Keeping heating safe for school with Contour

23 Jan 2020

Contour Heating discusses keeping energy costs low and looking after the safety and wellbeing of pupils when heating schools.

Keeping track of energy costs is just a small part of the winder aim for schools, and that is ultimately the safety and wellbeing of the pupils in attendance.

And we can look at this in two ways:

1) Monitoring the heat output of heating appliances such as radiators, reduces the risk of burning due to hot surface temperature.
2) The money saved on energy costs could be used to help enhance the educational experiences of the pupils, through better training and resources.

Why do we need to address heating in schools?

It’s been nearly ten years since the alarming statistic which stated that in a single year (2010), 1,970 people were injured in a public building by either a radiator or a section of hot pipework. Of these accidents, 1,399 occurred in a place of education.

The affect of this has resulted in local authorities putting in measures to ensure the risk of surface temperature scalding is minimised.

Most notably, every public establishment that caters for children or vulnerable individuals must ensure that their radiators do not exceed a surface temperature of 43 degrees.

The problem with standard radiators

Many schools continue to use standard radiators to heat areas throughout the school, including classrooms. It is normally left to the caretaker to monitor the heat output in the morning and evening.

However, teaching staff have access to the heating control systems within their classrooms during the day so that they can adjust the temperature to suit the comfort of their pupils.

The problem here is that standard steel panelled radiators can reach almost double the recommended temperature of 75 degrees. This is enough to cause a serious burn in seconds.

Why choose LST radiators for mainstream schools?

1. Radiator Surface Temperature

Most importantly, Low Surface Temperature (LST) radiators don’t exceed the recommended heat output of 43 degrees. Therefore, if a child comes into contact with an LST radiator, they are highly unlikely to suffer extreme injury.

2. Inclusive Educational Approach

All schools aim to promote inclusivity as part of their approach. With that in mind, mainstream settings welcome pupils with various physical, learning and behavioural needs. It’s important to understand that the risk of injury in a classroom is heightened when more vulnerable pupils are placed in a mainstream setting, where class sizes often exceed 30 pupils.

3. The Child’s Age Can Make Them More Vulnerable To Injury

As with Special Educational Needs (SEN) children, primary-aged children are more vulnerable to burning accidents.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) pupils and Key Stage 1 (KS1) pupils often explore their surroundings through touch. A play-based curriculum means that children will naturally crawl under furniture as part of their role-playing, increasing the risk of injury

4. LST Radiators Have Additional Safety Benefits

Contour’s LST radiators are robust, with rounded corners (bullnose corners). Most standard radiators have pointed and sometimes sharp elements. By removing these risks, you’re providing children with an additional element of safety.

LST radiators contain rotary valve kits which enables cleaning staff access behind the radiator, giving the added benefit of hygiene, minimising the spread of germs and bacteria. Coupled with the unique BioCote anti-microbial technology, Contour’s LST radiators provide ultimate protection against harmful elements.

What other LST options are out there?

Installing a completely new set of LST radiators can prove to be a costly investment. So why not opt for an LST radiator cover instead? Contour’s guards can be retrofitted over existing heat emitters to deliver a durable, low surface temperature radiator system. Installing a radiator cover can have all the benefits (listed above) as an LST radiator itself.

Keeping heating safe in schools requires educational authorities to think beyond the budget. The safety and wellbeing of your children should mean that LST solutions are essential. Contour has a range of options available and will work to accommodate the different needs of each educational setting.

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

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