Flooring
example, it is all well and good specifying a suitable carpet for a busy reception area in a hospital, but the carpet will experience increased risk of soiling and heavy wear at the building entrance. Investing in barrier matting can help to significantly reduce the amount of dirt and moisture tracked into a building, and consequently can help reduce maintenance and replacement costs for carpets. In addition, barrier matting will help
to minimise the risk of slip accidents caused by wet flooring and moisture being tracked into a building, helping to provide safe access for all users of buildings, including wheelchair users in line with the Equality Act 2010. Carpets are also ideal for use on stairs for all the reasons previously stated. However, a visually contrasting stair edging with the correct slip resistance properties should be selected in order to create safe stairs.
Conclusion Carpets have an important role within healthcare environments and provide many benefits, which contribute positively to quality of care and patient health and wellbeing. Each type of
healthcare facility is unique in terms of its interior design and performance requirements; therefore it is essential that building managers and specifiers consider colour and design, comfort, safety and accessibility and performance needs, before making purchasing decisions. Choosing the correct carpet, combined with other interior solutions, can ultimately help to create attractive and functional healthcare facilities, as well as safe and inclusive environments that improve the wellbeing of users.
Karen Burman
Product manager for Gradus Carpets, Karen Burman has been with the contract interiors specialist for 11 years, having originally been appointed as a designer in 2004. She is the holder of a BSc (Hons) degree in textile design. Her role encompasses responsibilities ranging from involvement at the product design stage, through to product launches and marketing. She has had a key role in the development of a number of carpet ranges for the healthcare sector, most recently launching the Carezone range, which is specifically designed for care homes.
References 1 Rice G, Ingram J, Mizan J. Enhancing a primary care environment: a case study of effects on patients and staff in a single general practice. Br J Gen Pract 2008; 58(552): 465-70.
2 Cook G. Visual Characteristics – The Need for Surfaces to Contrast Visually. [
www.tinyurl.com/zep5vty].
TCHE
3 Bright, K, Cook G, Harris J. Colour, Contrast and Perception: A design guidance for internal built environments. University of Reading: Research Group for Inclusive Environments, 2004.
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