Why should you invest in carbon-neutral lockers?

Posted by Nata Rukhadze on 4th September 2023

Here at Helmsman, we are passionate about manufacturing our clients with bespoke carbon-neutral laminate lockers. We provide our clients with the best quality products by building strong partnerships with our suppliers that have the thought of the environment in mind. Due to the environmental issues and global events, we would like to agree that it has made us aware of our decision and increased our protection of the environment.

We have a new partnership with Abet Laminate. Abet Laminate has the thought of environment in mind with the laminate products they provide for clients. As the laminate consists of 70% cellulose and 30% thermosetting resins which can state that the material isn’t classified as a dangerous material for the environment.

We additionally have a partnership with BioCarbon Laminates, which provides sustainable laminate solutions including carbon-neutral laminates. The products are produced in a carbon-neutral manufacturing facility that monitors, controls, and balances carbon emissions reducing them to zero.

Investing in carbon-neutral laminates is a way to reduce carbon emissions which takes part in harming the environment. By investing in purchasing carbon-neutral laminates, it is a way to help the environment such as letting trees absorb carbon.

At Helmsman we provide materials such as Solid Grade Laminate, Glass, Timber, and Metal, which can be recyclable. The material we use to make our products has a long-lasting shelf life which is beneficial for the earth.

We want to make a difference and protect the environment by providing carbon-neutral and other materials that is recyclable for our lockers. To find out more about bespoke lockers that are carbon neutral contact us or call us 01284 530421.

Why buy school lockers instead of renting?

Posted by Jess Fry on 15th June 2023

With the modern schooling world providing students with more, and often heavier items to carry around during the school day, the benefits of school lockers are clear. Of course, with many locker providers around the UK, and both purchase and rental options, it can be overwhelming to think about where to get your school lockers from.

Of course, whilst renting lockers can have its positives, there are also lots of benefits to purchasing lockers instead of renting.

Access

Firstly, should you purchase your own lockers, you can also buy a master key for the locks. This can be kept on-site, perhaps in the reception or office area of the school, and allows easy, immediate access to the lockers. This is particularly handy if a student misplaces their school locker key, or if access is needed to the lockers for security purposes by the school.

Security

On the subject of keys, many rental locker companies can require students to return their keys at the end of the school year, so that the lockers can be reallocated to students the following year. This can pose a security risk if keys are not returned or could mean that the rental company requires access to the lockers during the school holidays to replace locks. This could pose an inconvenience as staff members would be required to come in during the summer break.

Repair

A common problem with school lockers is that they can be broken by students, whether this be with graffiti, dents, marks, or other damage. Should you rent your lockers, you’ll need to arrange for an engineer or service member from the rental company to come in to fix them. This can mean lockers are out of action for extended periods of time. Your own lockers can be maintained by yourselves, most damage caused by students could be fixed by your own caretakers and the lockers be useable much quicker.

Cost

Rental lockers might seem like a financial benefit for schools, particularly with budgets being cut and pennies being saved. However, rental lockers aren’t free. The parents of school children pay a yearly fee for the lockers, and in the current cost of living crisis, this may well be another thing parents just cannot afford. This can mean some students end up carrying around heavy bags all day simply because their families cannot afford to pay for a locker.

Of course, if you do decide to go down the route of purchasing lockers for your school, this can be costly. Whether you’re planning on purchasing metal lockers, laminate lockers, or something else entirely, it’s important to make sure you are buying lockers of high quality and from the right supplier. There are a lot of locker companies in the UK, many of which claim to be the UK’s leading suppliers. We at Helmsman are one of the UK’s largest manufacturers, meaning many of these suppliers will purchase their lockers from us to sell on. By coming directly to the manufacturers, you can avoid the extra margin charged by the suppliers and get the best price for your lockers.

Want to know more, or are thinking about replacing your school lockers? Contact our helpful Sales Team today on 01284 727626 or fill in our contact form here.

A Guide to School Lockers

Posted by Jess Fry on 11th May 2023

With many people’s memories of school featuring lines of lockers filled with books, bags and stationery, have times really changed that much? Are lockers still as important in the modern schooling world?

The short answer would be yes. The number of books and stationery the average student needs on a day to day basis hasn’t changed all that much, especially if you consider adding a laptop or tablet to that load too. Medical experts specify that children should not carry more than 10% of their body weight, particularly on their backs. A recent study found that some children are carrying up to 20%, exceeding this recommendation. Lockers are a perfect solution to this problem.

There are many other benefits to providing your primary school or secondary school with long lasting lockers too:

They can provide space for staff to keep their belongings secure during the school day, away from reach of children.
Pupils have a safe place to store items, rather than the commonly used classroom drawers. This can be particularly useful for items such as phones and tablets, or other items that you don’t want distracting in classrooms.
Students can also gain a sense of responsibility for their own belongings and encourage them to keep a tidy workspace.

There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing school lockers. Our simple guide will help you decide what’s right for your school.

Size

Many other lockers suppliers only offer a full-size locker and a Low-Level Locker. However, with over 40 years of experience working with the education industry, Helmsman has determined the ideal height of our school lockers for different age groups. Due to this, we manufacture three standard heights of school lockers.

Key Stage 1 Lockers at 1200mm
Key Stage 2 Lockers 1600mm
Full Sized Lockers at 1800mm

Of course, as we manufacture all our products to order in our Bury St Edmunds factory, we can also provide bespoke sizes and solutions for your school lockers. Whether this is to fit in a specific sized area, or to allow for additional compartments, we can discuss a fully bespoke option for your project.

Compartments

Important things to consider when choosing your compartment options are how many students you are needing to cater for? What items will they be keeping in their lockers? And do you expect either of these answers to change in the future?

Our Key Stage 1 and 2 lockers can be supplied with 1 to 3 compartments, and our full-sized lockers can be manufactured with 1 to 6 compartments.

Material

Before deciding what material you want your lockers to be manufactured from, you’ll need to decide on a few other factors first.

Where will the lockers be situated?

If they are going to be in a potentially wet area like a changing room, you’re going to need wet specification lockers with the body manufactured from stainless steel and aluminium. If they’re going in a corridor, you’ll just need a dry specification locker produced from mild steel.

What are they being used for?

The standard choice for school lockers is usually metal. Our metal locker door frames have added strength and security and can be manufactured from mild steel or zinc-plated metal. If your lockers are in high-traffic areas and likely to be bumped, scratched or caught, a laminate door provides a more heavy-duty option.

What’s the budget?

If you’re looking to keep costs down, a metal locker door will be the cheapest option, and our Helmsman lockers will stand the test of time. However, for a long lasting, heavy duty and more stylish looking locker, you could consider laminate doors. Whilst they are a more expensive option, the material will do much better at withstanding scratches, dents and scuffs, and perhaps save you money on repairs in the long run.

Colour

Helmsman’s school lockers come in a variety of colours and finishes. Our metal lockers can be powder coated in a range of colours, from the classic Royale blue to Pumpkin orange or Blush pink. We also have a selection of brilliant laminate suppliers, meaning we can offer bright pops of colour, wood effect laminates, and even carbon neutral options. We can match your school colour scheme, or even provide different coloured lockers for different sections of the building to help split up the allocation process, it’s entirely up to you.

Locks

As standard, our School Lockers come complete with either Cam locks or Hasp locks included in the price. These are both great options for primary and secondary school lockers, with the students simply needing either a key or a padlock. Master keys can also be provided for cam locks should students lose their keys.

Other options include combination locks, digital locks and more.

Extras

We offer a variety of extras with our lockers at Helmsman. A particularly popular option with school lockers are sloping tops. These are designed to stop any items from being placed on top of the lockers, keeping the area tidy and clutter free. Stands can be provided to lift the lockers from the ground, and seat stands can be a helpful addition to lockers within changing rooms.

For more information on our primary and secondary school lockers, or to talk to a member of our experienced team, call us on 01284727626 or click here and fill out our contact form.

Replacing School Lockers

Posted by Jess Fry on 13th March 2023

Do they need replacing?

There are many reasons why you might think the lockers in your school need replacing. Perhaps they’re looking old and worn out, maintenance bills are piling up or you simply just need to cater for more students than before. Whatever the reasons, it is worth thinking about replacing your school lockers with plenty of time to prepare.

Unsure about whether your lockers need replacing or just some TLC? If your lockers are getting old, have creaky doors, or have keys missing, it’s possible that Helmsman can help with the maintenance and service of the lockers rather than having to purchase new ones. Our service team consists of highly skilled engineers to keep your lockers as good as new.

However, there will be occasions where your lockers are approaching the end of their life and need replacing. If your metal lockers have started to rust, from exposure to moisture, or the wrong cleaning products, they will likely need replacing before the rust spreads and affects the appearance and usage of the lockers.

Maybe your lockers have been repaired a few too many times and the maintenance is becoming too costly. At this point, it can be helpful to weigh up the cost of repeat repairs versus the cost of new lockers which don’t require expensive upkeep. If the parts you require are no longer available due to the age of your existing lockers, this may also be a reason to upgrade the lockers to avoid having to pay out for more difficult to source items.

If the use of your lockers has changed, and they are now too small or too large for the intended users, an upgrade could be helpful to save space or provide a more user-friendly option. As lockers can have a relatively long lifespan, it might be that the school has changed its layout since they were installed. If you’re wanting to move the lockers to a different area of the school, and the area won’t fit as many lockers, it could be a great time to upgrade them, or if the area has more space perhaps, you’ll want to purchase more.

If priorities have changed, for example, you require lockers that are intended for use by more than one individual, the locks you have might not be providing what you need. Plus, with new technology available you may have a need for extras such as heated or charging lockers.

What are the next steps in replacing your school lockers?

So you’ve decided you do need to upgrade your school lockers; now there are a lot of things to consider before you place an order.

Material and finish

Firstly, you’ll need to think about what material or type of locker you want for the school. Whilst the traditional school locker is made from metal, it may be that you want to upgrade to a more long lasting material such as a laminate locker. These are made with a mild steel carcass and have solid grade laminate doors, providing a more heavy duty product which is less likely to dent or scratch. Whilst a laminate locker is more expensive, the upgrade in material could pay for itself in the long run by being easier to keep clean and damage free, resulting in less maintenance costs.

Sizing

Lockers can come in all sorts of sizes and designs, so make sure to think about which is going to be the best option for your school lockers. Within Helmsman’s School Locker range we cater for KS1 students, KS2 students, and our standard locker range is suitable for secondary schools and above. These range from a height of 1200mm, up to 1800mm, however as we manufacture our lockers in house, to order, we can cater to any specific needs you may have.

Design

Next, you’ll need to think about what will be going into the lockers and how much space you’ll need in each compartment. Our KS1 and KS2 lockers are available in 1-3 compartments, whilst our standard range is available in up to 6 compartments. The more compartments you choose, the more students you can provide lockers for, however, this does mean each individual compartment will be smaller. So it’s important to think about what your lockers will be used for.

Accessories

Don’t forget, it’s not just about the internal area of the locker. Both laminate and metal lockers can come with many additional extras, locking options, finishes, and numbering choices. Sloping tops mean that clutter can’t be stored on top of the lockers and potentially cause damage and locker stands can be provided with cladding to stop things being lost underneath.

Timing

Whilst the summer holidays might seem a long way away, it’s never too early to contact us and get the ball rolling. With the short window of time in the summer holidays to get repairs and replacements sorted you don’t want to miss the boat. It might be that the laminate colour you’re wanting is on a longer lead time than expected, or you’re wanting the lockers installed by our professional team in the peak period of the summer break. Plus, with all of our lockers manufactured to order, it’s better to be prepared sooner rather than later.

Take a read of our Education Brochure here to find out more about our range of school lockers, cubicles and other products.

Contact us today on 01284727626 for more information about our school lockers and talk to our team about the different options available to you. Alternatively, send us a quote request here.

Locker and Cubicle Trends for 2023

Posted by Jess Fry on 26th January 2023

As we begin the year 2023, we’re taking a look at what trends and styles are taking centre stage. From sustainable solutions, through to which colours are becoming increasingly popular across the locker and cubicle industry.

Sustainable Solutions

Sustainability is moving higher on the list of importance in many company operations. This is reflected not only in production or manufacturing but also through commercial property and office design. We aren’t just talking about how many recycling bins you have in the office but starting to think about your company’s entire carbon footprint and making moves towards being carbon neutral. A great way to improve your space is by thinking about the carbon journey of the products you purchase.

At Helmsman, we promote the sustainable manufacture of lockers and cubicles through our chain of suppliers. We aim to work with companies that care as much as we do to ensure projects have as little of a negative impact as possible. Therefore, we try to use sustainable and recyclable materials whenever we can. Plus, as an FSC-certified company, we share their commitment to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests and can uphold the chain of custody for our responsibly sourced laminates to you and your project.

A great example is our partnership with BioCarbon Laminates to provide sustainable laminate solutions including carbon-neutral laminates. Read more about the partnership here.

Another way in which offices are helping to improve the carbon footprint of their employees is by promoting the cycle-to-work scheme. A great way to increase the uptake of this scheme is to provide high-quality facilities such as lockers and cubicles for the office space.

Helmsman Heated lockers are ideal for commuters and staff who require their damp clothes to dry before the end of the working day. Heated lockers are available in standard locker sizes and options, as well as Z shaped lockers. Or we can help design any bespoke projects too.

Technology and Flexible Working

As we continue to develop our working lives after the covid-19 pandemic, flexible working is still increasingly important for many employees. With both personal and flexible work desk spaces becoming more popular, many employers are designing their office space with options such as hot desking and shared technology. In this office set up, security and efficiency becomes ever more significant.

We have a range of locker options at Helmsman, with charging lockers in a range of sizes, perfect for safely charging a laptop during downtime, or a place to keep your phone safe during office working hours. We also have a range of locks, with electronic locks, combination locks, coin return locks, simple cam locks with keys or hasp locks to provide the flexibility of a user using their own padlock.

Inclusive Design

A trend we have already found here at Helmsman at the beginning of 2023, is the rise in enquiries for accessible washroom facilities in leisure centres. It’s increasingly important to understand what people want and how facilities can be designed to encourage more people in, rather than only serving existing customers. Particularly with leisure centres set to experience high costs in 2023, expanding a client base is ever more important.

People in the UK with learning and physical disabilities can still face a frustrating range of barriers which prevent them from participating in leisure activities. People with disabilities are less than half as likely to engage in most leisure activities as their able-bodied peers. It appears that leisure centres in the UK are looking to update their facilities to be more inclusive in 2023. And with Helmsman’s wheelchair-accessible lockers and disabled access cubicles designed specifically with accessibility in mind, they’re a great choice.

The way in which people use leisure centres is constantly evolving. In more recent times, it seems the traditional design of formal sporting spaces is being phased out in favour of more flexible zones. A great way to break up an open area into split zones is visually. By placing lower-height lockers, we can form a barrier and create a zone within a larger area without completely cutting off the space. This could work within an office space too, particularly if you’re promoting flexible working.

Style

Going into 2023, curvy, rounded and slope-armed furniture is very much still as popular as 2022. The seamless feel of the curve is featured in our Leisure Lockers. The curved single-piece body and the rounded-edged doors create a smooth look whilst also being practical, easy to clean and hygienic.

However, some designers are keen to move away from soft curves and rounded finishes, and are promoting a more streamlined, classic, silhouette style, which we can offer with our Laminate Lockers.

During 2022, the style and finishes chosen for furniture were often light wood such as Oak and Maple, another trend continuing into this year. However, in 2023 we’re also expecting to see the return of bigger, bolder colours. Our range at Helmsman can offer a variety of different powder-coated metal colours, laminates from a range of suppliers, and even coloured glass for both lockers and cubicles. Our laminate range can include wood effect finishes through to bright colours such as Crimson red and Lime green.

As with many things, styles and trends are ever changing. At Helmsman we have a variety of lockers, cubicles and other product options available. We specialise in bespoke products too, so even the most unique design and style ideas can often be created.

Take a read through our 2023 Brochures below:

Blue Glass lockers, including DDA half height lockers for disabled users

Storage Solutions for Small Spaces

Posted by Jess Fry on 24th October 2022

At Helmsman we can offer a range of lockers, from the smallest modular lockers, up to a range of laminate lockers in various sizes. Sometimes the space you have for your project is on the smaller side, so you’ll need to be clever with the storage you choose in order to maximise the area’s value. With a variety of options to choose from, we’re sure we can provide a storage solution for your small space.

Modular Lockers

This is our smallest range of lockers at Helmsman. These are perfect for smaller spaces as they are just 340x300x300mm in size. Plus, if you need more than one, they can be stacked in a range of shapes to fit into a range of odd spaces. Our modular lockers are often a great choice for schools, with the ability to hold a standard-sized school bag. Our modular lockers are manufactured from mild steel and powder coated, meaning that you can choose from a large range of colours, and could even mix and match the colours to create a funky pattern for your lockers.

Mini Minder

Should you need a bank of small lockers for personal items such as phones or tablets, our mini minder lockers are the perfect choice. These lockers come in a range of compartment quantities, with options from 12 compartments all the way up to 40. Not only this, but our mini minder lockers are perfect to use as charging lockers. Each locker can come complete with a plug socket, and there’s also an additional USB option too, so you can charge your phone whilst keeping it safe. The mini minders are also manufactured from mild steel and powder coated, so you can choose from a range of colour options.

School Lockers

Helmsman supplies a range of school lockers. These vary in height depending on the Key Stage of the set of students to use them. Our Key Stage One lockers are 1250mm in height, whilst the Key Stage 2 lockers are 1600mm in height. These smaller lockers are designed around the height of the students, depending on their age; however, they are also great to fit into smaller alcoves and tighter spaces. Helmsman’s school lockers are available in both laminate and mild steel, with a range of colour options and finishes.

Z Lockers

A fairly modern design, Z lockers are a perfect space-saving storage solution. Named after the line created between the doors, Z lockers allow two people to store their belongings in the footprint of just 1 locker. Due to this, these lockers take up less room whilst maximizing the internal space on offer. With a tall section for items such as hanging clothes and a wider section for bags or shoes, Z lockers are a fantastic way to optimize your space. With options in both metal and laminate, plus the additon of adding a heated option too, Z lockers can be manufactured to suit your requirements, in a variety of finishes and colours.

Bespoke Lockers

Of course, should there be any specific request you have, we at Helmsman specialize in bespoke lockers. Let us know your requirements for your project, and we can design, manufacture and install your brand-new unique and individual lockers. Whether you need a 3 compartment Z locker, or a set of lockers to fit in a unique sized or shaped space, we can help create a storage solution. Take a look at an example of the bespoke lockers we manufactured for Leicestershire Police in our case study here.

pink and purple metal school locker with student

Why do lockers have vents?

Posted by Jess Fry on 26th September 2022

Where and how are your lockers used?

Depending on how and where your lockers are used will affect the design features and materials that you’ll need to use. If they are designed for short term use, for example in a swimming pool or gym setting, perhaps with a coin return lock so members only use for 1-2 hours at a time, the need for locker vents or perforations is minimal. Bacteria is possible from food or drink left in a locker, or sweaty clothes from a user’s gym bag, however for short term use lockers, a good regular clean is enough to keep them fresh. It is important to remember that swimming pool lockers will be exposed to more humidity and therefore should be made of the appropriate materials, see our blog post on wet vs dry spec lockers.

If your lockers are for a golf club or member-based sports club, where members hire or are given an allocated locker, items may be left inside for extended periods of time. Without immediate daily access for cleaning, these could do with having locker vents or perforations included in their design.

What other design features do your lockers have?

Heated lockers are a fast-developing technology, now widely requested across many areas, from spa and swimming pool changing rooms through to offices and workplaces. Whether you want to dry your wet swimming costume, warm your towels, or make sure your cycling clothes are dry for your journey home from work, Heated lockers are a great addition.

Charging lockers are also becoming a highly requested product in the storage industry. The ability to safely store phones, tablets, laptops or even power tools, whilst simultaneously charging them is a great benefit. Take a look at our case study for Leicestershire Police.

What do these lockers have in common? The need for ventilation or perforations. Whether this be a vent in the front of the locker to maximise airflow and minimize bacteria, perforations in the doors and side panels to aid ventilation and reduce heat build up in a charging locker, or a perforated base to circulate warm air and perforated slats at the top for damp air to escape in heated lockers, vents are vital in many locker designs.

Do all designs need locker vents?

Short answer would be no, it all depends on the type and length of usage they receive. Whilst ventilation may not be of high importance for short term use lockers, remember that many designs won’t have airtight seal anyway, so this will provide the ability for air to get in and out of the locker.

Wet and Dry Spec Lockers

Posted by Jess Fry on 12th September 2022

In order to protect and extend the lifespan of your products, it’s important to consider the materials and options that are suitable for the particular project. The environment that lockers, cubicles and bench seating are kept in, as well as their use and intended purpose is extremely important when deciding on design and materials.

At Helmsman we provide a variety of products, as well as offering bespoke options too. So, whether your project be a swimming pool changing room, heated Z Lockers, or outdoor school lockers, we can cover it, and help you to choose the most suitable materials and layout.

Dry Area Lockers

For a material to be suitable for creating a locker body, it needs to be robust, strong, bendable by machine and cost effective. Helmsman pride ourselves on providing a high-quality product, which is why we use Heavy Gauge Mild Steel for our locker bodies. This material is designed to provide years of use and can be painted in a range of RAL colours in our Gema Powder Coating System, though in general the locker body is in colour “Ice.”

You can pair these tough locker bodies with a range of doors, from a variety of compartment sizes and shapes, through to a range of materials.

For a dry area, our metal locker doors are manufactured in the same material as the body, this Mild Steel material can be powder coated in our RAL colour options, either the same colour as the body or a different one.

You could also choose laminate doors for your project. The Solid Grade Laminate that Helmsman use comes in many different colour and finish options, from bright orange or classic grey, through to a wood affect finish. We also work with a selection of suppliers, including BioCarbon’s Carbon Neutral Laminates, providing you with high quality, sustainable materials for your project. Laminate is a great choice to manufacture a more Heavy-Duty locker, as this material is less likely to scratch, dent or damage.

Of course, whilst mild steel has its benefits, it can rust and damage with moisture or humidity, so is only suited to lockers manufactured for dry areas.

Wet Area Lockers

A wet area will require materials that don’t rust, warp, peel or crack under humidity or moisture. At Helmsman we use a stainless-steel frame, with an aluminium body. These materials are designed to work within a wet environment and won’t damage due to moisture.

Should you require a metal locker door, we use a zinc plated metal. This material is a cost-effective way to provide metal lockers in a wet environment. Suited to lockers such as garment dispensers or collectors within staff washrooms, or metal lockers for swimming pool changing rooms.

Laminate doors are also available for a wet spec locker design. The colour and finish options look great within a luxury hotel, leisure centre or spa changing rooms. Plus, with options such as antibacterial coatings, laminate doors can be an easy to clean, hygienic, yet stylish choice for your project.

Another option for a wet spec locker project would be glass lockers. With a standard aluminium locker body, there are two possible options for glass doors. We can provide a laminate door over-clad with tempered glass, or an RAL coloured glass door. This really does provide a luxurious feel to the project, and pairing glass doors with laminate doors can provide a stunning contrast too. With glass being a non-porous material, the material doesn’t absorb or allow the ingress of particles, making them a perfect choice for a wet spec project.

However, whilst the wet spec lockers are designed for a wet environment, there is no stopping you using them in whatever project you like. Glass lockers for example are becoming more and more popular with city offices and promote a high-end luxury feel. Take a look at our project with EOS Interiors here.

Bespoke Laminate Lockers and Bench Seating

All About Our Service Department

Posted by Jess Fry on 11th August 2022

The Helmsman family includes over 40 employees, all committed to personal service, and our After Sales Service department is no different.

When we sell, manufacture, or install a Helmsman product, we do so with the intention of making the products life cycle as long as possible. Not only is this by using the best quality and most suitable materials for the job, but also by providing a fantastic after sales service for the lifetime of your product. Our service department can help with a range of requests, from Ad Hoc repairs to regular maintenance contracts.

Here when you need us.

Our service team consists of a highly skilled set of engineers, customer coordinators and maintenance workers to keep your lockers and cubicle products working to their highest performance, for as long as possible. This isn’t limited to a service contract. We are here if you need us after sales, manufacture and/or install.

Additionally, our service team can help with not only our own Helmsman products, but with other manufacturers products too. From minor repairs to replacement doors, or even complete refurbishments. For example, take a look at our lock replacement case study at Riverside Leisure Centre.

What do we offer?

As Helmsman is the whole package, with a design, manufacturing, installation and after sales service team, we can provide a range of after sales options and support.

Should you need replacement doors, we can manufacture and supply Solid Grade Laminate (SGL) doors, metal doors, and even doors to fit most other manufacturers products. We can colour match to your existing scheme, or supply doors of all shapes and sizes, from full length one compartment lockers to Z lockers, all the way through to 20 compartment doors for garment dispensers.

Lost your key?

Whilst we have the ability to help with the big repair jobs, the majority of the time all you’ll need us for is broken or missing keys, accidental or deliberate damage, or misuse. We can supply replacement parts for all components from keys to locker numbers, locks, discs, and fobs for both lockers and cubicles. We stock a variety of replacement parts for immediate delivery, however even if we don’t have your particular request in stock, our service team can locate, order and ship to you in no time at all.

For more info on our Accessories and replacement parts, click here, call our service department on 01284727626 or email the team at service@helmsman.co.uk

7 Top Tips for designing your leisure centre changing rooms

Posted by Jess Fry on 1st August 2022

Customer Focused Design

Whilst your vision for your changing rooms might be modern, slick and imaginative, its important to also think about the Customer Experience when creating your design. How many lockers and cubicles will fit in the area you have allocated for your changing rooms? Is this enough for the number of users you expect to have? Too many lockers or cubicles and you’ll have no room to get into them, too little and you’ll have some frustrated customers on your hands.

Cater For Everyone

According to research done by GT3 Architects “85% of caregivers surveyed find it incredibly difficult to deal with the challenges of a leisure centre – such as where to put a child while you get changed or how to get into the pool safely if your child cannot stand by themselves – particularly when alone.” Leisure centres currently only cater for 16% of the population, so make sure your design your changing rooms to cater for as many people as possible.

Customer Journey

An important aspect of the design of your changing rooms is the customer journey. Think about everything the user will see when they arrive, how can you make their lives easier in the changing rooms. For instance, you don’t want to have wet areas as an access point to dry areas in the changing rooms, make sure the flow of your design fits within your customer’s journey.

Materials for your Lockers and Cubicles

A variety of materials could be used within your changing room design, but its important to think about their versatility as well as their look. For example, metal lockers probably wouldn’t be the ideal choice for a changing room due to the materials potential to change under humidity.

Laminate lockers and cubicles are ideally suited for schools, commercial projects as well as leisure centres and can be used for both wet and dry areas with a variety of locking systems.

Another great choice for your changing rooms would be Glass Lockers. Providing a clean-cut contemporary look, either laminate doors are over-clad with tempered glass or RAL coloured glass is used for the doors. Using a mix of laminate and glass doors can create a striking contrast, or you could complement your lockers with Glass Cubicles. The non-porous nature of the materials means the surface doesn’t absorb or allow the ingress or particles, creating a fresh, sanitary solution for your changing rooms project

The great thing is both laminate and glass lockers can be manufactured in a variety of colours too.

Technology

Modern solutions for changing rooms now include a range of technology. The most frequently used within a changing room is heated lockers.

Whether it be coming out of the pool and wanting warm clothes to change into, or somewhere to dry damp clothes, heated lockers are a great addition to a leisure centre, spa or swimming pool changing room. Available with metal or laminate doors, a perforated base allows the circulation of warm air inside the locker, with perforated slots at the top allowing the damp air to flow out, keeping the inside of the locker nice and toasty.

Lighting and Circulation

As changing rooms tend to be areas of high humidity, its important to consider the ventilation and circulation of air throughout the changing rooms to stop the spread of bacteria and bad smells! If you keep the room well circulated, this will minimize the humidity and smell.

Keep the lighting open and welcoming, you don’t want lights too bright that blind your customers as they’re getting ready, but you also want them to be able to see what they’re getting out of their locker.

Think logically, having no light at a mirror is not helpful. Also noting that side lighting creates fewer shadows can help make your changing rooms an ambient yet practical space.

Other Amenities to consider

You’ll also want to consider the other amenities you will be providing in your changing room.

How many bins are appropriate for the space and usage?
Do you need a designated family changing room?
Where will you be positioning bench seating?
Do you want to provide vanity areas with mirrors and hairdryers?

You might not need all of the extras in your changing room, if its not something you think your users are going to need, then don’t worry about including them!

Source: PBJS Magazine

Category: Blog