SURFACING MATERIALS Chêne Brun and F056
Frêne Scandinave high- pressure laminate at the Fondation John Bost’s
ESAP-MAS La Rencontre mental healthcare facility in Talence, France.
George Emms and Polyrey
George Emms, Specification leader, UK & Ireland, at Wilsonart, leads the specification of decorative systems across the company’s brands – including Polyrey, Resopal, Bushboard and Wetwall. He has over 30 years’ experience in the engineering surface sector, having begun his Wilsonart career in 2002 as an Area Sales manager. He has held a range of posts within the company, including National Specification manager, National Accounts manager, and UK Sales manager. In June 2015 he was promoted to UK Commercial Sales manager, before being appointed Specification manager, UK & Ireland, and then Specification Sales leader for the UK & Ireland, and – most recently – Specification leader, UK & Ireland. Polyrey supplies a
coordinated collection of multi-faced chipboard (MFC), high-pressure laminate (HPL), and compact laminate surfaces with built-in antibacterial technology as standard. All Polyrey surfaces ‘boast high standards of cleanability and durability’.
‘antibacterial’. Specifically, while the former passively limits bacterial proliferation, the latter actively assists toward this aim. Importantly for specifiers, while all laminate surfaces will generally be considered hygienic, not every type of surface can be classed as antibacterial. Whether used in a decorative or technical context, antibacterial laminate panels are designed to destroy 99.9% of bacteria within 24 hours. This is made possible due to the integration of enhanced silver ion protection into the material during the resin impregnation stage of manufacture. Importantly, this benefit is enmeshed within the product, meaning its effect will not deteriorate over time as a result of wear and tear within the hospital environment. When complemented with the rigorous cleaning practices expected in healthcare facilities, antibacterial panels can provide an important marginal gain toward infection control and patient safety that more basic laminate panels cannot.
Against this backdrop, healthcare facility decision-
makers should seek out suppliers experienced in antimicrobial hygiene and material protection for surfaces, including MFC, HPL, and compact laminate. Given the high-traffic nature of healthcare environments, it is also vital to discern whether suppliers offer these products as standard, without additional costs or delays. Additionally, any selected surfaces must be certified as food-safe, skin-safe, and water-repellent, to prevent mould and bacteria growth. The silver ions in the antibacterial panels should be non-soluble, non-migratory, and non-allergenic, to ensure safety and mitigate HAI risks. Suppliers should also rigorously test their antimicrobial technology annually to ensure ongoing effectiveness, and it is advised that specifiers seek evidence of this during the selection process.
No European standard It must also be noted that despite the widespread use of antibacterial materials in hospital environments and beyond, there is no European standard for the time it takes to kill bacteria. This lack of a central knowledge resource can lead to information gaps in hospital specifications, and the sector must adapt its practices to avoid potential pitfalls here. The supply chain can play a crucial role here, and
project stakeholders should look to leverage their expertise and that of their suppliers in surface selection, and assist where standardisation does not exist. With patient protection paramount, antibacterial technology should be considered an essential part of a whole in healthcare facility design. Another crucial consideration when specifying antibacterial laminate panels is where specifically they can be used. The zoning of healthcare settings, and ISO standards delineating the intended use of each space, could potentially have the effect of narrowing the focus
54 Health Estate Journal May 2025
of specification professionals. This is understandable, and something to be encouraged to safeguard the health of hospital visitors, staff and – most of all – patients. Each disinfection zone in a hospital – from ‘zone 1’ public areas through to ‘zone 4’ procedure spaces and surgical suites – requires surfaces made up of different materials depending on the level of infection risk. While areas such as hospital lobbies and urgent care waiting rooms may pose less risk, antibacterial panels are still advised as standard. Yet other factors should be considered beyond this. For instance, the high volume of traffic passing through these areas means any specified surface needs to be highly durable. Healthcare facility specifiers should therefore insist that any selected panels have undergone sufficient impact and fire resistance testing. With this in mind, MFC, HPL, and compact laminate surfaces are a popular choice in these circumstances, and are often used for reception desks, waiting area tables, and shelving. At the other end of the spectrum, lab countertops and furniture in zone 4 areas must be able to withstand constant disinfection, even by hospital standards. Given their use in patient-critical spaces such as operating rooms, it is of paramount importance that any specified antibacterial surface meets the requisite performance and certification standards, such as ISO Class 5. Decision-makers should also ensure that the performance levels of any selected surface will not deteriorate over time. It is for this reason that non-porous antibacterial HPL and compact laminate surfaces are well-suited to these circumstances. The destruction of bacteria through such surfaces can further safeguard patient outcomes beyond varying zone-by-zone requirements.
Opening the door Though infection control requirements may change depending on the function and use of different areas of the healthcare estate, certain surfaces found in all zones are often overlooked. Specifically, while doors are possibly one of the most touched objects in a hospital setting, more attention is paid to their handles than the surface of the door itself. Understandable as this may be, it still presents a possible oversight. Door surfaces in healthcare facilities tend to use a wood veneer that will suit infection control strategies, but may only meet ‘hygienic’ requirements. Similarly, their frequent use means they are also vulnerable to wear and tear over time. Given the ubiquity of doors in most buildings, and the need to exceed standards in the hospital environment, it is clear how the use of durable, antibacterial surfaces could
Blanc Megève high-pressure laminate and compact HPL in a corridor at Clinique des Grangettes near Geneva.
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