Now more than ever, healthcare designers and specifiers are further honing their focus to support essential hygienic standards that have always been a top priority for medical facilities. Specification of surfacing materials is a major consideration as designers determine the best performing materials and assess the long-term cleaning and maintenance of those materials to support healthy surfaces.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the healthcare design industry and beyond have become vested in how surfaces might retain or transmit the virus and how to best disinfect surfaces for spread prevention. Although we now know that the potential of surface transmission is nominal, designers continue to address the need for healthy surfaces and proper cleaning. They’re strategically thinking through their selection of materials for floors and walls to ensure generally cleaner, safer physical environments.
Specifiers for healthcare interiors must understand how surfaces not only limit toxic emissions but also withstand disinfectants, like the ability to use harsher cleaners on porcelain tile. Our porcelain tile collections are not easily harmed by chemicals and can be cleaned and disinfected with a bleach solution or any CDC-approved disinfectant. In contrast, other flooring materials may not be able to offer the same performance claim.
As has always been the case, porcelain tile from Crossville offers the durability and powerful performance on floors and walls in demanding healthcare environments. Our porcelain floor tiles can sustain high traffic and constant impact from wheelchairs, dollies, and crutches. On vertical surfaces, our porcelain tile panel collections are excellent for protecting elevator bank walls from banging gurneys. Additionally, our porcelain slabs and countertops offer extremely low maintenance and are simple to clean, making them ideal for reception desks, welcome areas, and more.