Selecting hospital flooring surfaces is a complex job. Use these tips to help you make the right decisions:
- Flooring surfaces need to have sealed seams and flashed baseboards that eliminate microbes from getting in between wall and floor. Consider the wear, cleaning, and UV exposure a floor can take before it becomes damaged – and unsanitary.
- Understand how your floor is assembled. It’s one thing to choose a type of flooring with a certain set of values in the showroom. It’s another to know how will it perform after it’s been installed and exposed to patients, equipment, and contaminants.
- Location is crucial. High turnover areas, like the ER, need floors that can be cleaned thoroughly without as much effort. A high-maintenance floor in a high traffic situation sets you up for an infection outbreak that you don’t want.
- High traffic wears surfaces down. For these areas, you need durable flooring. This is more important than quick cleaning since these areas will be constantly trafficked. Because floors like these are located in areas such as lobbies that are cleaned in sections, prioritize durability.
- You need to clean different floors in slightly different ways. Damage caused by cleaning products or processes can create imperfections in a floor, which can harbor pathogens. Make sure you communicate with your flooring company and your maintenance department about best practices for each different floor.
- Pay attention to manufacturer notes and warnings. These often include fine details that are easy to adhere to. Knowledge of them can save you a headache down the road.
- Listen to department input. This doesn’t just mean your doctors and nurses on the wing. Your custodial staff can inform you about things you might not have taken into account. Every hospital has its quirks and unique needs – these are the people who will know them and be able to help you work around them.
Hospital-grade vinyl flooring is one of the best solutions for many hospital areas. Get to know the unique qualities of flooring surfaces, and how the materials are best implemented and maintained.
