Site Survey Checklist for an Unmanned Drink Machine

Why the order of checks matters

A site that passes on floor area can still fail on power or drainage. Because area is the easiest thing to measure, it is usually settled first — and then the position is treated as fixed while the harder questions are answered around it. That order is the main cause of rework.

Run the survey the other way: confirm the power and water conditions first, then choose between the positions that satisfy them. Positions that pass all four gates are usually a smaller set than expected, and finding that out early saves a second site visit.

Gate one: footprint, including three clearances

The footprint is not the base of the machine. Add the customer space in front of the dispensing point, the clearance needed to open service and refill panels, and the ventilation gap the manual specifies. All four areas are occupied in normal use.

A practical test: mark the four areas on the floor with tape and have someone stand in the customer area and reach for a cup. If the reach is awkward or a panel would not open, the position fails regardless of what the drawing says.

Two site-level constraints sit on top of the footprint. Walkway width: a person standing at the machine takes part of the walkway, and in a busy corridor the remaining width has to stay usable. Escape routes and fire equipment: the machine must not obstruct either, and this is normally confirmed with the building's safety contact rather than assumed.

Gate two: power capacity, circuit and outlet position

Three items, in this order. Rated power from the machine's nameplate or manual, not from a comparable model — heating methods differ and the draw can differ with them. Whether the circuit is dedicated: heating equipment draws a surge at start-up, and sharing a circuit with other equipment is a common cause of tripping. Outlet position: a socket two metres behind the machine means a surface run, which many buildings do not permit.

If the outlet is far away, change the position rather than planning a surface cable. The cable is the visible problem; the approval for it is usually the slower one.

Gate three: water in, water out

Two configurations are common: plumbed directly to a supply and drain, or filled from an internal tank. Plumbed means no manual filling, but the amount of work depends entirely on where the existing pipes are. Tank-based means no plumbing, but someone has to fill and empty it on a schedule — which changes the service pattern rather than removing it.

Waste water is the item most often left out of the survey. Whatever the configuration, the water used in preparation has to go somewhere. On sites without a nearby drain, that means a collection container and a defined emptying routine — a decision to make in the survey, not a problem to solve on the day.

Gate four: network, tested where the machine will stand

Payment and back-office reporting both depend on a stable connection, and signal strength at the machine's position is what matters — not at the entrance of the building. Basements, older structures and plant rooms are where this check earns its place.

Test on site with the phone or device that will be used, standing where the machine will stand. If the signal is marginal, plan a wired connection or a signal solution during the survey. Adding it after installation means a second visit and, often, a second approval.

What the survey record should contain

A survey that ends with a verbal yes tends to be re-opened. Record four things per candidate position: the four footprint areas with measurements, the circuit and outlet data, the water configuration with the waste route, and the network test result. Add a photograph of each position taken from the customer's standing point.

The photograph is the cheapest check in the whole process: it shows the walkway, the panels and the surroundings at the same time, and it is what a second person needs in order to agree or disagree without visiting.

Common questions

What is the first thing to check on a drinks site?

Power and water, not floor area. Area is easy to measure and is usually settled first, which then fixes the position before the harder questions are answered. Confirm the supply conditions, then choose between the positions that satisfy them.

How much space does an unmanned drinks machine need?

The base of the machine plus three clearances: customer space in front of the dispensing point, clearance to open service and refill panels, and the ventilation gap stated in the manual. Mark all four on the floor and test the reach before committing.

Does the machine need a dedicated power circuit?

It is recommended. Heating equipment draws a surge at start-up, and sharing a circuit with other equipment is a common cause of tripping. Rated power should be taken from the nameplate or manual rather than from a similar model.

Plumbed or tank-based water supply?

Plumbed avoids manual filling but the work depends on where the existing pipes are. Tank-based avoids plumbing but requires scheduled filling and emptying. Both need a defined route for waste water, agreed during the survey.

Why test the network at the machine position?

Payment and back-office reporting depend on the connection, and signal at the entrance of a building says nothing about signal in a basement or plant room. Test where the machine will stand, and plan a wired or boosted solution before installation if needed.