0800 464 7025
Available 24/7
0800 464 7025
Available 24/7
A prison housing over 500 male prisoners must provide a safe, hygienic, and stable environment for both inmates and staff. Reliable access to hot water is a vital part of that commitment, supporting sanitation, kitchen services, showers, and overall daily operations.
When concerns were raised about the potential failure of the existing boilers in two prisoner blocks, the risk was clear. A breakdown could have resulted in hundreds of inmates losing access to hot water, with serious implications for health, safety, and prison management.
The facility’s management team recognised the urgency and sought a dependable, secure, and swiftly deployable solution. Their goal was simple but vital: maintain an uninterrupted hot water supply by installing temporary boilers that could step in immediately if the primary boilers failed.
After a detailed site assessment, the following equipment was specified and installed to deliver a robust, site-appropriate solution:
2 x 120kW Plate Heat Exchangers
12 x 1″ Camlock hoses
4 x 2″ Camlock hoses
6 x 50m 63amp power cables
1 x 400amp distribution board
1 x 300kva Generator
The prison team faced several challenges in achieving their goal of uninterrupted service:
Maintaining Security – The project was carried out within a live prison environment, requiring strict control over access, tools, and procedures.
Complex Logistics – Delivering and positioning equipment within confined, high-security areas required detailed planning and coordination.
Operational Timing – All work had to be completed around the daily routines of the prison, ensuring safety, minimal disruption, and full accountability at every stage.
Together with the facility’s management team, a structured and collaborative approach was developed:
Comprehensive Site Survey – A full survey ensured equipment placement met both operational requirements and the stringent security protocols of the site.
Secure Plant Room Installations – The electric boilers were installed inside lockable plant rooms, removing the need for external fuel storage tanks and addressing potential security concerns.
Careful Cable Routing – Power cables were run at high levels and secured to existing trays, minimising trip hazards and reducing the risk of interference in sensitive areas.
Generator Placement – The 300kva generator was positioned 40m from the plant rooms, ensuring safe operation while complying with prison site restrictions.
Accredited, Cleared Engineers – Rapid Energy engineers hold the necessary Ministry of Justice security clearances, allowing them to work safely and compliantly in sensitive, high-security sites such as prisons. This ensured the project could proceed without delays linked to clearance or access issues.
This strategy enabled the facility to move from a position of potential operational risk to one of preparedness and confidence.
The result was a successful installation that delivered exactly what the prison needed:
Uninterrupted Hot Water Assurance – The supplementary system now stands ready to provide hot water instantly should the primary boilers fail.
Enhanced Security and Efficiency – All equipment is contained within secure plant rooms, ensuring compliance with prison protocols and optimising operational reliability.
MoJ-Compliant Execution – With engineers already accredited and cleared to work on Ministry of Justice sites, the project was carried out smoothly, without the delays or risks often associated with security-sensitive environments.
Peace of Mind – The management team can focus on day-to-day operations, confident that hot water provision is safeguarded even under unexpected circumstances.
This project demonstrates how, with the right planning, expertise, and security credentials, critical services can be protected in the most challenging environments, giving teams the assurance they need to carry out their vital work without compromise.
If you manage an MoJ facility, then protect your site with reliable backup heating or cooling – contact us today on 0800 464 7025 or fill in the form below.
