The brief for the Highcroft facility was to supply a safe and secure surface mounted shower for use in ensuite bathrooms in a modern mental health unit.

Criteria included supplying an NHS Estates D08 approved thermostatic shower valve for use in healthcare that could not be used by patients to harm themselves, that was robust, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible to all users and maintenance operatives to ensure safe operation throughout the lifespan of the unit.

To save cost and space on this project, MAAP Architects design called for a solid block wall structure with mechanical services running through ducting in the ceiling void above. It was therefore necessary to install a surface-mounted shower with hot and cold supplies coming down from above.

To recess a shower valve into the block work would have compromised the structural integrity of the walls and was therefore not an option.

This in turn raised a number of issues: if a surface mounted valve was to be used, the potentially dangerous hot supply pipe work would need to be covered, in addition it was considered desirable to conceal all exposed pipe that could act as a point on which patients could harm themselves accidentally or intentionally.

The Horne TSV1-105A shower panel was therefore chosen as the safest and most secure option – meeting not just criteria of the architect but also all other parties concerned.