What is the dental equipment pre-installation checklist?

Key facts

When should the pre-installation check happen?

Twice: once at rough-in, before walls close, and again a week or two before install day. A-dec's guide expects the job site to be complete before installation, including finished floors, ceiling, plumbing, lighting and paint (A-dec). Henry Schein's 2025 guide recommends having the dental equipment partner visit the site at key milestones to confirm plumbing, air, drains, vacuum, reinforcements and electrical (Henry Schein 2025 guide (PDF)).

Checklist: site and structure

• Floors, ceilings, paint and lighting finished in every room receiving equipment.
• Chair locations meet the floor rating in the guide (A-dec 511: 1192 lb, with anchors holding 350 lb pullout) (A-dec).
• Blocking in walls for wall-mounted units, monitors and lights, per manufacturer.
• Imaging wall reinforced as specified. Dentsply Sirona's survey calls for a wall that holds 160 lb per bolt (Dentsply Sirona).
• Delivery path measured: doors, corridors and elevator. Carestream's CS 8100 3D needs a door of at least 75 cm and a 240 cm ceiling (Carestream).
• Site clean, with a secure area to stage crates.

Checklist: chair and operatory utilities

Use the exact model's pre-installation guide. Example values from A-dec's 511 chair (A-dec):

• Air: 1/2" line with contractor-supplied shutoff, 80–125 psi, 2.5 scfm minimum.
• Water: 60 ± 20 psi, 1.5 gpm, with shutoff.
• Vacuum: 1" PVC line.
• Drain: 1-1/2", sloped 1/4" per foot.
• Electrical: hospital-grade receptacle in the utility area.
• Data: 2" conduit; Cat5e or better if Ethernet is used.
• All utilities at the template locations and heights, accessible without tools.
• Lines flushed and capped; no debris in air or water lines.

See chair utility requirements, chair rough-in specs, vacuum lines and operatory electrical.

Checklist: mechanical room

• Compressor and vacuum set, powered and tested before chairs arrive. The free compressor & vacuum sizing calculator (coming soon) is planned to check that capacity matches chair count; confirm with your dealer.
• Amalgam separator installed where amalgam is placed or removed, per EPA's rule (EPA).
• Medical gas (if any) installed and verified under NFPA 99 before use.
• Ventilation and electrical service as specified. See the dental mechanical room.

Checklist: imaging rooms

From Dentsply Sirona's Imaging Site Survey (Dentsply Sirona):

• Online site survey completed; Dentsply Sirona accepts no other method.
• Shielding plan done by a qualified expert and state plan review approved where required. Dentsply Sirona says plan reviews are required in about half the states.
• Shielding installed per the plan before drywall.
• Electrical complete before install day: 200–240 V, 20 A dedicated circuit, hardwired.
• Network and control-cable plates behind the unit column.

See CBCT and pano room requirements.

Checklist: network and software

• Every drop installed, labeled and tested, including operatories, imaging, sterilizers and front desk.
• Rack, switch and firewall powered; internet live. Fiber can take 30–60 days to install, so order early (FloorStack).
• Imaging network at 1 Gbit/s; Dentsply Sirona doesn't support wireless for 3D components (Dentsply Sirona).
• Practice management and imaging software installed, with bridges confirmed. The free device compatibility checker (coming soon) is planned for this check.
• Admin credentials for every device created in the practice's name.

The free network & IT plan generator (coming soon) is planned to turn the floor plan into a drop, rack and Wi-Fi plan, and FloorStack Studio (live, free plan) produces a device schedule with rooms, ports and cable lengths that doubles as the network checklist (FloorStack FAQ).

Checklist: permits, inspections and paperwork

• Rough inspections passed before walls closed; final inspections scheduled.
• Certificate of occupancy or temporary CO timing confirmed.
• Warranty registration plan in the owner's name.
• Inventory sheet ready for serial numbers at install.

The free permit & inspection tracker (coming soon) is planned to keep every inspection and sign-off in one list. Who does each item is covered in contractor vs dealer.

Checklist: install day

• Doctor or office manager on site to accept deliveries and sign off.
• Contractor available for small fixes (a misplaced box, a shutoff that won't open).
• IT provider on site or on call to connect sensors, imaging and workstations.
• Serial numbers recorded as each crate is opened, for warranty and inventory.
• Training scheduled; Belmont notes your team needs to know how to operate, clean and care for new equipment (Belmont).

How FloorStack helps

FloorStack is a dental build-out platform that keeps the install checklist tied to the plan. FloorStack Studio (live, free plan) gives you the device schedule. The compressor & vacuum sizing calculator, permit & inspection tracker, network & IT plan generator and device compatibility checker are free tools coming soon. Back to the Dental Equipment Planning hub.

Free tools for this step

• FloorStack Studio (live, free plan): a 3D IT plan of your office with every device placed.
• Compressor & vacuum sizing calculator (free tool, coming soon): size the compressor and vacuum to your chair count; confirm with your dealer.
• Permit & inspection tracker (free tool, coming soon): track every permit, inspection and sign-off through the certificate of occupancy.
• Network & IT plan generator (free tool, coming soon): turn your floor plan into a drops, rack, Wi-Fi and VLAN plan.
• Device compatibility checker (free tool, coming soon): check sensors, CBCT, pano and PMS bridges before you buy.