Running the room
Opening and closing checklist for a recovery room
By ThermaCare team · Published 2026-09-16 · Reviewed 2026-09-16 · UK guidance
Opening: unlock and test the lock and gateway, check the door, seals and closer, test the emergency release, do a visual electrical check, confirm signage and the exit route are clear, and take the opening water test. Closing: closing water test, skim and inlet check, control panel check, power off and drain if you fresh-fill, sauna wipe-down and drying cycle, emitters clear, shower and main area clean, filter rinse and rotate, tub wipe, refill, aircon check, chemical store and stock, dose to range and retest, cover and bather count, then submit the day. Every item timestamped with a name.
Opening
The opening checks are the safety checks. Lock and gateway working, door and seals sound, emergency release actually releases, no water on electrical equipment and no tripped RCDs, signage up and exit clear, and the water tested before the first bather. Five minutes that catch the problems customers would otherwise find.
Closing
The closing routine is where the water safety and the equipment care happen: the closing test, the drain or the treatment, the cleans, the filter, the refill, the dose and retest, the cover, and the bather count that tells you what load the water carried. A submit step with reasons for anything skipped closes the record.
Why timestamped and named
A checklist nobody can prove was completed is no checklist at all in an insurer's eyes. Each item done by a named person at a time is evidence; a tick on a laminated sheet is not.
Questions operators ask next
How long does a recovery room close-down take?
Around an hour and a half for a room with one bath, a sauna and a shower, including the drain and refill; the cleans are done while the tub drains.
Should staff test the water before opening even if it was tested at close?
Yes. Overnight the water sits and the chiller runs; the opening test is the one that protects the first bather.
See where your room stands
ThermaCare tracks every requirement on this page against your own records, with the daily checklist, water tests, certificate reminders and asset history to prove it. Start with the free five-minute risk score, or create your account.
This guide summarises UK legislation and HSE guidance as understood on 2026-09-16. It is a working guide, not legal advice; decisions about your premises rest with you and your professional advisers.