Choosing the Best Flooring for Your Healthcare Facility

Any business or establishment operating in the healthcare sector has a unique set of flooring requirements. Health and safety regulations will obviously play an important role in many properties, and the flooring you choose must be able to cope with the day to day demands of clients, patients and staff.

Hygiene Considerations

Cleanliness and hygiene are paramount in any healthcare business or organisation, so it goes without saying that you need flooring that is easy to clean. Your flooring also needs to be able to withstand frequent and potentially harsh cleaning. Damaged flooring, such as that which is scratched, dented or pitted, can be much harder to clean as dirt and bacteria can build up in hard-to-reach spots.

Heavy Usage

While different areas of your business premises will likely require different types of flooring, it’s important to take the day to day usage of each room or corridor into consideration. Some areas will experience far heavier foot traffic than others, so your flooring needs to be able to cope with this. It’s also worth thinking about the potential damage that can be done by different types of footwear, such as high heels. In addition, dirt and debris from outdoors can cause damage to floors, leading to scratches and marks. If you have staff, clients or patients coming in directly off the street, think about how hardwearing your flooring needs to be to be able to cope with this.

If your client group is largely comprised of the elderly or infirm, it is likely some of your users will require wheelchairs or mobility aids. Your flooring will need to be able to withstand regular walking stick and walking frame use, and must not provide difficulties to those using these aids. Heavily textured flooring, for example, might cause problems for walking frame users.

Special Requirements

Depending on the nature of your healthcare establishment, some rooms or areas of rooms may require specialist flooring. Some facilities, for example, might require cushioned floors, such as those used in sports halls. These can help reduce injury in the event of a fall. If your facility is home to, or is visited by, people who are visually impaired, you might need to steer clear of heavily patterned flooring. Certain patterns or textures can cause difficulties for those with visual impairments, or people suffering from dementia. It’s vital you consider all potential users of your establishment before choosing your flooring, and ensure your premises are as accessible as possible.