Characteristics of Safety Flooring

October 6th, 2010

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The need for safety flooring is increasing day by day considering the daily percentage of injuries caused by slippery and wet surfaces. This type of flooring is particularly required in healthcare facilities, schools, and offices where high traffic and heavy activity is normal. Other than protection against slips, heat, bacterial growth, and VOC emissions, some other characteristics required in safety flooring are maintainability, cost, sustainability, and finally aesthetics.

If a particular flooring type is not easy or cost effective to maintain, it will not serve the purpose of safety flooring. This is because safety also involves proper hygiene which is not possible if a surface is hard to clean. Some floors need harsh chemicals to get cleaned and these chemicals may emit VOCs or volatile organic compounds dangerous for health. Always choose flooring option that is easy to maintain and does not require chemicals for cleaning.

Cost is a factor that sometimes causes issues when selecting the right flooring solution. If your budget does not allow buying rubber flooring or it is difficult to apply waterproofing sealant and anti slip tapes in all rooms, then choose an inexpensive option such as vinyl flooring. This type of flooring will not only offer slip resistance but is also easy to maintain and quite affordable.

Sustainability or durability is another characteristic to look for in safety flooring. If the floor is not durable and long lasting, it will not be able to sustain heavy loads and may crack or break. This characteristic becomes particularly important in healthcare facilities.

If your budget allows, installing aesthetically pleasing floors at workplaces and schools that are also safe to walk on, will make the employees work more passionately. As a result your productivity will improve and the employees will be happy with their environment.

Keep these points in mind when choosing the right safety flooring option.