subject: Boiler Hire For University Accommodation [print this page] UK universities have a duty to provide adequate residential accommodation. A reliable heat
and hot water supply at a universitys Halls of Residence is an expected part of this provision;
particularly, of course, throughout the winter months.
Hiring boilers for universities from a good boiler hire company can prove the perfect option when it comes to ensuring a comfortable temperature at Halls of Residence is always maintained during:
Planned maintenance work/servicing
A boiler breakdown
An interim period (when an old boiler at a university is replaced by a new, modern model), and
On occasions when a boost of extra hot water and heat is required (e.g. during a very cold spell)
Student Accommodation Options
Gone are the days when perhaps only one or two people in any UK town were given the
opportunity to avail of a university education; these days, thousands of teenagers see going to Uni as a given. This increase has resulted in a greater demand for student accommodation across the country, which can be:
Digs: privately rented single rooms in a lodging house owned by a landlord or landlady
A house-share, which can be a privately rented property or one owned by the local university
Rooms at a Halls of Residence, which are managed by the university itself or by a private company, such as UNITE (the biggest provider)
Economic Factors
Due to the recession, some universities are delaying servicing their boiler equipment for longer. This is resulting in more breakdowns (making it a false economy). Also, given the need to be more commercial, universities are using their accommodation for conferences or hostel-type housing during term breaks. There is less available time for boiler repair/maintenance to be undertaken, therefore.
Just some examples of heat and hot water disruptions at UK universities:
Students at York University were left without hot water on February 11th this year after a pipe burst on campus - reports the York University website.
In March, Bristol University students found some of their IT classes had to be rescheduled due to essential maintenance work being carried out in the Computer Centre, resulting in a lack of hot water during the day - reports the Bristol University website.
University of East Anglia students were without hot and cold water in sinks and toilets in May due to critical repairs being required in the boiler plant room. The work was purposely planned for the weekend, to minimise disruption to studies - reports the University of East Anglia website.
And in previous years:
In 1996, the record sub-zero temperatures that made Glasgow colder than Moscow delayed the start of term for hundreds of Glasgow University students, and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. The problems caused by burst pipes forced many students (in Halls of Residence) to be rehoused - reports Times High Education.
In 2009, the potentially catastrophic consequences of a fixed boiler system failure at a London university were avoided thanks to the rapid response of a leading boiler specialist firm. Within four hours of receiving an emergency call-out, the boiler rental company delivered, installed and commissioned two 500kW boilers (connected to the existing pipework). Normal provision of heating and hot water to the Halls of Residence was maintained, with no down-time occurring.
Regulations, Guidelines, Codes of Practice
Usually, university heating is switched on from October to May, in accordance with Health & Safety Executive requirements. However, like UK schools and colleges, universities are not covered by any government Workplace Health & Safety Act (where minimum and maximum temperature guidelines are strictly set); it is up to a universitys Board of Governors, and union representatives on the teaching staff, to come to an agreement regarding a suitable minimum temperature for a campus, according to Legislation.gov.uk.
All universities must also adhere to The Code: a code of conduct for all providers of student
accommodation.
More About The Code
All UK universities (and colleges) are independently audited every three years to ensure that their management arrangements for student accommodation are up to the high standards expected by The Code. This ensures that The Code is entirely accountable and transparent, states TheStudentAccommodation.org.uk
To make sure that the auditing processes are as rigorous as possible, auditors follow a four-step process for each investigation. This involves:
1. Talking to students or student representative bodies
2. Inspecting documentary evidence
3. Conducting a physical inspection of a sample of the accommodation
4. Investigating any formal complaints made by students
The Cost-Effective Option all Universities Should Take
Boiler hire for universities in the UK is an alternative that campus site managers (and contracted facilities management companies) are often grateful for, because having the option to rent boilers for universities at any time provides peace of mind, and is easy, quick and affordable to do.
With students paying more for their degree from this year, they (and many of their parents) will understandably expect an excellent return for their money a lack of sufficient heating and hot water at their accommodation would simply be unacceptable. The boiler leasing option not only helps to maintain heat and hot water provision at Halls of residence; it could even be said to help preserve a universitys reputation in the minds of students as a cool place to live and learn.
