FLOORING AND DESIGN
ceilings, partitions, and flooring can all offer significant contributions to noise reduction. In fact, floor coverings can help in two ways: impact sound reduction (noise generated by traffic contacting the floor surface that is transmitted through the floor to rooms below) and reducing in-room impact noise. In specifying acoustic products, it is important that they not only meet the sound reducing objectives but also the functional and design requirements. There are many floor coverings
available on the market for healthcare buildings that meet these various considerations, but one of the most popular choices is vinyl, thanks to the fresh and striking colour tones and performance characteristics. Understanding the relevant building
codes and healthcare regulations regarding flooring materials will ensure compliance and that all safety and healthcare standards are met. It is also worth conducting acoustic testing or consulting with flooring experts to assess the suitability of various flooring materials for your specific healthcare facility. This can help identify potential acoustic issues and guide the decision-making process. Paying attention to the installation method and subfloor preparation to minimise noise transmission between floors will also ensure the acoustic performance of the flooring.
Health first Some might say these are givens in a hospital setting, but the right flooring can impact heavily on each of these areas.
Infection control One of the key priorities for all hospitals is to ensure that patients, visitors, and staff are protected from the risk of healthcare- associated infections caused by bacteria (germs), which should be in accordance with the requirements set out in The Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. When it comes to infection control,
there is no better way than to start from the flooring up. In fact, there are floor coverings available on the market that have been proven to inherently inhibit the growth and spread of infections such as MRSA, norovirus, E. coli and C. difficile – helping to contribute to a healthier and more hygienic environment in any area of a hospital.
Indoor air quality Another way to keep contaminants out of a healthcare setting is through the right ventilation strategy, but as there are many sources of pollutants a more holistic approach must be taken to ensure patients and other building occupants can breathe easy.
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Indoor air quality (IAQ) encompasses a
wide variety of factors including temperature, humidity, presence of chemicals and other contaminants, such as indoor allergens. Poor air quality has been directly linked to health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.6
Therefore,
maintaining a good IAQ is especially important in healthcare environments, where people are more vulnerable to its effects.
A particular concern is Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are a group of chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and, as such, contribute to indoor air pollution.7
VOCs are emitted by
many wall and floor coverings, furniture, and appliances throughout their lifespan, and the negative health effects of these chemicals are well documented.8 There are a wide range of interior
products available that have low VOCs and other emissions. It is also worth looking for floor coverings and other materials that have achieved the Allergy UK ‘Seal of Approval’, which provides independent certification of products proven to reduce or remove allergens from the indoor environment.
Safety flooring In 2023/24 there were 26.2 million attendances to A&E, a significant increase in comparison to previous years.9
is where specifying appropriately graded slip resistant flooring can make a significant difference. When specifying safety flooring, it can be useful to understand the testing methods used to grade the products, to help identify the correct solution. First up is the Pendulum Test,
recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to assess the slip resistance of floor surfaces. A pendulum test is conducted by a swinging arm that sweeps over a flooring surface. One side of this arm is a rubber slider, which strikes and passes along the floor from a predetermined distance. Once the arm strikes the floor, friction will cause it to slow down. Where the arm finishes following the swing will indicate a value with a pointer and this is your pendulum test value (PTV). 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. The UK Slip Resistance Group and HSE guidelines demonstrate that a PTV of zero to 24 indicates high slip potential, a PTV of 24 to 35 signifies moderate slip potential, and a PTV of 36 or higher is classified as low slip risk. There is also the ‘Ramp Test’, mainly
With this
in mind, it is important to keep all those recovering, visiting, or working in a hospital safe from hazards, such as slips and trips. In fact, with hospitals being very busy places, the floors are exposed to all types of contaminants. As such, maintaining a high level of slip resistance is key to patient and staff safety – and this
referred to as the R rating. This test is conducted by strapping a test subject – who is linked up to a safety harness – onto a ramp, which is lubricated with oil. The angle of the ramp is then raised, and the tester will take small steps backwards and forwards in boots until they slip. A computerised readout will determine the R rating based on the angle at which the slip occurred or when the tester begins to feel unsafe, which starts at R9 as a minimum standard and increases to the maximum of R13.
IFHE DIGEST 2025
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