Rubber Flooring for Aged Care Facilities

With the need for Aged Care Facilities growing, the construction industry is working hard to cater for this sector’s unique needs.

When looking at the vast range of issues involved with design and construction of Aged Care Facilities, safety for residents, staff and visitors is a major issue. Rubber flooring is just one of the many solutions that may help in providing significant benefits for indoor environments where resilience and hygiene is a priority. This is particularly beneficial for modern healthcare facilities where functionality can outweigh the importance of aesthetics.

Here’s some benefits to installing rubber flooring in an Aged Care Facility:

1. One of the major advantages of rubber flooring is its strong resistance against micro-organisms, which can help stop the spread of harmful bacteria. Rubber is made of nonporous material that has innate bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties. This type of material stops hazardous microbes or microscopic fungi from accumulating and penetrating the flooring. This is an important consideration when building medical centers, hospitals, and aged care homes, as the people within these facilities may have compromised immune systems and be more susceptible to infection.
2. The nonporous material makes it easier to clean compared to other flooring materials, as grime and dirt does not easily cling to rubber surfaces. Rubber flooring can be cleaned using hot soapy water, which is a lot easier and safer than other types of flooring that require harsh chemicals and other heavy-duty cleaning processes which can cause allergic reactions.
3. According to a 2003 study by the Global Development and Environment Institute, rubber has lower annual maintenance costs as opposed to vinyl, linoleum, or carpet. Rubber is tough and resilient and can withstand heavy foot traffic over longer periods. It may cost a little more upon initial installation, but proves cheaper in the long run. The long-term savings for the facility owner (your client) are a good selling point when providing your building quote.
4. Aside from resilience and enhanced hygiene, rubber flooring also provides noise insulation. It has strong noise absorbing properties that help lessen the noise pollution. This is especially beneficial in an aged care setting. Reduced noise pollution means reduced stress levels for the facility’s residents as it creates a more peaceful environment.
5. Improved floor ergonomics is yet another advantage of rubber. Its tough structure helps reduce physical stress on the body caused by walking and standing. This is helpful not only for facility residents, but also for staff members who walk and stand almost 8-12 hours a day.

Keep in mind that not all rubber flooring materials are suitable for healthcare facilities. Chat with your supplier and choose a quality brand with functional properties, and remember to highlight that rubber flooring increases safety when quoting on your next aged care facility construction project.