WALL PROTECTION AND IPS UNITS
An accessible en-suite shower – full wall system, which BioClad says is completely watertight.
reduce ligature opportunities, which has only a negligible gap between panel and wall the size of a razor blade, making it extremely difficult for somebody to insert anything into the space.”
Bespoke manufacture Returning to the more ‘general’ features of BioClad’s BioPods, Claire Redhead reiterated that they are generally produced on a ‘bespoke’, customer-specific basis, in whatever configuration, shape, and size, the customer requires. Once in situ – they can be specified with a variety of locks – they provide straightforward access to the services, while fitting seamlessly into the wall, but are also sufficiently secure to prevent tampering or damage by all but the most determined aggressor. The addition of the silver-ion additive into the PVC ensures antimicrobial protection for the unit’s lifetime. BioClad has a network of some 280 installers across the UK and Ireland, which those requiring an installation service can call upon.
High temperature testing Claire Redhead stressed that the company’s partnership with BioCote, with its long-standing experience in silver-ion based antimicrobial technology, not only
A free-standing IPS unit in a cladded room with matching en- suite.
gives its customers the added reassurance of the performance of its wall cladding and IPS products, but also first-class technical back-up. She explained: “We regularly submit product samples for antimicrobial performance testing to BioCote, and the particular product line is then re-certified, and marked up to confirm this. One of our recent initiatives was to submit some of our antimicrobial wall cladding to be tested in a special chamber, at temperatures of up to 60 °C for 1,080 hours, which equates to a 25-year lifetime. The exercise showed that the embedded silver-ion still delivered a 99% reduction in bioburden over two hours.” BioClad has also been busy recently looking to secure a place on NHS England’s ProCure 23 procurement framework. Claire Redhead elaborated: “In conjunction with this, we have been looking with a number of architects at the potential for introducing some form of standardisation for IPS units across the healthcare sector, although because they tend to be produced in bespoke sizes and shapes, there are some potential hurdles. We are working to standardise drawings to make it easier in Revit to create accurate and realistic 3D models which will allow architects and other building professionals
to design and document an area by creating a parametric three-dimensional model of a BioPod that includes both the geometry and non-geometric design, and construction information, also known as Building Information Modelling, or BIM.
Improving efficiencies and driving down costs “We are convinced that some form of standardisation would improve efficiencies and further speed construction work, as well as bringing cost savings, benefiting specifiers across the NHS.” Another recent development for BioClad has been its introduction of a range of wall protection products, such as hand rails, crash rails, corner guards, and bedhead protectors, which will also feature embedded BioCote silver-ion protection. Claire Redhead said: “These will complement our wall cladding systems, and – given the high throughput in hospitals, and the resulting impact damage from items such as patient trolleys, beds, and mobile medical equipment in corridors especially – will be ideal for such environments.”
A full En-suite with Doc M Pack. 58 Health Estate Journal February 2023
A busy period The past year has certainly been a busy one for BioClad. My interviewee said: “We are particularly pleased to have the new IPS assembly facility up and running, while having much closer control of the delivery of our wall cladding. We pride ourselves on being a ‘hands-on’ business. For example, I personally supervised the delivery and installation of the new CNC machine, thermoformer, and press in York, and subsequently gave the training for the operators of the new press and CNC. Being a small, but close-knit and experienced team means we can offer a personal service, and, as innovators, are always open to customer feedback and ideas. Healthcare is a very important market for us, and we are looking forward to making further positive strides in both acute and primary care, and mental healthcare, as we continue to develop and enhance our range.”
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