Specialist carpets for medical facilities

Carpets used in medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics and outpatient clinics, must meet high requirements in terms of hygiene, bacteria prevention, resistance to foot traffic and resistance to chemical products used for disinfection. And let's not forget the aesthetic qualities that affect the positive wellbeing of patients.

According to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of 22 June 2005 on the requirements to be met, in terms of professional and sanitary aspects, by the premises and equipment of a healthcare facility - floors and walls in hospitals should be made of durable materials with surfaces that are smooth, washable, non-absorbent and resistant to cleaning and disinfecting agents.

In healthcare facilities, mainly flexible floor coverings - homogeneous and heterogeneous PVC, linoleum and rubber - are used. For protection against intensive use and high abrasion, many manufacturers recommend protecting the subfloor with a layer of polyurethane, which greatly facilitates carpet maintenance and mechanical cleaning.

In private clinics, where design plays an important role, flocked carpets with an antibacterial system are also increasingly used in corridors and patient waiting areas. These carpets provide lasting protection against bacterial growth - even against MRSA and E-coli - and dust mites.

In rooms where medical equipment is located, anti-electrostatic carpets characterised by parameters below 2 kV should be used. A conductive system is also recommended to protect against damage to sensitive medical equipment, especially in operating theatres and intensive care units, where such failures can even put patients' lives at risk.

All healthcare carpets must be approved, which should be confirmed on a Declaration of Performance (DoP), so it is worth asking the material supplier or contractor to provide this document before making a final choice.

The installation of coverings in health care facilities is not special, however, it must be performed in accordance with hygienic recommendations, e.g. it is very important that installed coverings should have corner bevels and wall extensions (recommended 10 cm).

There are many manufacturers of carpets dedicated to health care available in Poland, thanks to which technical advisors can select a product meeting the strictest technical as well as aesthetic requirements.