Behind the seams of hospital kitchen floors

Hygiene is a top priority when it comes to kitchen flooring, especially in a hospital environment. Not only must these floors prevent harmful bacteria from spreading, but the ramifications of poor hygiene on patients with vulnerable immune systems could be immense. The quality of the flooring is also crucial as it must withstand constant, high-stress environments including heavy footfall and regular transport of hospital equipment.

As a result, many hospitals are turning to antimicrobial polyurethane kitchen floors, such as those provided by Flowcrete. The Flowfresh seamless flooring material is more hygienic and easier to clean than traditional tiled floors that harbour harmful bacteria in the grout lines. Further benefits include their long life cycle, which can withstand the 24-hour operation of the hospital environment.

Many modern hospitals are beginning to use this polyurethane flooring, and South Africa seems to be leading the way:

Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg

With 600 doctors and nurses serving nearly 450 million children, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital required a hardwearing, durable and hygienic floor. The hospital installed 1600 m² of the robust polyurethane resin floor screed Flowfresh RT in the site’s kitchen, laundry and food storage areas. The $70 million hospital knew that the flooring must be able to withstand the strain of the facility operations, and should they choose a weaker flooring it could lead to cracks. This would foster bacteria, and the time needed to replace or repair the flooring would cause delays, disrupt hospital proceedings and possibly put lives at risk.

Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital in Durban

A new private hospital in Mayville, Durban, also chose to install 514 m² of Flowfresh RT in its kitchens and body layout rooms. The 164-bed, cutting-edge hospital applied coving along the kitchen edges to create a smooth transition between the floors and the walls, as well as incorporating stainless steel drainage channels into the finish to make the cleaning regime quicker and easier. This Flowfresh system demonstrates the commitment to improving hospital design using modern technology while also addressing hygiene requirements by incorporating Polygiene. The silver-ion based bactericidal agent is able to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria in contact with the floor.

Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth

Australia is following their examples of installing hygienic floors in hospital kitchens, as proven by the Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth. The $2 billion flagship health facility in Western Australia is the largest building project undertaken by the state government, and it uses state-of-the-art technology to provide clinical, research and education services. Over a period of six weeks, 1120 m² of seamless resin flooring Flowfresh SR was installed in catering areas.

Hospital flooring plays a fundamental role in safeguarding patients’ health worldwide. While South African hospitals have seen a higher uptake of this high-performance Flowfresh floors, Australian health facilities are also looking to incorporate durable, seamless, antimicrobial flooring.