FURNITURE – TV CABINETS
TVs in mental health bedrooms can play an important role in keeping service users connected with the outside world
enclosure preventing damage to the TV should anything be thrown at it; and the case and door are made from steel. ProEnc also designed its enclosure
to come as standard with thermostatic cooling, a TV bracket, and an audio vented door so the TV can be heard while the door is locked. “Estates and facilities managers should be looking at solutions that will last for a good number of years and the strongest material should be used,” said Gallagher. “The locks should be high security and not cam or compression locks, as these are easily forced open. “The audio from the TV is a crucial
element, too, and the ability to hear the TV while the door is locked is essential to ensure service users get the best- possible experience while receiving treatment for their illness. “They should also consider a solution
that will futureproof the initial purchase, so when the facility replaces the TV in a number of years, the same enclosure will accommodate a larger-screen TV.”
Tough Furniture was an early pioneer of TV solutions for psychiatric settings. Vesty said: “We pioneered the
development of cabinets specifically to protect televisions, computers and other vulnerable items from challenging behaviours, using lockable screens of polycarbonate, an immensely-strong plastic material. “As with so many of our innovations, it was the customers who then took the idea further, requesting units for protected display of notices or artwork to brighten up the living/working space, and even for the protection of fishtanks.”
A DOMESTIC FEEL As TVs evolved to flatscreens, so the protection cabinet design followed. Vesty said: “On both our wall-
mounted and floor units, we also use a heavy-duty inset strip hinge for the unit door, which significantly reduces the likelihood of it being damaged or wrenched off. “In the case of our wall-mounted units, the design allows us to remove any visible screws or boltheads, which
increases both the security of the cabinet and the aesthetic appeal.” These aesthetics play a major role in ongoing design work. “We are always striving to create a homely, therapeutic effect from the furniture we produce – avoiding excessive ‘institutionalism’ – and our TV cabinets are no exception, as they are produced in attractive woodgrains that help to create the right ‘domestic’ feel,” said Vesty. “We’ve also recently invested in vinyl wrapping technology that will allow us to significantly increase the range of colours and woodgrains we are able to offer, and these will be on the market soon.” Offering advice to specifiers, he adds:
“Make sure whatever solution you choose has a genuine polycarbonate viewing panel rather than an alternative material such as Perspex, as only polycarbonate is strong enough for mental health environments. “It’s also important to make sure you get the right-sized cabinet, particularly if you are looking for one that will also store other media devices, as cabinets that are too tightly packed with equipment can cause problems when it comes to air circulation and heat dissipation.” Looking to the future, Gallagher
predicts that recessed solutions will become increasingly popular. “We have been working with leading
mental health facilities on incorporating games consoles and DVD players into our solutions,” he added. Vesty concludes: “A basic trend is the one towards thinner and thinner TVs, which, in turn, should increase the demand for slimmer-profile, less- obtrusive cabinets. “And we’re also increasingly being
asked for cabinets that will store and protect other items such as games consoles, DVD players, and Sky boxes as well as the TV screen itself.”
www.toughfurniture.com
www.lcdtvenclosure.com
22 mhdf magazine
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