August 31, 2020
When it comes to choosing the correct hospital flooring, there are various factors to consider. It goes without saying that hygiene is probably the most important feature you are looking for. Other things to consider include durability or heavy wear for all the foot traffic and demands it has to endure on a daily basis.
We break down the best hospital flooring solutions for you per area so that you can make the best decisions based on the most important requirements for those specific rooms in the hospital or health facility.
Best Flooring Solutions for Each Area in Your Hospital or Health Facility
Flooring for Reception or Entrance
Your entrance or reception is effectively the face of your hospital or medical facility and will be the first impression of your establishment – so you better make it a positive one. You want to ensure that all the patients as well as visitors will feel welcome and safe as soon as they step through the front doors. In the same breath, you also have to keep in mind that this area will most likely have the most foot traffic stomping through – it’s the entrance of the building after all!
In order to meet all of the above requirements, you will need to ensure that you opt for a very durable yet inviting flooring solution. A popular choice for these requirements is luxury vinyl flooring (LVF). This hospital flooring is low maintenance, durable and waterproof.
It also offers some design versatility with a photographic print film that can make it look like ceramic or stone, as well as a clear vinyl layer to ensure that it matches your brand’s aesthetics. Not only will it meet those needs, it’s budget-friendly, lasts longer than vinyl composition tiles (VCT), and is also easier to replace than some other flooring solutions, namely ceramic tiles, and wood.
Vinyl sheet flooring is another good and affordable hospital flooring option for your entrance as it is waterproof and durable in order to withstand heavy foot traffic. It is also very cost-effective, versatile, and low maintenance.
Flooring for a Hospital Room
This area requires hospital flooring that will make your patients feel at home and comfortable. It also does not have to be aseptic, so you have a couple of hospital flooring options to choose from. Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF), linoleum as well as carpet tile with natural textures are excellent options.
Carpet tiles are very durable, cost-effective and offers noise reduction so that your patients can get a good night’s rest. They are also very soft and comfortable to walk on while at the same time being stain-resistant and durable. As a bonus, if a certain part of the carpet is damaged, you can simply replace that specific tile, so it does not require major maintenance costs nor time. It’s also very popular in areas such as children wards due to its scratch and slip resistance properties.
Flooring for emergency and operating rooms
The most important requirements for hospital flooring in emergency and operating rooms (ORs and ERs) are that they must be hygienic and easy to clean. Operating and emergency rooms need to follow stringent infection control. In order to ensure that no dirt or fluids get trapped in the surface of the hospital flooring, it’s best to choose flooring solutions with little or no texture. The flooring also needs to be sturdy and durable in order to withstand all of the foot- and wheel- traffic.
LVT and sheet vinyl are both good hospital flooring options as they are very hygienic and easy to clean. You can also add specific overlays in order to make it more stain-resistant.
There are two options to consider when installing LVT. You can either have it installed with glue or with a loose-lay floor. When you opt for the latter, you can often execute with minimal preparation and it will therefore decrease your installation time as well as costs.
Flooring for hallways, corridors and waiting rooms
The hallways and corridors of your hospital or medical facility will see a lot of foot traffic as well as wear and tear from, for example, medical carts and wheelchairs.
When looking for the correct hospital flooring solutions for your hallways and corridors, you should look for something visually uplifting as well as very durable. You need it to be low maintenance as you cannot close down certain sections of your facility for any upgrades as this will cause major disruptions.
Some of the best hospital flooring options for these areas include LVT and rubber, which meet all of the above requirements. You can also overlay an additional protective layer to improve its durability and stain resistance.
Flooring for staff rooms
Similar to patient rooms, you want your staff rooms to be comfortable, a space where staff can unwind after being on their feet for hours.
Carpet tile is therefore a good choice to give them a bit of cushion under the soles of their feet as they take a break from their busy days. It also offers some noise reduction, blocking out some of the noisy activity in the hospital or health facility building.
Flooring for nurse stations
Nurse stations are always open with staff as well as patients coming and going. Because of this, it should require minimum maintenance. It should also be a space that makes patients feel comfortable.
Good hospital flooring solutions for nurse stations include LVT and any other floor options with adhesive backs since this is very quick and easy to install. Adding a protective layer can reduce scratching and requires little or no buffing and chemical cleaning. LVT with an adhesive application will allow for quick installation causing minimal disruptions to the hospital or medical facility’s schedule.
Flooring for Cafeteria
When it comes to choosing the best hospital flooring solution for your hospital or medical facility’s cafeteria, you should select flooring that is slip-resistant, easy to clean, as well as stain resistant.
As cafeterias are a place where people come together to take a break and refuel, it should be an inviting and relaxing environment. Selecting the correct hospital flooring can certainly help to create this ambience while at the same time being functional and practical.
In order for your hospital flooring to meet these requirements, you should choose from either polished concrete, LVT, sheet vinyl or tiles. These all provide you with a variety or colours and natural textures to create the correct atmosphere in your cafeteria.
Contact us for all your flooring needs
Whether you are looking for roll-on vinyl, broadloom carpet, carpet tiles or vinyl planks, we are able to supply and install all your flooring needs.
Jupps Floor Coverings Perth offers flooring solutions made from the best quality materials that are designed specifically for the Western Australian climate, ensuring that there is no expansion or shrinkage.
With over 40 years of experience, we know our stuff when it comes to commercial flooring solutions. Our expert and accredited Installers and Consultants are located in Perth, Geraldton, Bunbury, Karratha, Port Hedland, and Ocean Keys.