
Places such as pharmaceutical labs, hospitals, and clinics have a couple of unique and strict architectural requirements or needs of non-residential buildings. In addition to demanding sterilization and rigorous cleaning, hospitals have all kinds of unique requirements.
For instance, the temperature should be regulated accurately to ensure every patient is comfortable, and beds might need to be wheeled fast from one room to another. Regarding meeting these design requirements, cleanability and durability are of more importance when scrutinizing various healthcare, hospital, and pharmaceutical flooring options.
Why Choose the Right Flooring Option for Your Hospital?
Choosing the right flooring for your hospital is essential for several reasons. First, it maintains safety and hygiene. In countries like the US, strict regulations require hospitals to use options such as safety and vinyl flooring. This helps minimize infection risks like MRSA.
Second, it is durable and easy to maintain. Hospital flooring mainly exhibits ease of maintenance and durability, enabling it to withstand rigorous cleaning and heavy foot traffic. Thanks to their suitability and longevity, resilient materials, such as polyflor and resin, are preferred.
Last but not least, it has reduced noise level. In hospital settings, a reduced noise level is an important aspect that controls staff productivity and patient comfort. Therefore, using an option that doesn’t produce squeaking sounds is essential.
Healthcare Flooring Options
Choosing healthcare flooring often comes with unique challenges and considerations other sectors may not have to grapple with. Load requirements, cleanability, aesthetics, durability, and comfort, among other factors, play an essential role in dictating which option is better for different areas. Some of the options you can opt for in the healthcare setting include the following:
- LVT
- Rubber flooring
- Vinyl sheet
- Bamboo flooring
Factors to Choosing Healthcare Flooring
Choosing the best flooring type for healthcare facilities is crucial since hospitals require a surface that can meet various aesthetic and functional requirements. So, to ensure you make the right choice, the following are key factors to help you choose the best flooring option for your hospital:
1. Hygiene
Ensuring infection control and good hygiene are essential in all healthcare settings. You should choose floors depending on how simple it is to disinfect and clean to reduce the risks of transmitting some infections. Some flooring solutions with antimicrobial properties or features to avoid bacteria or fungal growth are ideal.
2. Slipping Resistance
Hospital flooring must reduce fall risks. Successful patient care depends on preventing more injuries to your patients. While slips and falls happen unexpectedly, they may happen, mainly if the hospital’s ground is very slippery.
Shiny floor materials look amazing but might not be suitable for hospitals that provide patient care services. Because of that, the floor must be resistant to slip, limiting falls/slips and helping your patients improve their traction.
3. Comfort
Healthcare flooring must be comfortable. Besides, healthcare workers spend a lot of time on their feet daily. Options like cork or rubber floors may provide support and cushioning for workers, minimizing the risks of fatigue and injury.
The bottom line is that choosing the best floor type for your facility that seamlessly blends with functional characteristics is essential. Modern hospitals don’t just need aesthetically appealing flooring. They also require a floor that lasts for years and withstands high foot traffic with minimal maintenance.