Business · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Radiators for offices, schools and care homes: business guide
How commercial radiator work differs
In a home, a radiator swap is a small job. In a business, the same work affects staff, customers or residents, and has to fit around opening hours and safety duties. Systems are often larger, may have several zones or a plant room, and can include older steel pipework. Planning matters more than the radiator itself.
Burn risk and low surface temperature radiators
HSE guidance for health and social care says that where vulnerable people are at risk of burns from hot surfaces, such as older people, those with reduced mobility or sensation, or young children, the risk should be assessed and controlled. A widely used benchmark is that accessible surfaces should not exceed 43°C. This can be achieved with low surface temperature radiators or by fitting guards over standard radiators.
| Option | How it works | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| LST radiator | Heating element inside a cool-touch casing | Care homes, hospitals, nurseries |
| Radiator guard | Ventilated cover over a standard radiator | Schools, retrofits where replacement is not planned |
| Underfloor heating | No exposed hot surface | New builds and major refurbishments |
| Standard radiator | No protection | Offices and areas with no vulnerable occupants |
LST radiators are larger for a given output, because the heat is delivered through a cooler outer case. They also need cleaning access, as dust can build up inside.
Planning around occupants
- Schedule work for evenings, weekends or school holidays where possible
- Do one floor or zone at a time so the rest of the building stays heated
- Agree safe storage for tools and radiators away from public areas
- Plan access to rooms such as residents' bedrooms with staff in advance
- Protect floors and furnishings, and agree waste removal
For care homes and schools, check the installer's approach to safeguarding and working around residents or pupils. Many settings will want contractors accompanied or working only in cleared areas.
Controls and running costs
Heating is a major running cost for many small businesses. Replacing radiators is a good moment to improve controls. Tamper-resistant TRVs stop staff or visitors turning radiators to maximum. Zone controls or smart thermostats let you heat only occupied areas and avoid heating empty buildings overnight and at weekends.
Commercial systems also need balancing after any change, as rooms near the plant room tend to overheat while far rooms stay cold. Proper balancing improves comfort and can reduce energy use.
Legal duties to bear in mind
Employers have a general duty to provide a reasonable workplace temperature. The Approved Code of Practice for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 suggests at least 16°C for most indoor workplaces, or 13°C where work involves significant physical effort. Reliable heating is part of meeting that duty.
Contractors working on your premises must work safely, and you should share information about hazards such as known asbestos in the building. If you have an asbestos register, show it to the installer before any drilling or floor lifting.
Older commercial buildings may also have pipe lagging, boiler room insulation or floor tiles containing asbestos. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, those responsible for maintaining non-domestic premises have a duty to manage asbestos, so make sure your asbestos survey is up to date before the heating contractor starts work in plant rooms, ceiling voids or under floors.
Shops, restaurants and small premises
Small businesses often run on a domestic-sized boiler and a handful of radiators. The main issues are usually comfort near entrances, wasted heat when the premises are closed, and radiators in awkward places behind counters or shelving.
- Fit a radiator or door heater near the entrance to counter draughts
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat linked to opening hours
- Keep stock, displays and boxes clear of radiators
- Consider LST radiators or guards in children's areas or play spaces
- In kitchens, keep radiators away from cooking areas and use wipe-clean finishes
If the premises are rented, check the lease for who is responsible for the heating system before commissioning work.
Questions to ask a contractor for commercial work
- How will you phase the work to keep the building heated and open?
- Have you fitted LST radiators or guards before?
- How will you isolate and drain sections without affecting the whole system?
- Will you balance the system and record the settings?
- How will you handle access, safety and waste on site?
- What water treatment will you use when refilling?
Frequently asked questions
What is a low surface temperature radiator?
A low surface temperature, or LST, radiator has a standard heating element inside an outer casing that stays cool enough to touch, commonly designed to stay at or below 43°C. They are used in care homes, nurseries, hospitals and similar settings to reduce burn risk for vulnerable people. They are larger than standard radiators of the same output.
Do care homes have to use LST radiators?
There is no blanket rule requiring LST radiators, but care providers must assess and control the risk of burns from hot surfaces for vulnerable people. HSE guidance points to LST radiators or guards as common ways to achieve this. Many care homes choose LST radiators when replacing old ones, as they avoid the cleaning and maintenance issues of guards.
Can radiators be replaced while an office stays open?
Usually yes, by phasing the work. A heating engineer can isolate sections or individual radiators, replace them one area at a time and keep the rest of the system running. Larger jobs, or those needing the whole system drained, are best done out of hours or at weekends to avoid disruption to staff and customers.
commercial heating LST radiators offices care homes
