The Challenges
Previous radiator covers at this mental health units posed ligature risks. Grilles were large enough to tie something around and elements were falling apart allowing them to then be used as weapons.
Due to this project being at a mental health unit, ligature risks were the most important factor for when it came to safer heating. Individuals came to this unit for security, so the environment needed to be a reliable setting for all service users.
Another challenge for this mental health unit was not having easy access for cleaning and maintenance. Radiators can store harmful bacteria and dust if they’re not properly cleaned. Having difficult access makes it harder to thoroughly remove this dust and dirt.
Previous radiators had difficult access because it involved removing a top grille to gain access and cutting into anti-pick mastic which in turn would damage the walls.
Therefore, the priority was for an anti-ligature radiator guard to reduce ligature risks and to keep all service users safe.
Previous radiators were piped up TBOE (top, bottom, opposite end) and some TRV heads were placed at the top of the radiator covers. So, to ensure the radiators didn’t cut off too soon, remote TRV heads needed to be installed.
Within this mental health unit, radiators were significantly close to windowsills, the client also requested to have a sloped top to reduce the risk of the guards being tampered with. This meant that a bespoke solution was required to fit the space available and meet the needs of the client.
Another challenge was that the mental health unit required the survey and installation to be all done in a live ward.
This is challenging and meant that the team had to show sensitivity to the service users and to the things that they might find at the mental health units.
Unused medication and potential items to self-harm were found inside the previous radiator covers. Anti-Ligature heating solutions were crucial in reducing stash points like this.
Anti-Ligature LST Radiator Covers
Contour introduced bespoke anti-ligature LST radiators to provide safer heating solutions for this mental health unit. This ensured peace of mind that all individuals were secure from harming themselves on radiators.
To suit individual needs and to cater for spaces under windowsills, a bespoke solution was carried out with sloping tops to ensure wellbeing.
Anti-Ligature features were optimised to ensure all service users were safe from ligature risks and opportunities to use the radiators as stash points.
Results
The mental health unit successfully achieved bespoke, anti-ligature, and overall safer heating solutions. Access for cleaning and maintenance was provided, remote sensing TRV heads were put in place and all work that commenced on the live wards was done with sensitivity and empathy.
The top priority was the health and safety of all service users and Contour was keen on delivering high-quality designs to solve the problems that the mental health unit faced.
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