Floor Mounted Anti-ligature Radiator Guards for Live NHS Mental Health Wards

Project: Multi phase programme to upgrade radiator safety across its inpatient estate 

Product: DeepClean Extra Metal Radiator Guards 

Scope: 196 guards installed across multiple sites, covering 266 linear metres

Challenges: Live ward access, sensitive areas including bathrooms and dining areas, legacy infrastructure risks

Solutions: Secure anti-ligature floor mounted radiators guards with easy access for cleaning

Outcome: A safer, more hygienic, and ligature-resistant environment across a wide range of inpatient mental health settings

Background

A southwest-based mental health NHS Trust initiated a multi-phase programme to upgrade radiator safety across its inpatient estate. The work spanned a mix of complex and high-risk settings, including:

• PICU (Psychiatric Intensive Care Units)
• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
• Male, female, and mixed adult mental health wards

Contour was appointed to supply and install 196 DeepClean Extra floor mounted radiator guards, covering 266 linear metres across multiple hospital sites. These metal radiator covers were chosen for their anti-ligature design, strength, and easy maintenance, making them ideal for use in secure mental health environments.

The Challenges

Several key factors needed to be addressed for this project: 

1. Access to Live Wards

Work had to be planned around vulnerable service users, with access coordinated through ward managers. This meant completing surveys and installations only when safe to do so, with minimal disruption.

2. High-sensitivity Areas

Installations were required in spaces such as dining rooms, therapy areas, bathrooms, showers, and en suites, all demanding subtle execution and secure results.

3. Legacy Infrastructure Hazards

In one case, a large radiator guard beneath a windowsill was found to be insecure and liftable, posing a risk of harm or use as a weapon. As well as installing a new floor mounted radiator guard, the Contour team also secured the windowsill to ensure safety.

4. Logistics and Programme Management

Contour managed the skip hire and storage containers for the entire project, ensuring that each phase was delivered cleanly and efficiently. Snagging and schedule changes were handled directly by the Contour team to keep progress on track.

Solution Implemented

The DeepClean Extra floor mounted radiator guards were selected as the most appropriate solution for these mental health environments due to their:

• Anti-ligature design with smooth edges and tamper-proof fixings
• IP3X-rated metal grilles punched directly into the radiator cover, ideal for mental health settings
• Full and easy access for internal cleaning, without compromising safety
• Anti-pick mastic sealing at edges and joints
• Customised configurations, including flat panel continuous guards, floor-to-ceiling units, and guards with integrated pipe boxing

All guards were manufactured from 2mm thick Zintec steel and reinforced with internal strengthening struts. This upgrade was based on the Trust’s prior experiences with damage to less robust covers in similar settings.

By choosing a more robust specification, the Trust aimed to extend product lifespan, reduce future maintenance, and ensure the guards remained resilient in challenging, high-impact environments.

The added strength was especially important across high-risk spaces like PICUs, dining areas, and seclusion rooms, where impact resistance and reliability are paramount.

Each guard was custom sized for its specific location, and the entire installation was delivered by Contour.

Project Highlights

• 196 metal radiator covers installed across multiple live wards
• 266 linear metres of secure floor mounted radiators
• Completed in phased stages across PICU, CAMHS, and adult mental health wards
• Sensitive area installs - showers, bathrooms, dining and therapy spaces
• Legacy risk remedied with improved guard and windowsill fixing
• Full logistics support, including skip and container hire
• Follow-on orders already placed for future phases

Conclusion

This case study highlights how Contour delivers tailored anti-ligature metal radiator guards for mental health settings, even under the most complex conditions. From logistical planning to precise site coordination, our DeepClean Extra floor mounted radiator guards provided a compliant, hygienic, and anti-ligature heating solution that directly improves patient and staff safety.