Coping with young persons with severe autism and learning disabilities in a caring and learning environment can be particularly challenging.
When Ai Architects were commissioned to design the centre on behalf of the providers Noble Care they had to consider all aspects of the client’s welfare and safety as well as educational needs.
Personal safety of the inhabitants was of great concern as those suffering with autism can be unpredictable and prone to accidental self-harm so it was of utmost importance that the heating system posed as little hazard as possible.
Conventional LST radiators were ruled out as their bulky covers restricted space and wheelchair access while also posing a collision hazard with sharp edges and exposed pipes.
The architects ruled out under floor heating due to previous experience of the system in similar care establishments found that it encouraged the residents to lie on the floor rather than participate in the therapeutic activities that they are there to benefit from.
Corridors and gangways are kept clear of radiators by using ThermaSkirt throughout
ThermaSkirt caught the attention of the architects by chance through a Google search. ThermaSkirt is a radiant skirting board that doesn’t entail the bulky covers or exposed pipes of conventional radiators while providing an all-round comfortable heat from the ground up but at significantly lower installation and running costs than under floor heating.
With its rapid response to heating requirements, ThermaSkirt allows the users to easily adjust the controls when needed to maximise comfort and save money on energy bills.
Designed to replace the skirting board and radiators in one convenient package, ThermaSkirt blends into the interior with secure top and bottom fixing making it an extremely durable and robust retrofit heating solution. The seamless transition between ThermaSkirt and the floor allows the skirting board to be wiped clean at the same time as mopping the floors, lessening maintenance time and ensuring a hygienic environment that is vitally important to care facilities. The ThermaSkirt system allows for maximised use of space by not being wall mounted and with a profile of less than 20mm it doesn’t cause restrictive obstacles to the functionality of the building.
The classrooms are kept free of bulky radiators which eliminates the risk of injury to residents
The care home received recognition of its meticulous design and planning through being short-listed for the Pinders National Healthcare Design Awards in the Best Design for Younger Adults category.
Ian Ray of A.i. architecture commented;
"On seeing ThermaSkirt we recognised straight away its potential to solve our heating problems. We couldn’t use LST radiators as the service users are prone to self harm and occasional vandalism. Our client and ourselves are really impressed by the ThermaSkirt package that is working well and providing everything we hoped it would. We’re already designing the system into future projects."
ThermaSkirt is available in a variety of profiles and colours to suit all interior designs and is supplied pre-finished to allow quick and simple installation, minimising disruption to the building.
