Hospitals need to maintain a very high standard of cleanliness and a healthy and healing environment. Having the right flooring that helps to maintain these high standards is a must and is a crucial part of maintaining the quality of care.
Hospital flooring is created specifically to accomodate all the various challenges that occur in such a high traffic and sanitized area
Entrances to hospitals are the areas that are first seen by patients and visitors, and will often see the heaviest of footfalls and the rolling load of stretchers, and other equipment. A clean and attractive floor also makes a strong first impression, and this is why entrance flooring in hospitals need to be given special attention. The most commonly used are terrazzo and luxury vinyl tiling (LVT). Terrazo is a composite material that is made with a combination of marble, glass, or other material that is combined with a cementitious binder. Once it has set the top surface is polished smooth to produce a uniform texture. this flooring is very durable and easy to clean. Terrazzo can also be made available in the form of precast tiles, but its use in hospital floors will increase the joints, which are often vulnerable and likely to collect dirt and make cleaning that much more difficult. LVT offers the same durability and ease of maintenance, while it gives increase design versatility.
Other areas in a hospital that show heavy use are its corridors and clinical areas. The flooring here must allow for quick installation while still being easy to maintain while having a high degree of durability. Rubber and LVT flooring are popular choices, while in many cases the use is made of epoxy floors. Epoxy floors give a seamless floor without any joints, and a wide range of colors that can be very pleasing, and even allow the floor to be patterned. Color differences can also help to mark different areas clearly to allow for better control and traffic movement.
Operating rooms and emergency rooms must have flooring that allows it to be easy to maintain the high degree of sterilization and infection control that such areas must have. While use is made of sheet LVT and rubber, increased use is being made of resin flooring, as it is a hygienic solution that is also resistant to chemicals and other spills. It also allows for a range of design options and customizations that greatly help in improving aesthetics.
Nurses stations and treatment areas require to be run all around the clock, and this means that the flooring must have the least need for maintenance. Bio-based tile, vinyl composition tile, and LVT can be good choices for the flooring in these areas. Patient rooms, on the other hand, must emulate home-like environments and the need for their being aseptic is only incidental. This gives a wide range of options for flooring. Another area where hospitals may need care in choosing their flooring is in their cafeterias, where good hygiene requires to be maintained, and footfalls can be high. The need for proper maintenance of the right hygienic conditions must guide the choice of flooring in this and other areas that are more widely used by the general public and outsiders.
