Innovative Safety Solutions at Hanley’s Farm School

Located in the picturesque region of Queenstown, New Zealand, Hanley's Farm School is a newly established educational institution committed to providing exceptional learning experiences. However, its scenic location presents unique challenges, particularly in ensuring safety and accessibility within the school's infrastructure.

This case study examines how Moddex, a leader in modular barrier systems, collaborated with Hanley's Farm School to implement customised safety solutions, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards while maintaining aesthetic integrity.

Project Background

Hanley's Farm School serves a rapidly growing community, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds and abilities. As the school's development began, a critical priority was to ensure the infrastructure accommodated everyone safely, including children, staff, and visitors with disabilities. Given the school's location on uneven terrain, special attention was needed for handrails, balustrades, and ramps to provide secure access across the site.

Project Challenges

The primary challenges faced in this project included:

• Compliance with Accessibility Standards: The school needed to meet New Zealand's stringent accessibility and safety regulations, ensuring that all areas were accessible to people with disabilities.

• Aesthetic Integration: The design of safety features needed to blend seamlessly with the school's architecture, maintaining the visual appeal of the natural surroundings.

• Durability and Low Maintenance: Given the outdoor location and exposure to various weather conditions, the safety solutions needed to be robust, long-lasting, and require minimal maintenance.

• Flexible Design: The evolving nature of the school’s layout required a system that could adapt to future expansions and changes without significant structural overhauls.

To address these challenges, Moddex provided a comprehensive suite of products tailored to the specific needs of Hanley's Farm School, focusing on their Assistrail® AR10 and Conectabal® CB10 and CB40 systems. Here’s how these solutions made a difference:

Assistrail® AR10 Disability Handrails

The AR10 handrails were specifically chosen to meet New Zealand's disability standards, ensuring that students and visitors with mobility impairments could navigate the school grounds safely. The design allows for continuous hand contact, crucial for those who rely on steady support.

These handrails provide smooth edges and a continuous grip, which offer comfort and safety, particularly for children and individuals with limited mobility. The AR10 model is designed to adapt to various elevations and pathways, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the campus.

Moddex tailored the Assistrail® AR10 system to seamlessly integrate with the school's architectural layout, demonstrating their commitment to creating a fully inclusive environment.

Conectabal® Commercial Balustrades CB10 and CB40

The Conectabal® CB10 and CB40 balustrades were selected for their modular design and adaptability to the school’s unique layout. These systems provide essential safety barriers along staircases and elevated platforms without compromising aesthetic appeal.

Constructed from high-quality materials, the CB10 and CB40 balustrades offer exceptional durability and resilience against harsh weather conditions, ensuring long-term reliability with minimal maintenance.

The CB10 and CB40 balustrades seamlessly integrate with the school’s design, maintaining the visual integrity of Hanley's Farm School while providing essential safety features.

Impact and Outcomes

The implementation of Moddex’s safety solutions at Hanley's Farm School has significantly enhanced the school's infrastructure. The Assistrail® AR10 handrails and Conectabal® CB10 and CB40 balustrades ensure compliance with necessary safety and accessibility standards while complementing the school's architectural aesthetics. As a result, Hanley's Farm School now boasts a secure environment where students, staff, and visitors can move freely and safely across the campus.

“We were very happy with the outcome. We did not have to go back and redo anything, and nothing failed inspections. Moddex delivers what they say they will deliver, they do what they will do and they turn up when you want them to turn up, resolving solutions as well.” - Jens Balzat, Project Manager, Southbase Construction

Furthermore, the school has set a benchmark for future educational institutions in the region by prioritising accessibility and safety in its design. This project underscores the importance of integrating thoughtful design with functional requirements, ensuring that all individuals have equal access to educational facilities.

The Hanley's Farm School project exemplifies the successful collaboration between educational institutions and industry experts like Moddex to solve complex safety challenges. By implementing Moddex’s innovative Assistrail® AR10 and Conectabal® CB10 and CB40 systems, the school not only adhered to compliance standards but also enhanced its environment to be welcoming and inclusive for all. This case study serves as an inspiring model for other institutions seeking to balance safety, accessibility, and aesthetics in their designs.