Improving Ventilation Safety in a Secure Mental Health Facility

Background

At a secure NHS facility for adolescent mental health, a ligature audit revealed that existing ventilation grilles across two wards, one a Generic Adolescent Unit (GAU) and the other a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), were no longer fit for purpose.

Across both wards, which house young people experiencing severe, complex mental health needs, existing vent grilles were fixed in place. These units proved almost impossible to clean, requiring removal of sealant and fixings before internal access was even possible. Over time, this led to blockages, dust build-up, and reduced airflow, all of which conflicted with modern standards for ventilation and infection control.

The Trust trialled a fixed grille solution but quickly concluded that cleaning access was essential to maintain hygiene, performance, and staff efficiency.

The Challenges

Before installing the new solution, the facility was facing multiple issues:

1. Non-compliant Fixed Grilles

The existing vent grilles had been flagged in a ligature risk audit. They were sealed in place and not easily maintainable, posing long-term hygiene risks and limiting airflow.

2. Hygiene and Cleaning Difficulties

Estates teams found that to clean or inspect the ventilation points, they had to remove sealant and fixings, a time-consuming, impractical process. This often resulted in delayed maintenance or missed cleaning, especially in shared or high-risk spaces like bedrooms, corridors, and de-escalation rooms.

3. Humidity and Corrosion Risk in En Suites

The facility’s en suite bathrooms were prone to condensation, creating an added risk of grille corrosion. This required a more resilient specification to ensure long-term durability and compliance.

4. Bespoke Requirements for Complex Layouts

Several locations required tailored grille designs, including larger format units for corridors (up to 1100mm x 900mm) and bespoke configurations for en suites where flat edges were required to sit flush against adjacent walls.

Solution Implemented

Contour supplied and installed 96 front-access anti-ligature chamfered vent grilles, with an equal split between the two wards. Each unit featured:

•    Front-access panels, enabling easy biannual cleaning without the need to remove the grille or disturb sealant
•    Anti-ligature compliant design, ensuring safety in high-risk adolescent environments
•    Magnelis steel material in warm, humid areas such as en suites to prevent corrosion over time
•    Sealed edges with anti-pick mastic for safety and hygiene
•    Custom manufacturing to accommodate unique room layouts and grille locations

The feedback from the Trust, collected 6- and 12-months post-installation, confirmed that the grilles could now be cleaned regularly without disruption or disassembly, a major step forward for hygiene, ventilation performance, and facilities management.

Outcome

This grille replacement project demonstrated how bespoke, compliant solutions can improve both safety and operational efficiency in live adolescent mental health settings.

✅ Biannual cleaning is now quick and straightforward
✅ Ventilation performance has improved across shared and private spaces
✅ Staff can maintain hygiene standards without disrupting sealant or reapplying fixings
✅ Rust-resistance in en suites has been addressed with Magnelis grille material
✅ Specialised grille sizes ensured each space retained the correct airflow without introducing ris

Ready to Upgrade Your Ventilation Safety?

Contour’s anti-ligature vent grilles are designed for secure care environments that demand both resilience and hygiene. With front-access designs and bespoke options for layout or material, our grilles are a compliant, easy-maintenance choice for estates and clinical teams alike.

📞 Speak to our team on +44 (0) 1952 290498
📧 Email: sales@contourheating.co.uk
🖱️ Or enquire via our website