In safety-critical settings like mental health, secure prisons, and some supported housing facilities, prioritising user wellbeing and minimising harm is crucial. Horne’s showers excel here, offering highly robust, pre-plumbed units uniquely specialised for challenging behaviours and environments.
Built with a tough aluminium casing, Horne showers are engineered to withstand both accidental damage and intentional abuse, protecting internal components (user interference) and users from potential harm (burn risk from hot water supply pipe). Shower heads and controls are crafted from robust brass and die-cast zinc, and are designed with optimised geometries to mitigate the risk of self-harm, specifically via ligature.
At the heart of every design is its thermostatic control valve, a technology that Horne invented in the 1920s. Approved for demanding healthcare applications, the integral mixing valve ensures safe, reliable, and consistent water temperatures, irrespective of water system fluctuations. A comfortable shower experience not only enhances user satisfaction but further deters interference and vandalism.
Testament to the above, Horne showers were selected by the Ministry of Justice for their Decency Showers Programme, aimed at enhancing shower facilities to improve dignity and welfare for prisoners. Horne has already supplied over 600 of their -LR, ligature resistant units, with various flow control options, to multiple UK prison sites as part of this initiative.
Further advantages include off-site fabrication, with rigorous pressure and performance testing, enabling quick and straightforward installation. To maximise lifetime value and operational longevity, Horne designs also prioritise easy maintenance, and low-cost spare parts and comprehensive training resources further assist a prolonged and sustainable installation.
By prioritising user safety, equipment durability, resource and budgetary considerations, Horne’s showers prove an indispensable asset for secure facilities seeking to enhance safety and wellbeing while optimising resources.