HEALTHCARE FLOORING
Patients and staff at Chorley Hospital’s Urgent Care Centre can view the colourful life of the ocean’s coral beds, thanks to Forbo Flooring Systems’ digitally printed vinyl floorcovering.
perspective, as some products benefit from a water-based ‘top shield’ – a finish that provides a highly effective protection against scuffing and dirt, while offering effective resistance to stains and chemicals. This results in reduced cleaning and maintenance requirements, and long-term durability.
Dementia-friendly wards
As there are already over 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over one million by 2025, it is vital that the healthcare sector recognises the need for dementia-friendly wards to help people feel safer and more confident in their surroundings.
One of the key factors to consider when designing dementia-inclusive interiors is tonal contrast. However, there are a number of guidelines that need to be followed to ensure that the flooring you specify for a ‘dementia-friendly’ interior is suitable. Firstly, it is recommended that a difference of 30 degrees of Light Reflectance Values (LRV) is achieved between surfaces – the floors to walls, and doors to walls. However, if this is not possible, then it is essential that optimum contrast is achieved between the two critical planes, such as the floor and the wall.
Tonally similar
The adjoining flooring must be tonally similar to reduce the risk of falls, which means the flooring LRVs should be within eight degrees of each other (although less is better). The transition strips should also match the tones of both flooring surfaces, with an ideal difference of no more than three degrees of LRV. If the contrast between the floorcoverings is too great, and the transition strip contrasts too much – or if it is a highly reflective trim – this could be perceived as a step by a patient or service-user, and result in high- stepping and potential falls, or even deter people from passing through. When it
Tinto Architecture specified Forbo Flooring Systems’ acoustic floorcovering, Sarlon, ‘to create an interior that has a profoundly positive effect on both patients and staff’ at The Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
comes to the actual design of the floorcoverings, it is vital that a glossy or sparkly floor is avoided, as some individuals living with dementia could perceive this as a wet surface. Flecked flooring could also convey spots, while logos etched into the floor could be observed as an obstacle.
Kitchens and bathrooms In areas where water spillages are common, such as washrooms, kitchens, and canteens, a safety floorcovering should be used to protect end-users from slip hazards. However, specifying the appropriate safety flooring can be a complex, and sometimes confusing, task. Whether in a busy hospital kitchen, or a wet and potentially slippery washroom, there is an individual flooring solution to suit each and every scenario. For example, a kitchen area, which could have cooking oil or grease on the floor, will need a safety flooring that is higher in friction than the flooring used in bathrooms, where the main contaminants are likely to be water. With this in mind, it is important to consider how these floorcoverings are tested. There are two test methods commonly quoted – the ‘ramp’ test and the pendulum test. The pendulum test is recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for assessing the slip resistance of floor surfaces. The test can assess slip resistance in both dry and contaminated conditions, and measures the coefficient of friction of a floor surface to provide a slip potential classification. A pendulum test value (PTV) of 36 or higher is classified as low slip risk.
Embedded crystals
Although safety flooring has traditionally focused on functionality – and rightly so - advances in technology have led to some floorcoverings now being manufactured with crystals embedded throughout the wear layer. The crystals provide a slip-
resistant solution that complies with the prevalent UK slip standards, such as the pendulum test and EN1385, as well as producing brighter and fresher designs – resulting in specifiers not having to compromise on performance or aesthetics. Overall, choosing floorcoverings for a healthcare environment is not as straightforward as one might think, as there are certainly plenty of factors to consider before any decisions are made. However, any reputable manufacturer can guide you through the specification process.
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Sharron Kapellar
Sharron Kapellar, the National Framework manager at Forbo Flooring Systems, works on and develops existing and new frameworks, mainly for central government bodies, ProCure22, education consortia, and facilities management companies. She has over 18 years’ experience in the market, with a good knowledge of furniture and flooring in public space, public sector, and commercial environments.
May 2019 Health Estate Journal 55
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