Guide
What Happens at a Site Survey
A survey exists to find the reasons not to install, while that is still cheap.
A site survey confirms the things a form cannot: what is behind the wall, where the outlet is, whether connectivity reaches, what the sightlines are, whether the exit route is affected, and whether the venue's age policy is what the paperwork said. It ends in one of three outcomes — a placement, a different placement, or no placement — and the third is a legitimate result.
What gets checked
| The wall | Studs or masonry at the fixing points, clear of trim and services. 189 lb has to hang off something. |
|---|---|
| Power | A standard outlet within reach without a trailing lead. Roughly 50W. |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet or cellular. Cellular is built in, so a basement room with poor Wi-Fi is usually still workable. |
| Sightlines | Whether staff or a fixed camera can see the machine from where they actually are, not from where the floor plan suggests. |
| Circulation and exits | Whether a person standing at the machine blocks a walkway, and whether the unit affects a means of escape. This one is a hard stop. |
| Temperature | Indoors, conditioned, within 41–104°F. |
| Service access | Whether the machine can be restocked and repaired without crossing the room mid-service. |
| The age policy, in practice | What the door actually does, at every hour the venue is open. |
The part that is not about the room
The most consequential thing a survey confirms is the last row in that table. A venue describes its door policy on a form in good faith and then mentions, in passing, the Sunday afternoon private hire or the early show. Under the federal exception in 21 CFR 1140.16(c)(2)(ii) and under § 61-37-15(B), that conversation decides eligibility, and it is far better had standing in the room than in writing afterwards.
What the venue should have ready
- Whoever actually knows the booking calendar, not just the duty manager.
- Access to the proposed wall, and knowledge of what is behind it if the building is old.
- The nearest outlet identified.
- Whoever runs security, if the venue has one — placement should be agreed with them, not just with the GM.
- Any landlord or property-management consent requirement, if the venue leases.
The three outcomes
A placement is agreed
Position, fixing method, outlet, and access arrangements are settled and written down.
A different placement is agreed
The proposed wall fails on one constraint and another works. Common and unremarkable.
No placement
No position in the room satisfies the constraints, or the age policy does not meet the test. Said plainly, at no cost.
An operator that has never returned the third outcome is either very lucky or not looking properly.
Last reviewed . A person rechecks the sources before this date changes.
Common questions
How long does a survey take?
Long enough to check the wall, the outlet, the sightlines and the calendar. It is a short visit, not a day.
Does a survey cost anything?
Not with Afterwrk — there is no venue-side cost at any stage before installation, and none after.
Can a survey conclude no?
Yes, and it should be able to. That is what it is for.
See whether your venue qualifies
The assessment applies everything on this page to your actual address.