As a contractor, you need to carefully consider each area of an educational building to ensure the most suitable flooring solutions are installed. Lewis Cooper explains.
With pupils and teachers spending most of their day indoors at school or college, creating a learning environment that is safe, functional, and inspiring is vital. As a contractor this means carefully considering each area of an educational building and ensuring the most suitable flooring solutions are installed.
Selecting floorcoverings for education facilities comprises a careful balance of form and function. With multiple application zones that require a wide variety of specific performance attributes, the chosen floorcoverings must also contribute to the wider design theme, helping create a carefully planned interior that supports the learning environment. So, what are the factors to consider for each area?
Keep dirt at the door
How many pupils or students slow down or stop to wipe their feet when walking into school or college? Chances are that the answer is not many. With heavy footfall trudging through the doors of a school entrance every day, keeping the outside world outside is crucial for the safety of all occupants. Whether it’s the main entrance or a door coming in from a muddy sports field, a well-planned entrance area with the incorporation of an effective entrance flooring system can drastically reduce the levels of dirt and moisture being tracked into the building, as well as the potential for slips and falls.
A successful entrance flooring system will also prolong the life of interior floorcoverings and can even reduce the time spent cleaning interiors floors by up to 65%.
The right atmosphere to learn
Students go to school to learn and the perfect classroom is an environment where they can feel comfortable, safe, and inspired. Colour, light, and acoustics are all factors that affect the learning process and as the largest single surface of the interior, it’s important the floor contributes to the creation of an inspiring atmosphere while also promoting concentration.
Carpet tiles are often the go-to option for classrooms thanks to its modular format and natural acoustic properties which can lower the impact noise in these spaces and avoid disturbances. If a tile becomes damaged or stained, it’s also simple to remove the tile and replace it with a new one. With a whole host of designs on the market, there’s a solution for every design requirement.
Safety first!
As well as at the entrances, safety also needs to be considered in other heavily trafficked or potentially hazardous areas such as corridors and hallways. A durable floorcovering with an adequate level of slip resistance should be selected. In subject areas that are prone to frequent spills or floor debris, such as food/design technology or science and art classrooms, a Health and Safety Executive compliant safety floorcovering is most appropriate.
These solutions have been developed to not only ensure a safe and practical space, but without compromising on design.
Food for thought
Dining rooms and cafeterias are used and abused daily; therefore, a hardwearing flooring is essential to cope with the hundreds of pupils, staff, and visitors. It should also be hygienic and easy to clean. Offering stylish aesthetics, a heterogeneous vinyl is ideal for these areas thanks to its design and performance properties.
This type of vinyl can also be customised or mix and matched with other products, which could be useful for creating designated eating areas and walkways for example.
Functional for more than just physical education
Possibly one of the most active areas within a school, the sports halls need to be well equipped for the activities that will occur. In addition to PE classes and extra-curricular sports activities, school sports halls are often used for team sports, meetings, ceremonies, exams, and events in the local community. For these areas of a school building, a high performance vinyl sheet that meets the requirements of Sport England and EN 14904 (P1 classification) is highly recommended.
Safe, durable, and low maintenance, this type of floorcovering is available in varying finishes including natural wood or vibrant and contemporary colours.
From entrances and classrooms to libraries and canteens, and now sports halls, leading flooring manufacturer Forbo Flooring Systems can provide a solution for every single area of an education building. Having supplied floorcoverings to the education sector for more than a century, the latest addition to their portfolio is Sportline multi use: the ultimate vinyl sheet designed specifically for multi-purpose sports halls. Sportline multi use can be used as a standalone solution or alternatively, court markings can be applied. With more than 1m sq m sold internationally, Sportline multi use offers a trusted, reliable solution for every educational building.
www.forbo-flooring.co.uk
Lewis Cooper is segment marketing manager for education at Forbo Flooring Systems
