Radiators

Radiators

by: scotsnursery - 11-10-12 12:15

Hi

Do radiators in a nursery setting need to be covered?  If so would love to hear what you are using to cover them? 

Thanks

by: Maestro

If they are on during the day when the children are there then they should be to stop burns. We use radiator covers.

by: scotsnursery

Do you mean wooden surrounds or are they cloth?  Ideally I don't want wooden surrounds so looking for an alternative.

by: Maestro

Yes we have wooden ones which are painted. You can buy nice foam padded ones much like the soft play cubes if you've got ££££!!

Our children don't go anywhere near them and the wood ones make a nice piece of furniture in the room.

by: raramoo

We use wooden painted also. They look nicer, are easy to remove should you need to and they are in many homes also unlike padded or metal grills so the children can associate the danger in both settings.

by: Eejay

The nursery I used to work at had cheap electric radiators which were always breaking, and they had metal cages over them. Obviously the cage would get quite warm too, and a child once got their finger stuck in one. And that nursery got an "outstanding" from Ofsted...

by: CJ

there are a range of options- wooden covers (which sadly also stop heat radiating as efficiently), plastic coated metal - which dont get hot and allow heat to radiate, or risk assessment to determine the extend of heat and what is required.

How many homes have radiator covers?

by: Maestro

I have covers as they're more attractive than the radiators. With the cavity insulation and loft insulation our heating is only on about 4 months of the year and that's a few hours in the morning before the children arrive. 

Whilst its good to make nursery like home, and question the radiator covers at home, don't forget a large proportion of accidents occur in the home. 

by: Jam

All radiators should be covered, we have metal cage style ones. Less attractive, but you can still dry wet clothes over them and they can be removed by an adult quite easily to adjust setting on radiators.

RE: RE: Radiators - 11-10-12 23:24

by: scotsnursery

Have found these things called Radpads - basically padded fabric covers.  Has anyone got these over their radiators?  They look like they may do the trick although not cheap!

by: Maestro

They look cheaper than wooden covers at around £35. We paid around £100 for wooden ones although they are solid and not the flimsey things from B&Q. 

I notice they don't stop children putting their hands on the pipes though if you wanted to be picky.

by: CJ

measured risk?

risk awareness?

learning dangers?

by: Maestro

Having seen a fair few burnt hands from radiators, prevention is far better. Burnt hands are not pretty.

by: Eejay

http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Pipe-Insulation/Pr441375015