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Infection-Control Flooring: 5 Ways to Keep Clinics and Hospitals Safe
Preventing the spread of infection starts with the surfaces people walk on every day. Flooring plays a bigger role in hygiene than most people realise, and the wrong choice can make cleaning harder, harbour bacteria, and increase the chances of cross-contamination. This guide breaks down what to look for when choosing infection control flooring that genuinely supports safer, cleaner healthcare environments.
Tip 1: Choose Flooring with Smooth, Seamless Surfaces
If you want flooring that supports strict hygiene standards, the first box to tick is “seamless.” Tile grout lines, expansion joints, and surface cracks are breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms that can compromise patient safety. They create hiding places for bacteria, and the only thing that prevents these weak points is seamless, non-porous resin flooring. Seamless systems also allow for features that directly support infection control, such as:
- Coved skirting, which curves the floor up the wall so bacteria can’t sit in the wall–floor join.
- Integrated falls and slopes, directing water toward drains so fluids don’t pool.
- Hygienic stainless-steel drainage, finished flush with the floor surface for easy cleaning.
Polyurethane resin systems in particular create a dense, closed-surface floor that doesn’t absorb spills and can be steam-cleaned at high temperatures for disinfection without damage. This seamless construction prevents dirt and bacteria from accumulating in hard-to-clean areas – ideal for infection control flooring. Your cleaning staff can maintain strict hygiene standards without worrying about missed spots or inaccessible crevices. The result is a continuous, wipe-clean floor that makes daily hygiene far more reliable.
Tip 2: Built-In Contamination Control
Healthcare facilities are regularly exposed to bodily fluids, chemical spills and intensive cleaning and disinfection procedures. Contamination-resistant flooring provides an essential barrier – your first line of defence against moisture seeping into the substrate, staining, and cross-contamination between different areas of your facility. Resin floors can also be installed with an antimicrobial coating that inhibits bacterial growth and prevents mould and mildew.
It’s an additional layer of long-term protection for hygienic areas like treatment rooms, labs, and A&E departments. Chemical-resistant topcoats also help prevent the surface from degrading under regular disinfection protocols, bleach solutions, and intense steam cleaning. With a protective barrier against liquid penetration, spills can be quickly contained.
Tip 3: Low-Maintenance Flooring
Medical teams don’t have time for flooring that needs constant repair or upkeep. Low-maintenance contamination-resistant flooring is ideal because:
- It doesn’t need specialist care – the smooth, non-porous surface releases dirt and contaminants easily, allowing for thorough cleaning with minimal effort.
- It’s durable, withstanding aggressive cleaning chemicals, hot water, and heavy use, providing 15-20 years of service life.
- Resin’s longevity significantly exceeds that of traditional flooring materials, which may deteriorate quickly under aggressive disinfection protocols and require replacement every 5-10 years.
The durability of resin flooring means fewer repairs and replacements over the floor’s lifetime. This reliability is especially important in critical care environments where any interruption to normal operations could impact patient care.
Tip 4: Ensure Slip Resistance and Safety
Slips and falls are still one of the most common incidents in medical environments. Patient and staff safety must be your primary consideration when selecting infection control flooring. Floors in entrances, corridors, scrub areas, and treatment rooms need slip resistance that holds up even when wet. Resin systems can be tailored with non-slip aggregates or textured finishes to deliver the right level of grip without making cleaning harder.
Different areas of your facility may require varying levels of slip resistance. Operating theatres and treatment rooms need excellent grip even when wet, while corridor areas may require moderate slip resistance for normal walking conditions. Impact Flooring can recommend appropriate specifications for each area of your facility.
Tip 5: Consider Colour, Zoning, and Wayfinding
Visual design elements can support both infection control and operational efficiency in healthcare environments. Strategic use of colour and zoning helps staff, patients, and visitors better navigate your facility.
Using colour zoning to support infection control in clinics and hospitals
Colour coding zones helps signal hygiene priorities and guide behaviour. For example, different colour zones of contamination-resistant flooring can signify:
- High-risk clinical areas vs. public corridors
- Handwashing or PPE zones
- Isolation room boundaries.
Colour changes can mark boundaries between different departments or hygiene zones. These visual cues support proper infection control procedures without requiring additional signage. With resin, wayfinding elements can be built into the floor without creating joins or weak spots.
Why Healthcare Facilities Choose Resin for Infection Control Flooring
Effective medical flooring should make hygiene simpler, not harder. Seamless resin systems offer a combination of cleanliness, durability, contamination resistance, and design flexibility that suits every type of healthcare environment, from small clinics to large hospitals. Impact Flooring specialises in installing high-performance, contamination-resistant flooring that stands up to constant cleaning, heavy use, and strict compliance requirements.
If you’re planning a refurbishment or designing a new healthcare space, speak to our team. Our healthcare-grade resin hospital flooring is designed to meet the demands of clinical environments. We can help you choose a flooring system that protects patients, supports staff and delivers long-term value.