FLOORING IN NURSING
Joe Hurst explains how Altro flooring and wall systems enhance safety, hygiene, comfort, durability and regulatory compliance across modern healthcare and care environments
How do your flooring systems support infection prevention and control requirements commonly expected in healthcare and care environments such as those guided by the NHS?
Altro floors and walls are easy to clean and maintain, helping to prevent healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and cross-infection. Not only can they be used to create a healing atmosphere; with correct cleaning regimes and standards they can also help reduce the spread of infection.
They’re ideal for areas where hygiene is paramount. Altro walls, combined with Altro safety or Altro smooth floors, create an impervious and easy to clean system that meets the hygienic requirements of even the most critical care environments. Our total hygienic system offers huge advantages over carpet, paint and tiles; it’s HACCP-approved and designed to promote hygiene and be easy to maintain.
Altro is a recommended supplier on ProCure23 (P23), the fourth generation of the ProCure framework for the design and construction of NHS capital projects. With extensive Altro product ranges approved within the scheme, NHS partners can access a comprehensive offering encompassing smooth and safety floors with adhesive-free options, hygienic walls, wall and door protection, wash stations and resin floors.
What slip resistance ratings do your products achieve, particularly in high-risk areas such as bathrooms, dining areas, and corridors where residents may have limited mobility?
Safe surroundings are especially important when people are at their most vulnerable. We work to develop products that help create safe surroundings, lowering the risk of slips and helping exceed hygiene and infection control standards, but with a homely feel to help with independence and dignity. We’ve been first to market many times with products developed with safety in mind, for example specialist shoe and barefoot floors like Altro Pisces and Altro Aquarius, which are a must for wet environments where carers bathe residents, or residents want to be confidently independent.
Our safety floors are PTV ≥36, reducing the chance of a slip to one in a million for the lifetime of the floor. Our specialist floors for areas such as kitchens (PTV ≥55, R12) and wet rooms and bathrooms (PTV ≥50 (slider 96), R11) provide enhanced safety with common contaminants found in these areas.
How do your flooring solutions support dementia-friendly design principles, such as colour contrast, reduced pattern confusion, and wayfinding support?
We’ve collaborated with associations including Care England, Design in Mental Health and the University of Stirling’s renowned Dementia Services Development Centre and worked with them to develop total solutions for the care home sector. That means within our product ranges there are extensive colour palettes, finishes and tonal contrast options to create homely interiors for people living with dementia.
We’ve also developed CPDs and other guides around dementia-friendly design principles. In terms of wayfinding support, Altro floors and walls can be used to create points of recognition, zoning and even artworks to help residents find their way around. These also make life easier for visitors and staff.
What acoustic performance characteristics do your floors offer to reduce noise levels in shared living environments and improve resident comfort?
Altro offers acoustic flooring solutions, including comfort-focused ranges designed to reduce impact noise and create quieter, calmer environments. These products support resident wellbeing by reducing disturbance from wheeled traffic, footsteps and daily activity in communal settings.
Our 19dB vinyl acoustic floor, Altro Serenade, contributes to the impact sound reduction of noise in buildings by reducing sound transmission, increasing sound absorption and reducing sound reflection. Where noise reduction is needed to reduce in-room sound and transmission of noise, choose Altro Illustra adhesive-free, Altro Cantata adhesive-free, Altro Wood Comfort and Altro Wood adhesive-free floors which offer 14dB, Altro Ensemble and Altro Orchestra and Altro Orchestra Custom which offer 15dB (and comfort underfoot while maintaining the highest Commercial classification of use). You can also combine the floor of your choice with impact sound reduction underlays. For example, Altro Acoustic Underlay 1101 and Altro Everlay B offer sound reductions of 17dB and 21dB respectively, when used in conjunction with an Altro sheet vinyl floor.
How resistant are your flooring systems to heavy use from wheelchairs, walking aids, moving beds, and frequent staff traffic over long service cycles?
Altro flooring is designed for demanding healthcare and care environments, providing durability under constant footfall, wheelchairs, moving beds and wheeled equipment. Most safety flooring is impact-resistant, which makes it very durable, but look for manufacturer guarantees that prove confidence in the longevity of the flooring; Altro’s guarantees are industry-leading. Safety flooring products deliver long-term wear performance while maintaining slip resistance and appearance.
What cleaning protocols and chemical resistance standards do your products meet, particularly with frequent deep cleaning and disinfectant use?
Altro products are specifically developed for environments requiring frequent cleaning and disinfection. Integrated floor and wall systems simplify maintenance and support long-term hygiene performance.
Altro resilient floors feature Altro Easyclean technology to make cleaning regimes easier. It gives them additional scratch and abrasion resistance, helping maintain their look. With safety floors, preventing damage to the floor helps ensure they can perform, preventing slips. Altro Whiterock is the only globally hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) certified PVCu wall sheet, and our walls and floors system is one of the few worldwide to achieve the certification. Altro Suprema, developed hand-in-hand with the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP) has superior stain, abrasion and scratch resistance and is iodine/betadine resistant.
How do your products comply with relevant UK health and social care regulations and inspection expectations from bodies such as the Care Quality Commission?
Altro products are widely specified across UK healthcare and care environments due to their support for key regulatory priorities including safety, infection prevention, accessibility, hygiene and maintenance. Their slip-resistant, hygienic and durable characteristics help providers create environments that align with operational and quality expectations commonly assessed by regulators.
Accreditations play a critical role in ensuring the quality, safety, and effectiveness of our floor and wall products, particularly in sensitive fields such as healthcare and senior living. Dementia Design Accredited Products, for example, adhere to rigorous standards that enhance the living environments of individuals with dementia, promoting their safety and wellbeing. The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals sets benchmarks for cleanliness and hygiene, crucial for preventing infections and ensuring a safe environment in healthcare settings.
Organisations such as Care England advocate for high standards in adult social care, influencing policy and practice. Foundations Commercial Partners offer specialised support to improve housing conditions for vulnerable communities, ensuring homes are safe, accessible and conducive to health. The Dementia Centre provides expert guidance and resources for dementia care, driving improvements in care practices. Collectively, these accreditations and organisations help establish a framework of excellence, fostering trust and ensuring care providers consistently meet the highest standards.
What options do you provide for seamless or heat-welded installations to minimise joints where dirt, bacteria, or fluids could accumulate?
Altro provides heat-welded flooring and wall installations, including Altro Whiterock wall cladding, which can be thermoformed and heat welded to create sealed, watertight, grout-free surfaces. Integrated floor-to-wall detailing helps eliminate areas where bacteria, moisture and contaminants can accumulate.
What lifecycle performance data can you provide, including durability, maintenance costs, and replacement cycles in a typical care home environment?
Altro products are designed for long-term lifecycle value through durable construction, sustained safety performance and low maintenance requirements. Altro Whiterock carries a 20-year warranty, while many flooring and wall products are backed by industry-leading guarantees. Product-specific environmental product declarations (EPDs) are available, providing verified lifecycle environmental data to support specification decisions.
Cost-saving benefits: Reduced maintenance and cleaning costs through hygienic, grout-free surfaces. Long service life reduces replacement frequency and operational disruption. Recyclable product ranges and circular economy initiatives support whole-life sustainability goals.
www.altro.com
Joe Hurst is social care key account manager for Altro Ltd
