We recently featured an article in the HEJ to explain how Wall Protection can help create the best healing environment
Here is an extract below:
The need for interior solutions that enhance hygiene levels, reduce maintenance costs, and create a more positive environment in healthcare buildings, has seldom been more pressing. Mitch Dean, National Sales manager for Wall Protection at Gradus, outlines how installing wall protection in your healthcare building can help meet all three needs.
With the UK healthcare sector having over the past year experienced higher levels of strain than at any point in living memory, and seen significantly reduced patient throughput as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits of wall protection for healthcare buildings – including their ability to protect interiors to reduce maintenance costs, boost hygiene, and help create a more positive healing environment for patients – have rarely been clearer.
My aim in this article is to offer an overview of the key considerations when specifying wall protection for healthcare environments, touching on where it is most effective, how to achieve optimal hygiene, and how different colours can be used to aid wayfinding and add structure to your building.
Where to install wall protection
The best approach when specifying wall protection for a healthcare building is to ‘zone’ it into different areas, each defined by the volume and type of traffic it experiences. For example, some areas may be constantly exposed to wheeled traffic – made up of trolleys, medical equipment, wheelchairs, beds, and catering trollies, while others may be relatively quiet. Careful planning is required to ensure you choose the right solution for each zone.
The most vulnerable surfaces in any building are the corners. When left exposed, corners in healthcare facilities can be easily damaged by wheeled or pedestrian traffic, leading to unsightly imperfections and even more unsightly maintenance bills. The best way to prevent this is to install high-impact corner guards with aluminium retainers to provide a reinforced defence against high-impact damage, combined with shock-absorbent vinyl covers that can be easily replaced.
Similarly, wall guards should be installed in the areas of the wall that receive the most contact, where they will provide robust protection through a combination of vinyl covers, aluminium retainers, and internal bumpers specially designed to absorb and dissipate impact.