FLOORING IN TRANSPORT SAFE PASSAGE
Jamie Harris, head of sales for flooring solutions at Sunbelt Rentals, explores how the right flooring strategy can help create safer, more resilient passenger environments.
Every day, millions of passengers move through the UK’s transport hubs, and these environments operate under constant pressure. They must remain safe, accessible and welcoming while accommodating high volumes of foot traffic, tight maintenance schedules and evolving passenger expectations.
While flooring is often viewed as a finishing element, its role extends far beyond appearance. Flooring influences passenger safety, accessibility and long-term maintenance requirements. Transport hubs have unique demands on flooring systems, with surfaces required to withstand continuous pedestrian movement alongside wheeled luggage, cleaning equipment, trolleys and service vehicles. They are also exposed to dirt, moisture and changing weather conditions throughout the year, all of which can accelerate wear if flooring is not selected with the operational environment in mind.
with understanding how people move through a space and how different areas are used throughout the day.
Entrance areas, concourses and passenger circulation routes all present different challenges and may require different levels of slip resistance. Effective entrance matting systems can help reduce the amount of moisture and debris entering a building, while carefully designed transitions between flooring types can minimise trip hazards. Flooring can also support accessibility through visual contrast and wayfinding cues that help passengers navigate busy environments with greater confidence.
THE ROLE OF ROBOTICS
Technology is also helping facilities teams manage flooring assets more effectively. Data-driven maintenance planning, connected cleaning equipment and autonomous cleaning solutions are becoming more common within large transport environments, including airports. These technologies can improve cleaning consistency, provide greater visibility of maintenance activities and support more efficient use of resources.
The use of autonomous cleaning equipment can also help facilities teams focus on other maintenance priorities while maintaining cleanliness standards across large public spaces. As transport hubs continue to look for ways to improve operational efficiency, technology is likely to play an increasing role in supporting flooring maintenance programmes.
As flooring begins to deteriorate, the impact can extend beyond aesthetics. Damaged surfaces can increase maintenance requirements, create accessibility challenges and result in safety risks for passengers. Repair works can also disrupt passenger flow and place additional pressure on operational teams. For this reason, many facilities managers are taking a more strategic approach to flooring, viewing it as an asset that contributes to the safe and efficient operation of the facility.
SAFER JOURNEYS START FROM THE GROUND UP
Passenger safety remains a key consideration within any transport environment. Slips, trips and falls continue to be among the most common incidents across public spaces, particularly during periods of wet weather. Effective flooring design starts
32
www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42
