Flooring


Contrasting colours should be used on floors and walls


integration with public transport and clear signage, to visual contrast, logical layout and wheelchair access. To help create accessible


environments, colour and design can be applied to emphasise specific zones such as reception and seating areas and walkways. This zoning process not only helps to define and differentiate specific areas to assist navigation, but can also help to create interesting and unique design schemes. Care homes will often apply different colour schemes to specific areas, such as lounge areas, dining areas and bedrooms, to help residents identify distinctive locations. Carpets offer versatility and design,


and are an ideal way to differentiate different areas by zoning. Carpet tiles can be ideal, as they offer a variety of installation methods such as broadloom, brick bond, quarter turn and random, which provide infinite design possibilities. Another important factor to consider


is visual contrast. It is essential to apply visual contrast between critical surfaces to help the visually impaired navigate their way around a building. Visual contrast is achieved using light reflectance values (LRVs), which indicate the amount of light reflected by a surface. Dr Geoff Cook, reader in inclusive


environmental engineering at the University of Reading, describes the importance of LRVs in relation to building regulations in his paper, Visual Characteristics – The need for surfaces to contrast visually.2


He writes:


“The definition of ‘contrast visually’ as mentioned in AD (M) is given as a difference in LRV between the two surfaces of greater than 30 points. This is a reference to a method of definition that was first used in the public transport


Floor coverings should provide a home from home feel


industry where the term used is 30 per cent and is based on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 = black and therefore represents total light absorption, and white = 100 and therefore total light reflection.” The use of contrasting colour on


adjacent surfaces such as floors and walls can help people with visual impairments to gauge the layout of a room, while also indicating any change in floor level, such as on steps and stairs. Zoning specific areas of a building with the correct level of contrast between each adjacent floor covering can help to communicate the size and space of an area within a building. These design methods can improve access and contribute towards the creation of inclusive environments, in line with the duties outlined in the Equality Act 2010. The booklet, Colour, Contrast and


Perception, Design Guidance for Inclusive Environments,3


gives additional


design guidance concerning the use of colour and contrast to provide inclusive environments. It concludes that visually impaired people may be unable to perceive some or all colours, although they may perceive light or dark, making LRVs a suitable method for measuring contrast.


Performance Healthcare environments, depending on their use, will have specific performance requirements for floor coverings. When it


comes to specification, a ‘one size fits all’ approach can certainly not be taken. It is not only the type of healthcare facility that dictates the type of carpet chosen, but also the area of the building and its use. A busy hospital is likely to receive


heavy foot and wheeled traffic, and will require floor coverings to be durable, hard wearing and suitable for trolley traffic, particularly in reception and corridor areas. However, a care home is likely to receive less traffic, and will require floor coverings to provide a ‘home from home’ feel while offering impervious benefits, particularly in bedroom and lounge areas. Carpet in cut pile construction made from polypropylene yarn with an impervious backing is ideal, as it will offer a domestic appearance with water resistant benefits. Experienced manufacturers can


provide building managers with the guidance to select suitable products that will perform in specific environments over a period of time. Making the right product investments upfront can help to prevent draining maintenance budgets unnecessarily. In order to create restful, healing


environments, it is important to consider a wide range of interior solutions. It is not enough to just consider the specification of one type, as a variety of co-ordinating products are required to enhance and protect healthcare interiors. For


It is not only the type of healthcare facility that dictates the type of carpet, but also the area of the building and its use


January 2017 • www.thecarehomeenvi ronment .com 29


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