Early Years Centre - Bromsgrove

Background: 

The Early Years Centre is the latest addition to the Woodland House Group of nurseries. The intention is for the new premises to provide much needed specialist SEN and community use play facilities for Bromsgrove.  

In the summer of 2021, Contour successfully provided radiator guards for one of the nursery's sister sites at Chessgrove Park. The customer was so pleased with both the product quality and customer service that they approached Contour again for additional radiator guards for their newly acquired property needing refurbishment. 

The Challenges: 

The new property required a tailored approach due to three key challenges that Contour needed to address for a successful outcome:

1.  Nursery Environment

The nursery environment required a solution that prioritised child safety and hygiene. Young children frequently interact with fixtures, which can lead to concerns like trapped fingers or lost items. Such incidents not only distress the child but also demand time from nursery staff to provide comfort, administer first aid, or retrieve the missing item.

The radiator guards selected therefore needed to be secure, durable, and easy to clean. The guards also required pencil-proof grilles to prevent children from inserting objects, ensuring both safety and cleanliness.

2. Placement of Electrical Trunking

The placement of electrical trunking above some of the radiators left too small a gap for a standard radiator cover to fit and be securely fixed. This required a bespoke design to create a custom solution that could seamlessly integrate with the trunking, while still providing full functionality and accessibility.

3. Phased Building Refurbishment

Due to the size of the building, the nursery was opening in stages as refurbishment progressed. This meant Contour needed to coordinate a phased supply of radiator guards to align with the nursery’s opening schedule, ensuring each area had the necessary safety features in place as it became operational.

Solution Implemented

Given the success of the previous installation, the customer chose to maintain the DeepClean specification for the new guards for the following reasons:

• Pencil-proof grilles which prevent fingers and other objects being inserted and becoming stuck.
• Drop-down door to allow for easy cleaning, crucial for maintaining a hygienic environment. 
• Radius edges and bullnose corners making it safer if someone fell against the unit.
• Floor mounted, flat top style for its robust, dual-fix system that secures to both the wall and floor, ensuring stability and durability in a high-activity environment. The tweaked design also fits neatly against the existing trunking, addressing the challenges this created.

The site was surveyed to capture precise dimensions, account for the trunking limitations, and customise the cover design. Contour developed bespoke flat top radiator guards with tailored cut-outs to accommodate the trunking, ensuring a seamless fit within the nursery's environment without sacrificing space or compromising the guard's structural integrity.

The project was delivered in three stages to align with the nursery's phased redevelopment schedule. This approach allowed Contour to provide radiator guards in sync with each area’s completion, ensuring safety features were in place as soon as spaces became operational. By working flexibly around the nursery’s timeline, Contour supported a smooth transition, minimising disruption and allowing the nursery to open sections gradually while meeting their refurbishment goals.

Installation

The installation of the guards was straightforward, described by the client as "an incredibly easy process", reflecting the ease of setup thanks to the design considerations and instructions provided by Contour. 

Conclusion

Once installed, the nursery benefits from enhanced safety and hygiene, ensuring a safer environment for the children. The customer also expressed high satisfaction with Contour’s ability to adapt the product to overcome the challenges of the existing infrastructure and overall project management. 

The successful implementation at the Early Years Centre underscores Contour's ability to meet client needs through customised solutions, robust product offerings, and exemplary service.

How Could Contour LST Radiators Improve Safety in Your Early Years Setting?

All early years settings require safe heating solutions.  Contour achieve this through anti-microbial, easy to clean, safe-temperature radiators and radiator covers that are made to specification to improve safety and hygiene in your nursery.

To find out how Contour services can be tailored for your setting, call our sale team on +44 (0) 1952 290498, or email sales@contourheating.co.uk.