17 Aug Why Medical Centers and Hospitals Choose Terrazzo?
Why Medical Centers and Hospitals Choose Terrazzo Flooring?
Have you noticed the change in hospital designs lately? Today medical centers and specialty clinics are emphasizing design and comfort as key factors on top of issues like infection control and overall building maintenance. Aesthetics are now complementing the performance aspects. With hospitals shifting to hospitality-like environments, terrazzo is becoming more sought after as a specified flooring system.
Terrazzo checks off many requirements for hospital settings. For lobbies and high-traffic spaces, designers prefer terrazzo over traditional flooring systems because of its seamless style that is durable and easily maintained over the years. Terrazzo gives designers many ways to incorporate different designs. A wide choice of colors make it flexible to come up with any artwork that can become the centerpiece of the medical center, and with recycled options available, terrazzo also meets the requirements for architectural and construction professionals to obtain LEED accreditation.
Let’s take a look at how terrazzo truly makes a difference in hospital environments.
Best Flooring Materials for Medical Centers
When building medical centers, reviewing flooring materials during the design phase can help facility owners and architects anticipate project costs. Reviewing materials early on can garner a better understanding of possible flooring products that include their lifecycle assessments and performance.
In the past, choices were made based on which material was the least expensive. Today there is much more thought put into selecting the best material possible that drives cost down for maintenance and replacement over time, and enhances the function of the hospital space.
When evaluating flooring options, key criteria are considered. Factors such as cleanliness, durability, maintenance, and aesthetics are reviewed. Studies have shown that high-quality materials, even though they cost more initially, are more economical in the long run. When factoring in key criteria with lifecycle costs, epoxy terrazzo presents an attractive flooring option for medical centers.
Low Maintenance Floors That Last
One of the reasons why architects and designers turn to terrazzo is its durability. Terrazzo can last a lifetime, withstanding the wear and tear that other flooring options can’t handle. It holds up very well and there have been many hospitals over the years that demonstrate the beauty and performance of terrazzo.
Maintaining a terrazzo floor is simple as it only requires a regular cleaning routine to keep the floor’s shine to last decades. There is no heavy-duty cleaning routine to care for a terrazzo floor. This is important as people perceive shiny floors to equal cleanliness, and a reason why you often find terrazzo floors located at a building’s entrance.
Hospitals should consider annual costs to hire cleaning staff. Planning ahead for maintenance can help facilities evaluate whether they have room in their annual budget to do cleaning routines. However, with minimal maintenance required over the lifespan of a terrazzo floor, hospital buildings can save with terrazzo compared to traditional flooring materials such as carpet and vinyl.
Antimicrobial Surfaces in Medical Centers
Epoxy terrazzo can have an antimicrobial additive that prevents the build-up and spread of bacteria, mold, and mildew in healthcare settings. For best applications, hospitals should select epoxy terrazzo because of its seamless surface that makes it easy to clean.
Terrazzo Floors: Improving Patient Experiences
A seamless terrazzo floor benefits patients that have limited mobility or aching injuries. Patients in wheelchairs, with canes or crutches have a hard time navigating through some flooring surfaces due to grout joints, needed repairs, or uneven surfaces. As a result, hospitals should invest in a flooring system like epoxy terrazzo to prevent fewer accidents.
Epoxy terrazzo can be poured at 3/8″ thickness across an even surface, making it easier for patients to get from one part of the hospital to another. Because epoxy terrazzo is without grout joints, wheelchairs and carts can move seamlessly throughout the building. The flooring surface can also reduce noise levels.
One of the questions we receive occasionally is whether terrazzo floors are slippery. Terrazzo is a safe flooring system that is slip-resistant when paired with an approved sealer product. Concord Terrazzo Company recommends that contractors refer to a manufacturer’s instructions when using sealers.
Design Flexibility
Each hospital using terrazzo floors is different from one location to the next. That is because terrazzo offers plenty of design flexibility for architects and designers.
Terrazzo floors can consist of a wide variety of aggregates including marble, glass and shell aggregates. It also offers an endless color palette.
Today hospitals can create comforting and engaging environments with terrazzo floors. For example, in children’s hospitals, architects can use vibrant colors and include playful images to make the building more welcoming and relaxing.
Wayfinding patterns can be helpful as well, especially for new patients, leading them to the desired area of the building. With epoxy terrazzo, there is so much a designer can work with to set the tone of a building and help improve the patient experience.
Healthier Environments
Terrazzo is the original green flooring system and helps architects and general contractors achieve LEED points. Above all, epoxy terrazzo is an excellent choice in improving the health of hospital buildings. Manufacturers today are testing epoxy resins designed to have more health benefits for hospital buildings and their occupants. TERRAZZCO Brand epoxy resins are just one of the products labeled with GREENGUARD certification, signifying that it contains zero-VOC materials and no off-gassing during the installation and lifecycle of the terrazzo floor.
In addition to its VOC-free components, architects and designers can add recycled contents to a terrazzo floor. Options include recycled aggregates and recycled divider strips. Post-consumer glass products like wine bottles and post-industrial glass like mirror glass can be salvaged and reused in terrazzo designs today.