FLOORING


corridors where the noise of staff walking, particularly at night, can disturb patients. Lisa Tomlin, chief executive of Carpet & Flooring, said this approach was also being favoured in dementia care environments. “Carpet can provide a soft flooring with substantial grip, ensuring residents with dementia are more stable on their feet, increasing confidence, and reducing the chance of an accident,” she explained. “Carpet also provides a familiar reassurance to residents as the surroundings feel like ‘home’. “And, if a patient does have a fall, which is sometimes


“They need to understand the application requirements of individual projects and be able to put forward finishes that will perform most effectively.”


SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE Richard Burn, Altro’s product manager for flooring, adds: “There are a number of common specification demands in meeting the needs of mental health environments, many of which call for products to be safe in use, hygienic, robust, easy to clean and maintain, long lasting, and sustainable. “The challenge for manufacturers is to continue to develop


products that are robust, yet homely, in look and feel, and with wide colour choice to provide sufficient colour change between walls, floors, and adjacencies. “There is also a greater need for materials with acoustic qualities and comfort underfoot as an alternative to carpet and other soft flooring.” Aesthetics are particularly important. “The visual aesthetics and functional properties of floor


coverings can make a significant difference to mental health interiors,” said Kapellar. But she warns that colours and patterns can provoke a


variety of cognitive and emotional responses in patients and that the effects of overstimulation can negatively affect their behaviour and coping mechanisms. “Colours and patterns can be a significant source of


overstimulation, and even anxiety, for patients with mental health conditions,” she adds “Pastel colours are often associated with a calming effect,


while greys can be considered neutral. Therefore, mental health designers should look to keep to those colours wherever possible.” Practical factors such as durability, hygiene, air quality,


cleanability, and slip resistance are also important considerations. Forbo’s Modul-up vinyl range, for example, is becoming


increasingly popular within mental health and dementia facilities as it does not need to be glued down, reducing disruption time so that areas are not out of action for 48 hours or more.


“Modern products produce less dust, odours and VOC


emissions, contributing to creating healthier, more-hygienic and safer indoor environments,” explains Kapellar.


CARPET MAKES A COMEBACK And it’s not just the latest innovations in hard flooring products that are increasingly being specified. Carpet, too, is making a comeback. The HBN guidance states that specifiers should consider


‘carpet with an impervious backing and built-in anti-bacterial treatment’ in certain areas, for example where TV or music equipment is located, and in high-traffic areas such as


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inevitable, a cushioned carpet can soften the blow when compared with hard flooring, reducing the impact of the fall and potentially any consequent injuries.” Once again, though, flooring for dementia environments should avoid strong patterns, opting instead for contrast so that it is clear where boundaries and thresholds lie, she adds. To help with specification, Altro has developed the


Possibilities Studio. Comprising nine separate bays, each has a unique combination of interior finishes and detailing and all are designed with the unique challenges of high-secure mental health units in mind. “A visit to the studio enables project teams to talk through and better understand both user needs and the range of solutions available,” said Burn.


www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/healthcare www.altro.co.uk www.carpetandflooring.co.uk


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