Upgrading Radiator Safety Across Multiple Mental Health Wards

Background

Following a ligature audit at a large mental health hospital in the South of England, significant safety issues were identified with the existing heating infrastructure. Many radiators and covers were in poor condition, with outdated designs that no longer met current safety expectations.

Thanks to new funding allocated for a large-scale refurbishment, the Trust took the opportunity to overhaul wards across a broad range of clinical environments, including dementia care, MCAS, and PICU.

Contour was appointed to supply upgraded radiators and guards across multiple wards to improve safety and compliance.

The Challenges

Before delivery could begin, several practical and logistical challenges had to be addressed:

1. Diverse Clinical Needs Across Wards

Each ward had its own safety requirements. Environments such as PICU and MCAS required enhanced specifications, including 2mm thick steel with strengthening struts, whereas lower-risk wards needed standard DeepClean Extra specification.

2. Tight Delivery Programme

The site needed 285 units, but installation was staggered over several months. Contour managed 15 phased deliveries, averaging 20 full LST units per week, coordinated to match the contractor’s rolling install schedule.

3. Surveying Accuracy Across Large Estate

With such a large number of rooms to measure, surveys were completed across two days. Just one guard needed to be re-manufactured due to a surveying error – quickly resolved by Contour without any impact on the install programme. A strong example of agile, responsive project support.

4. Legacy Infrastructure  

Many wards still had radiators and covers dating back more than a decade, some from various manufacturers. The project aimed to bring consistency and modern safety standards across all refurbished areas.

Solution Implemented

Contour supplied 285 complete DeepClean Extra LST radiator units, including both emitters and guards, manufactured to suit each specific room and risk profile.
Key features included:

•    2mm steel and strengthening struts in PICU and MCAS areas for enhanced durability and tamper resistance
•    Standard DeepClean Extra guards in other lower-risk environments
•    Full drop-down access doors to support ease of cleaning and infection control
•    Anti-microbial powder coating as standard
•    Phased delivery model, with responsive issue resolution
•    Tailored spec across all areas showing Contour’s ability to deliver site-wide safety with bespoke detail

In addition, the Trust has since ordered panel radiators only for use in staff and officer areas; an important note, as Contour’s panel radiator supply capability is not currently promoted online but continues to support various projects behind the scenes.

Outcome

The Trust now benefits from a ward-wide upgrade in both patient and staff-facing environments. From anti-ligature designs and increased durability to consistent hygiene and LST compliance, the project has significantly improved the overall safety profile across this major hospital estate.

The responsive nature of the phased delivery programme also demonstrated Contour’s ability to work collaboratively with contractor teams, adapting to real-time install requirements and maintaining delivery accuracy at scale.

Looking for a Bespoke Radiator Safety Solution?

From one-off projects to full-site refurbishments, Contour delivers tailored solutions for a range of clinical environments. Whether you need anti-ligature guards, full LST radiator units, or simply panel radiators for staff areas, we’ll work with you to get the spec, schedule and service right.

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