Crittall Fendor has enhanced its CleanVent – an external sliding window system designed to provide maximum natural light and ventilation – with the addition of a Slipper Clutch mechanism.
The company said: “With security considerations uppermost in mental healthcare installations, the design allows the glazing to be cleaned quickly and easily behind the security mesh.”
The CleanVent can be either inward or outward opening, providing an external opening vent on ground floor windows, which enables cleaning without disrupting the patient. When installed at higher floor levels an internal opening vent provides ease of access. The flush frame offers no ligature points, and is supplied with antiligature hardware as standard. Crittall Fendor says it should not be possible to attach a ligature to any part of the window.
The Slipper Clutch is an anti-ligature, dial-shaped handle specially designed to withstand misuse, in addition to normal wear and tear. When the opening vent is at its fullest extent it cannot be deliberately forced open further. The mechanism is engineered to ‘slip’ repeatedly no matter how often it is turned, and will only reengage and operate normally if turned back in the opposite direction.
CleanVent windows are available in steel and aluminium, have been tested by the NHS for both medium and high secure use, and can be supplied in single, double, triple, and acoustic-glazed options.