Contour discusses heating considerations for retirement villages

4 Mar 2020

Contour explores the key considerations when deciding upon radiators for retirement villages: ease of use, aesthetic appeal, cleaning efficiency and, of course, risk reduction.

Whilst retirement village residents might not like to admit it, their age makes them more vulnerable to injury. This is particularly the case when it comes to the surface temperature of the radiator. When re-designing or upgrading your retirement village’s radiators, Contour advises you to opt for a low surface temperature (LST) radiator, as they do not exceed 43 °C, making them highly unlikely to cause harm.

We all know that the elderly feel the cold more than most. However, don’t be put off by an LST radiator. Just because they are lower in surface temperature, it doesn’t mean that your heating efficiency is compromised.

Part of Contour’s consultation process involves communication with the M and E Consultants, assessing the heat emitters that are currently in use. Contour will then design the radiator slightly larger than the heat emitter. This overcompensation ensures that the heat output is not affected.

Scientifically speaking, this relates to the convection process, where convection currents are created when the air above your radiator heats and then cools and is then heated again. This process happens continuously whilst you have your heating on and the current moves the heat around the room, making it nice, warm and toasty.

Retirement villages aim to provide elderly individuals with care-when required, whilst also giving them a sense of independence that allows them to live a happy and fulfilling life. A core priority is making elderly inhabitants feel comfortable in their own homes, and the last thing they want is for it to feel clinical and cold. Contour’s LST radiators are designed to complement the room’s aesthetics, with their smooth, full-casing and streamlined appearance.

The sense of independence that retirement villages provide also means that the facilities should be easy to use. With the option to choose an external TRV kit, residents in care homes and retirement villages are free to control the heat output to meet their comfort needs. To read more about our TRV options, click here.

In addition, with their radius corners and bullnose edges, Contour’s LST radiators prevent further injury in the unfortunate case of a trip or fall. We’ve found that with the pointed edges that most common radiators possess, there’s a significant safety risk to elderly occupants.

Contour’s LST radiators also make cleaning quick and easy. Contour LST radiators can be cleaned with the ease of access created with the RotaRad rotating valve kits, which makes getting to the back of the LST radiator much easier.

Cleaning them can be done with a vacuum cleaner and a microfibre cloth to access the smaller areas where dust could otherwise build up. For full instructions on how to clean an LST radiator, click here.

Contour’s LST radiator and guard range offers complete care for those who require it most.

Contour can be contacted at;
The Mansions
43 Broadway
Shifnal
TF11 8BB
Tel: 01952 290 498
Email: [email protected]

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