The type of flooring for healthcare needs to be given considerable thought, as it is essential the floor is durable, easy to clean, and hygienic so it can cope with the demands placed on it every day.
That is why smooth vinyl flooring is a great choice; to find out why, read on.
Hard-wearing floor
Vinyl flooring is incredibly hard wearing, which means it can cope with a substantial amount of traffic every day. This is necessary in busy healthcare environments, such as GP surgeries or hospitals, as hundreds of people will be passing through the corridors and walking on the floor on a daily basis.
In addition to this, it will need to cope with having heavy pieces of equipment and machinery positioned on the floor or rolled along it without them causing damage.
Vinyl is able to withstand both of these, as it is very durable and resistant to damage. This is why it is one of the most popular flooring options for clinics, both large and small.
Copes with spillages
Anyone who has worked in a healthcare setting will know there are lots of spillages every day. These could be bodily fluids, chemicals, medication, or other liquids.
Subsequently, the floor needs to be water resistant enough to prevent the spillages from seeping underneath and damaging the foundations of the building.
It also has to be able to dry quickly, so the spillage does not cause a health and safety problem from people slipping on it and falling over.
Floors in hospitals, clinics and GPs have to be washed regularly to ensure they remain clean for patients, so being quick-drying means they can remain hygienic without causing a hazard to those passing through.
Remains hygienic
As vulnerable people use healthcare settings, they could become at risk of contracting an illness from the building, if they, themselves, do not have an illness that can spread to others.
Therefore, it is essential these clinics are as hygienic as they can possibly be to limit the spread of infectious diseases.
This is particularly important, as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control published statistics that showed 4.3 million patients in the EU/EEA contracted at least one healthcare-associated infection while staying in hospital.
Being able to wipe the floor regularly so they can remain clean helps to maintain infection control to reduce the risk of acquiring these illnesses. This is why vinyl floor is popular in healthcare settings, as it can be mopped easily and can dry quickly.
Other floors, such as carpets, are not as easy to keep clean, as their fibres can hold on to bacteria. Any flooring with a rough surface is also harder to keep clean, as the germs can get stuck in the grooves.
Vinyl can also withstand harsh chemicals, such as bleach, which means any remaining bugs can be killed when mopped.
