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Beauty premises construction guidelines

The following structural requirements are based on the Infection prevention and control guidelines for hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries. These Industry Guidelines are to be adhered to when designing a premises and undertaking any construction on a proposed or existing business.

You can arrange for a free onsite meeting once your premises has been selected. To arrange a free onsite meeting with an Environmental Health Officer, please contact the Environmental Health Unit on 9599 4417.

We recommend completing a beauty premises plans assessment to ensure what you are planning complies with the regulations and our guidelines. We will assess the internal fit out and issue you a comprehensive report with a list of requirements before you fit out your new premises.

Our Environmental Health Officers can assist in the preparation of plans for your health and beauty business. This is an optional step, but is highly recommended.

Floors

  • Constructed of a smooth, durable and impervious material (e.g. ceramic tiles, linoleum, polished floorboards etc).
  • Capable of being effectively cleaned.

Walls

  • Constructed of a smooth, durable and impervious material. (e.g. painted plasterboard).
  • Capable of being effectively cleaned.
  • An appropriate splashback should be provided in all wet areas, ie. behind all sinks e.g. ceramic tiles, stainless steel etc.

Ceilings

  • Constructed of a smooth, durable and impervious material.
  • Capable of being effectively cleaned.

Furniture & equipment

  • Shelves, benches and tables etc to be constructed of a smooth, durable and impervious material capable of being effectively cleaned.

Lighting

  • Adequate lighting should be provided throughout the premises.

Ventilation

  • Adequate ventilation should be provided to ensure that any odours/fumes are sufficiently controlled.

Handwashing facilities

All premises must provide a hand wash basin(s) located either in the procedure room/s or in an accessible area to the procedure rooms. A hand washing basin is also required within the toilet facility. Each hand wash basin to be provided with:

  • Liquid soap.
  • Paper towelling – disposable with dispenser.
  • An adequate supply of warm running water through a common outlet.
  • A permanent fixture which is plumbed to a legal point of discharge. Temporary/portable sinks will not be approved for fixed premises.

Where skin penetration e.g. electrolysis, tattooing, body piercing etc. procedures are carried out, the hand wash basin is required to be of a hands free operation (e.g. foot operated, electronic or knee operated).

Equipment sinks

A double bowl equipment sink, separate to the hand wash basin / hair wash basin provided with hot and cold running water supplied through a single outlet (hot water not less than 70ºC). Equipment sinks are to be permanent fixtures that are correctly plumbed to a legal point of discharge.

The double bowl sink is to be located in the cleaning area for instrument and equipment washing.

Suitable disinfectants: Items that cannot be immersed in water, such as scissors, tweezers etc. must be disinfected using a chemical solution as per manufacturers’ instructions.

Suitable disinfectants include:

  • 70% w/w ethyl alcohol
  • 80% v/v ethyl alcohol
  • 60% v/v isopropyl alcohol.

Storage facilities

  • All clean linen, towels and clothing must be stored in a clean environment to reduce contamination.
  • Soiled linen, towels and protective clothing be placed in a washable, leakproof receptacle.
  • Clean implements and instruments must be stored in a clean dry environment, e.g. separate container, drawer.
  • Dirty implements and instruments should be placed in a separate receptacle.
  • A separate cupboard/area to be provided for the storage of personal effects (such as bags, keys, mobiles).

Laundry Facilities

  • Appropriate laundering facilities i.e washing machine and dryer machine for re-usable linen should either be onsite at the premises, or the use of a professional laundering business should be implemented.

Waste

Sharps

  • If Sharps are used, a suitable sharps container that complies with AS4031:1992 must be available on site. Sharps containers should be placed a minimum of 1 metre above floor level, out of the reach of children.

Infectious

  • Clinical and related waste e.g. blood stained swabs, cotton wool and gloves must be placed into a plastic bag – lined washable waste receptacle with a close fitting marked ‘infectious waste’ and disposed according to Environment Protection Authority requirements.

General

  • General waste, such as papers, hair and powdered pigments should be placed into a plastic bag - lined washable waste receptacle with a tight fitting lid marked ‘general waste’.
  • General waste can be disposed via normal Council/private waste collections.

Animals

Animals, other than guide dogs for the hearing or sight impaired client, or certified assistance dogs are not permitted in procedure areas.

Smoking

Tobacco laws make it an offence for anyone to smoke in an enclosed workplace.

Example floor plan for a beauty business

Plans should be drawn to a scale of not less than 1:100 showing:

  • General requirements: A floor plan, the layout of all the equipment, fittings and fixtures, where they will be located. Include specifications to be used on floors, walls and ceilings.
  • Specific requirements: Indicate the nature of the work practices to be carried out in the premises. This includes practices carried out in each room.
Example floor plan for a beauty business
  • Floors: Examples of finishes e.g. polished floorboards, tiles.
  • Walls: Painted plaster board washable paint, tiling behind wet areas – splash backs.
  • Ceilings: Painted plaster board washable paint.
  • Hand-wash Hot & cold water through a common outlet and provided with soap and paper
  • Basin: towelling through dispensers.
  • Toilets Self-closers on all toilet doors.
  • Equipment: Examples of finishes include vinyl, laminex, stainless steel etc.