A local education authority is optimising best value in a major capital building programme- right through to pupil intimate care.
Dundee City Council is undertaking a £350million investment plan including regeneration of the waterfront, affordable housing and new schools, with the last designed to deliver suitable, sustainable and accessible buildings that make the best use of resources.
The capital projects team has therefore future-proofed the school building designs by including specialist equipment from Closomat, to create accessible toilet facilities.
The latest project- construction of the new North East Campus – thus features a Closomat Palma Vita wash & dry toilet with height adjustable washbasin and ceiling track hoist. The equipment has been supplied and installed by Closomat for M&E/ facilities management specialist McGill, on behalf of the main contractor Robertson Group.
“Education is becoming more and more inclusive, so it makes sense to include specialist accessible fixtures and fittings from the outset, to future-proof, and achieve the best use of available resources,” explained Dundee City Council capital projects team project manager Duncan Myers. “Accessibility provision simultaneously extends the scope of the school building for community use out of hours.”
Adds Scott Hill, project engineer at McGill, “We’ve provided wash & dry toilets for a few new schools now. Closomat is the brand leader; with its supply, install and commissioning offering, reinforced by technical/ specification support, to us it is a sensible choice.”
Claire Haymes, Closomat away from home/CDM specialist, observes, “The number of disabled schoolchildren has increased by more than 60% in the past 25 years, and the majority are in mainstream schooling.
“Over and above that, there have been recent reports of the growing number of children starting school who are not toilet trained with staff spending 30 hours a week helping children go to the toilet. Figures also indicate that 10% of pupils have a continence issue. The showering and drying technology in a Closomat ensures freshness is assured.”
