Hospitals, unlike many other businesses, are open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, are always busy, have numerous departments with different functions, and have both foot and roller traffic; hence, selecting flooring can be a challenge. There are two types of flooring best hospitals use most, and those are rubber flooring and commercial sheet vinyl. Hospitals, medical centers, and urgent care facilities have some unique characteristics.

Flooring Requirements in Hospitals

Before you select any type of flooring for the hospital, you need to consider the following needs:

  1. Improve patient satisfaction: No matter what type of flooring you install, patients need to find it easy to walk on and comfortable. It also needs to be aesthetically pleasing to help promote healing and wellness.
  2. Comfort: Doctors and nurses are on their feet 24/7, and the flooring must be comfortable for them to walk on as well. You preferably want a flooring that is easy on the feet and does not cause joint pain or discomfort.
  3. Slip resistance: There are a significant number of patients in hospitals who have difficulty walking, and it is vital to select flooring that is slip-resistant. The flooring should be evenly installed, and the edges should be buried to avoid tripping.
  4. Antimicrobial: Hospitals are an opportune place for bacteria to thrive. Any fluid spill or accumulation of food can quickly lead to the growth of organisms, which can then spread all over the place. Hence, you want flooring that is easy to clean, prevents moisture build-up, and at the same time prevents the growth of organisms. Besides proper installation to eliminate any wall-to-floor gaps, you may want to consider flooring with a thick topcoat that is resistant to damage so that bacteria and dirt cannot enter.
  5. Sound absorption: In general, patients prefer hospitals that are quiet so they can sleep (or try to), and, at the same time, the staff can concentrate on their work. You do not want all the sounds echoing into the rooms. Only a few flooring materials have the ability to absorb sound and they include rubber, luxury vinyl, and carpet.
  6. Easy to clean: In hospitals, spills are very common. Besides beverages and food, body fluids can also be spilled on the floors. Hence, you want flooring that can be quickly cleaned without the need to use exotic cleaning equipment and supplies. The goal is to clean and reopen the floor so that hospital function is not compromised.
  7. Aesthetics: It is important to select flooring with good aesthetics as this is one feature that most patients see when walking inside the facility. The flooring must be able to maintain its cosmesis despite regular cleaning. The last thing you want is tacky flooring at the entrance that needs replacing every few years because of poor cosmesis.
  8. Can withstand traffic: Hospitals are busy 24/7 and have both foot and roller traffic continuously. Hence, you want flooring that will not be easily damaged, retain its shape and functionality, and last at least several decades.
  9. Cushioning effect. Falls are not uncommon in hospitals because of patient illnesses, weakness, poor gait, stroke, etc. To prevent the risk of further trauma from a fall, it is important to have flooring that has a cushioning effect. For example, an elderly person who falls can break a bone if the flooring is hard, but if the flooring is rubber or commercial sheet vinyl, this material can help cushion the fall and prevent a fracture.
  10. Budget and value: Of course, budget is always an issue when it comes to installing flooring in a hospital or a clinic. Everyone wants value for money spent. Not only do you want the flooring to have good cosmesis, but it should also be durable, be able to handle heavy traffic with ease, and be easy to clean.

Best Flooring Choices for Hospitals

Over the past two decades, the two floorings for hospitals that meet most of the above features are luxury vinyl and rubber. Each has its pros and cons, but, in most cases, either will meet the flooring requirements for a hospital, healthcare center, or clinic.

  1. Luxury Sheet Vinyl

Luxury sheet vinyl is a great flooring option for hospitals. Besides good aesthetics, it is durable and easy to maintain. One has the option of installing vinyl tiles or sheets; however, the latter is recommended as it permits the creation of an antimicrobial barrier through flash covering and heat welding. The majority of hospitals in North America have installed luxury commercial sheet vinyl for many good reasons, which include the following:

  • It is affordable and far cheaper than hardwood.
  • It is an elegant flooring that can be installed almost anywhere in a hospital.
  • The installation is relatively simple.
  • Luxury commercial sheet vinyl is available in many styles, designs, patterns, and colors. In fact, it can even mimic marble, hardwood, and stone.
  • It is easy to install.
  • It is durable and, with good maintenance, it should last several decades.
  • It is easy to clean and maintain.
  • You can add a surface non-slip layer.
  • It is moisture resistant.

If you want good aesthetics and flooring that looks like stone or wood, you cannot go wrong with luxury sheet vinyl flooring.

  1. Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring has been used outside of North America for many decades and because of its many great features, it is rapidly catching on in commercial businesses, like gyms, sports complexes, academic establishments, machine shops, garages, fast food industry, and healthcare institutions. The features of rubber flooring that make it ideal for a hospital include the following:

  • Durable: Rubber flooring is extremely durable and will easily last several decades with minimal maintenance. 
  • Elasticity: It has good elastic memory. When the flooring is compressed due to heavy foot and roller traffic, it will revert back to its natural shape after the load is removed. Because of its good elastic memory, it will not deform.
  • Comfort: Rubber flooring is very easy on the feet and will not cause any stress on the joints. More importantly, it will allow mobility of hospitalized patients without inducing pain. 
  • Absorbs noise: Another great feature about rubber is that it can muffle sound, making the place quiet. Thus, when patients sleep, they will not hear the movement of wheelchairs, footsteps, or gurneys passing in the corridor.
  • Self-migrating wax: The latest version of this flooring has self-migrating wax, which acts much like natural oil on the skin. This wax prevents dirt and grime from collecting inside the flooring by bringing it to the surface where it can be removed during cleaning. The wax will continue to migrate to the surface as the flooring ages and, thus, unlike hardwoods, there is no need to repeatedly wax the flooring.
  • Easy to clean: Rubber flooring is also one of the easiest to clean floorings using mild detergent and water. There is no need for any chemicals or fancy machines. All spills can be wiped away with a mop, and they will dry very quickly.
  • Stain-resistant: It is also stain-resistant and will not fade or discolor with time.
  • Design Options: It is available in many designs, colors, and transitions. You can decide to use rubber rolls, sheets, or landing tiles. Further, you can opt for treads, transitions, or wall base.
  • Sustainable: Rubber is harvested from the sap that is collected from rubber trees. The collection of sap does not harm the tree or the environment. Plus, when the flooring needs an upgrade, the rubber can be re-used to make many other products.

The choice between rubber sheet versus rubber tile depends on the space and cosmesis desired. Sheets are preferred for large open spaces and there are fewer seams. However, in a closed space, you may want more flexibility with design, and, thus tiles may be preferred.

Conclusion

Both luxury vinyl and rubber make excellent flooring choices for hospitals. They both have many similar qualities. One downside of luxury vinyl is that it may not have good sound absorption, while, on the other hand, the downside to rubber is that it does not have the same aesthetics as luxury vinyl. In the end, it is a matter of personal preference as both floorings will serve well and last for several decades with good maintenance. 

Speak to a professional at East Coast Flooring & Interiors to learn more about the flooring options for hospitals. East Coast Flooring specialists have much experience installing flooring in hospitals. They have even donned hospital gowns, if needed, in critical areas they were called to work in.  Call them today at 1-954-626-8053.  The more you know, the better you will be able to make an informed decision.