenser

Evisceration table

Wall
mounted
computer

Boot wash

Equipment Clinical General Dirty Hose

trolley waste waste linen

Isolation post-mortem room – 32 m2

102
 Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A5 – Post-mortem dirty utility – 12 m2

3000

700

250
sack
holder

specimen
sink &
cabinet
drainer
plumbing

service duct

stainless
ultrasonic steel
cleaner worktop modular
4000

storage

equipment
washer/
disinfector

optional
slophopper

slophopper may be located here, or may be optional front wall and door
positioned in PM room next to dissection bench

PM Dirty Utility- 12m2

103
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Appendix A6 – Post-mortem transit lobby

3000

Boot storage Clinical

waste

Boot washer
mirror

clinical Access to
wash-hand post-mortem
basin Dirty side room

paper towel
4000

dispenser

Dirty
glove & sack
holder
linen
apron
dispenser

Stepover bench with optional

shoe storage under

clothes
Clean side hooks

Access from
changing optional
room shoe rack

PM transit lobby - 12m2

104
 Appendix A – Mortuary-specific room designs

Appendix A7 – Raised platform post-mortem observation

room
4600
viewing window

TV monitors above

600
viewing window
wheelchair
space
seminar 600

TV monitor
type space for
ambulant
seating passing
2600

300

stairs

wheelchair
platform
stairlift
+300–500 mm
change in level

Forensic Observation Room – 12 m2

6200
viewing window

TV monitors above
600

viewing window

seminar 600

TV monitor
type space for
ambulant
seating passing
2600

300

stairs

wheelchair
platform
stairlift
optional storage
+300–500 mm or bench seating
change in level

Forensic Observation Room – 16 m2

4500
viewing window

TV monitors above
600

viewing window
wheelchair
space
seminar 600
type space for
ambulant
2000

seating passing

Observation area

Seminar/meeting area
for layout refer to HBN 00-03

Forensic Observation Room (attached to seminar/meeting

room) – 9 m2

105
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

Appendix A8 – Viewing room and bier room and combined

viewing room
3500 3500
Optional window for natural daylight.
Position/size indicative

Waste
Storage bin space to
low

600
easy cabinet easy access easy
table
chair chair trolley chair

Privacy 600
curtain
space to
Relatives' access
trolley
Viewing

1975–2350
Room

3500
Glazed internal
sofa screen into Bier
Mortuary
Bier room Trolley Waste
Room bin
Privacy
curtain
580–900

Access into Storage

Bier room cabinet
Access into space for
viewing room wheelchair

Trolley
Relatives' Viewing Room – 12 m2 Bier Room access

Trolley
access

Waste
bin low
easy table
chair

580–900 600

Mortuary
1975–2350

Trolley
3500

sofa

space to
access
trolley

space to
600

access
trolley
Relatives'
access

4500

Combined viewing and Bier room – 16 m2

106
 Appendix B – Generic layout

Appendix B – Generic layout

107
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services Appendix B – Generic layout

waiting
Meeting Staff

Kitchen
Public Entrance Lobby area Staff Key
Rest room room Pathologist
Technicians Entrance
Office
Office Staff Public Accessed Spaces
Office
Dirty Zone/Post-mortem
Body storage/Transition Zone

Dis WC W/C Staff Support/Admin

General/linen
WC
St. Domestic

st.
room
M / Sh / WC Clean
F / Sh / WC
Viewing Dirty

room
Obs 1 Transit lobby
Seminar Meeting
room

Bier Domestic Folding wall

room
Obs 2
D/U
Combined
Bier
Post-mortem room
D/U

Isolation Room
Hatch

Bariatric B. B. B. W. W. St. B. B. B. W. W. St.

Disposal
Cold Store Hold
Specimen
St Trolley point Disposal
Hold

Body Store Service Covered loading

total 75 Entrance bay compound

Clean
Supplies/ Domestic Personal Body Receipt Plant room
Body Prep room
W. W. W. W. W. St. store Effects Store Vestibule

Link to Hospital

108 109
Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services

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11
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