FLOORING Case study: Operating theatre floor renovation
Most hospital floors experience heavy daily wear and tear. From the high volume of foot traffic, to the transport of equipment, to the various chemicals that come into contact with the floor’s surface, keeping the floor clean and safe is a tough task. Resilient floors tend to be the floor surface of choice for most healthcare facilities. The easy-to-maintain surface meets stringent healthcare codes, and can handle dirt, spills, equipment, and constant cleaning. When it is time to renovate or replace
resilient floors, time and safety are top priorities. Operating theatre or patient room
downtime is not only costly, but also adds an extra layer of stress to the hospital’s daily patient care routine. At Centennial Hills Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 500 ft2
sheet vinyl floor in
the labour and delivery room needed a major renovation. Standard wear and tear had left the floor slippery and unsafe for staff. As a result of continuous cleaning and use of antibacterial chemicals, the floor became slippery, resulting in a number of employee falls and injuries. Initially, replacing the floor was
considered, but this would have entailed the room being out of use for at least two days, causing disruption to patients and the workforce. The hospital sought a better solution that could offer the same floor renovation results, but with less downtime and expense.
The solution Centennial Hills Hospital decided upon a faster, more sustainable floor renovation system, from Bona. As a simple, easy-to- follow process used to renovate resilient floors in less than half the time it would take to replace the floor, with minimal disturbance to the rest of the facility, the flooring solution met the unique needs of the hospital. Rather than tear out the existing floor, an expensive and environmentally harsh process, it was time to renovate. The hospital benefited from a fast
renovation process. The first step was to wet-abrade the floor. It was then cleaned and, once dry, a coat of ultra-quick drying colour was applied, along with colour chips to give extra design and texture to the floor. After
growing number of organisations meeting environmental standards for new products, or supplying a greater choice of flooring from recycled materials. An increase in the use of resilient flooring is clearly apparent. PVC and vinyl, for
68 Health Estate Journal February 2023
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As a simple, easy-to-follow process used to renovate resilient floors in less than half the time it would take to replace the floor, with minimal disturbance to the rest of the facility, the flooring solution met the unique needs of the hospital
just a few hours the base colour was dry and ready for two coats of the floor finish. Furthermore, an anti-slip additive was mixed into each layer of finish to give the floor extra protection against slips and falls; essential in a healthcare setting.
The results Centennial Hills Hospital has realised the following benefits through renovating its flooring:
n Cost savings Rather than 72 hours to replace the floor, the process took five hours of labour, which amounted to a saving of 75%. Downtime in an operating room would have been highly costly, and the Bona resilient floor renovation solution had the theatre ready for use again in 18 hours. Additionally, Centennial Hills Hospital will realise significant product
instance, are currently trendy and in demand. The reason resilient flooring suits healthcare environments so well is because it is incredibly durable, and thus ideal for areas subject to high footfall. Likewise, it is highly cost-effective, and offers health and
and labour savings in the future by not having to strip or polish the floor ever again. This will mean cost and time- saving benefits throughout the lifetime of the floor in question.
n Safer for staff The durable and slip-resistant floor has made the room safer for staff. The medical team was able to tell a difference in the grip of the floor immediately, and it is safer to walk on during surgery, when liquids and chemicals are present.
n Minimal downtime Hospital staff were able to get back in the room within 18 hours – much quicker than the originally expected three-day timeframe. This minimal downtime meant an exponential financial gain for the hospital, with more flexibility to treat patients.
safety attributes – all of which reflect the unique needs of healthcare settings. Overall, healthcare organisations seek changes to flooring with several goals in mind – largely to update designs for better aesthetics, to improve hygiene,
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