One of the biggest challenges a healthcare facility faces is infection control. That is exactly why flooring for any room in a medical or healthcare facility must be chosen with extreme care. When it comes to operating room flooring, it becomes even more crucial to select the right kind of flooring, so as to make it easy to maintain proper hygiene and prevent the spread of infection. Apart from these, there are many other requirements that floors in an operating room or surgical room have to fulfill. If you plan to install the most suitable type of flooring material in the operating room of a hospital, you should first understand the specific requirements.
At Minuteman Floors, we get a lot of questions in connection with different types of flooring options and their features and installation processes. In this article, we’ll discuss the specific demands of an operating room as far as laying down flooring material in that space is concerned. Keep reading!
Requirements of Hospital Operating Rooms
Over the years, flooring technology has evolved in ways that are hard to imagine. No matter what your specific requirements are, you will always find a host of suitable options to choose from. Given below are some of the key features you should look for in an operating room flooring.
Sanitization
The very basic requirement of a floor in an operating or surgical room is stringent cleaning. To control infection risk, the hospital personnel should clean and sterilize the floor several times during the day and night. Therefore, the floor you select for such a space should have the feature to withstand different types of chemicals that hospital staff might use to maintain proper cleanliness.
Seamless Floors
When it comes to the selection of a surgical room flooring, it is crucial to go for a material that will not get indented. Surgical instruments may fall on the floor and create chips or gouges. This is an important concern that healthcare facility managers should keep in mind. Always go for a flooring option that offers smooth and seamless material. If the floor is vulnerable to chips and indentations, this can create hygiene issues for the facility. Floor indentations may become an ideal harboring place for bacteria and viruses.
Durability
The flooring material installed in a hospital operating room should also be highly durable and abrasion-resistant. In addition to withstanding the impact of sharp instruments and objects, the floor will also receive regular traffic. So, you should go for the most suitable flooring material.
If you look for expert tips, feel free to get in touch with one of our highly experienced floor installers. Our specialists will help you make the right decision.
Best Flooring Options for Operating Rooms
After you have listed all the key features you will need, it is time to select the material for the operating or surgical room. Given below are some of the best and most suitable options for an operating room.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
LVT or luxury vinyl tile flooring makes for an ideal option when you look for an option for a highly demanding area such as an operating room. The product is manufactured and designed to mimic the appearance of natural materials. As per your specific needs and preference, you can either go for a wooden or stone look. LVT flooring is quite popular in the healthcare industry, as it offers all those features that a hospital flooring has. If you plan to install a chip-free, highly durable, and hygienic flooring material for the surgical room, you should definitely consider LVT. The best thing about the installation of luxury vinyl tiles is that they are heat-welded to fulfill the specific requirements of a hospital floor or operating room floor.
Key features of LVT flooring include:
- Water-resistant
- Scratch, dent, and scuff resistant
- Ease of cleaning
- Slip-resistant
- Natural appearance and feel
- Minimal shrinkage and expansion
You do not have to worry if you already have an existing floor installed. We can install LVT flooring right on top of different types of floors. An experienced flooring contractor or installer will follow the entire installation procedure in a proper manner to lay down the LVT flooring in a seamless manner. Luxury vinyl tiles are available in a broad range of colors and styles for providing a very unique and attractive look. Just remember to choose only branded LVT products.
Luxury Vinyl Sheet
Luxury vinyl sheet is an ideal choice for installation in surgical rooms. Just like LVT products, vinyl sheets can also be heat-welded for creating a smooth and seamless surface. When you look for a floor that is resistant to the growth of bacteria and fungi, luxury vinyl sheets make for a perfect choice. These products are also designed to copy the look of wood, stone, and tile. This product comes with a special coating for enhanced protection against wear and tear and stains. The top coat could be made of Urethane, UV-cured Urethane, etc. The addition to these coats lends some of the most useful features to luxury vinyl sheets, which are given below.
- Water-resistant
- Scratch and scuff resistant
- Stain guard wear layer
- Better air quality
- Ease of maintenance
- Ease of installation
Vinyl sheet is a high-performance floor with antimicrobial properties. Due to its property of inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungus, this flooring material is one of the highly-preferred choices for operating rooms.
The product is usually available in two different sizes: 6 feet and 12 feet. Luxury vinyl sheets are also one of the most stylish options you will find on the market. Whether you look for a unique pattern or rich colors, you can always find a perfect match for your specific needs. If you feel overwhelmed by the variety of vinyl sheets available or need some expert help, feel free to reach out to Minuteman Floors, one of the most highly experienced floor contractors in Manchester, NH. Our flooring materials specialists will help you choose the right product.
Do Not Overlook Air Quality of the Operating Room Flooring Product
For flooring installation in places such as an operating room, you should always trust only the most experienced professionals.
Flooring for a surgical room has very different requirements than that of other residential or commercial floors. Whether it is about choosing a product or its installation inside the healthcare facility, you should do business with only those who have prior experience in operating room floor installation. Working with amateurs or inexperienced people can lead to a number of issues. The selection of the wrong product or poor-quality installation will ultimately impact the image of your brand. Since it takes years to build and establish a brand, you will never want to ruin it by working with people who have little or limited knowledge of the business they are in.
Therefore, make sure you work with a flooring contractor that has a long and successful track record. It is always a good idea to ask for a portfolio of past projects before you decide to work with a company. A reputed installer will offer a free quote. He will guide you through the entire process of product selection and installation. That way, no issues or discrepancies arise in the future.
Talk to an Expert Operating Room Floor Installer
If you look for an ideal flooring material for an operating room or want to ask a question in regard to the options discussed above, head straight to Minuteman Floors in Manchester, NH. Our flooring company has several years of experience in hospital and surgical flooring installation. We provide premium quality flooring materials from reputed manufacturers and well-known brands for different areas in a healthcare facility and perform their installation as well. Our job-site crews have had proper training in adherence to hospital protocols. They will complete the entire installation project in a way that causes minimal interruption in your facility.
For your free consultation, feel free to reach out to one of our hospital flooring experts via phone call or email.