Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 52

PROJECT

interiors
The absence of finishes and chemicals also means patients will
not need to be moved, or large areas of a facility closed for an extended period of time, while floors are cleaned and coatings or finishes
are applied and allowed to dry. This time savings is especially important for flooring that supports patient outcomes, as healthcare facilities operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Informed flooring decisions support operational optimization and clinical efficiency.
The chemical-free cleaning process also allows faster patient-room
turnover. Nemours has experienced a marked decrease from 4 hours
to 45 minutes to turn over a patient room and attributes much of this
operational optimization to the ease of caring for rubber flooring.
Return on investment. The simpler maintenance regimen for
premium rubber flooring has resulted in an 11% decrease in the annual cost of floor-cleaning supplies at Nemours. This translates to
annual savings of $31,000, which goes right back to the health system. Additionally, the hospital reports a reduction in overtime hours
for care and maintenance of floor coverings, and a 75% labor-efficiency increase has been realized and is attributed to nora premium
rubber flooring.

Environmental factors, such as infection
control and safety, were part of the material-selection strategy. Additionally, the
ability to create zones through the use of
color played an important role in flooring
selection.

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52

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

Acquired Infection (HAI). When it comes to creating safer spaces,
healthcare settings demand flooring that can be efficiently cleaned

BASIS OF DESIGN DECISIONS

and disinfected. It is important to note that the extremely dense,

During the value-engineering phase for Nemours, the contractor

closed surface of premium rubber flooring is inherently dirt repellent

made suggestions for substitutions of various interior finishes.

and does not serve as a growth medium for microorganisms. It does

The end user and architectural firm steered the hospital back to

not encourage or produce bacteria, in turn, supporting infection con-

their Basis of Design, encompassing all ofthe aforementioned perfor-

trol drivers in the built environment.

mance characteristics. The benefits of premium rubber flooring far

Caregivers at Nemours also point to minimal seaming and floor

outweighed what could have been a detriment to the life-cycle cost to

welds as a way to prevent contamination, given premium rubber is a

the facility, its intended outcomes, and safety for its patients and

dimensionally stable product. The EVS team notes that hand sanitiz-

caregivers.

er does not erode or discolor the floor finish as it did with flooring in

To make informed flooring decisions, we need to look at the true

their old building. Additionally, because they are confident the floors

cost of product de-selection. De-selection simply means that a prod-

are free of infectious materials, caregivers do not worry that family

uct, such as flooring, that is specified for a project is subject to value

members who climb into bed with patients bring infections picked

engineering (VE) due to total project costs. General contractors and

up from the floor, eliminating cross-contamination concerns.

construction-project managers tend to try and de-select or substitute

Improve the patient experience. Nemours identifies a number of

a less expensive product for the specified flooring product. It can be

things that have improved the patient experience, beginning with the

a shortsighted decision, one that many times is made without com-

floor covering's low-luster finish. Glare can alter cognitive perception

municating with the designer or end user. It's a decision that serves

and visual acuity, thus creating trip hazards. At the same time, the

the project budget but ultimately has an impact on operational opti-

perception of the floor's cleanliness contributes to a positive patient

mization and clinical efficiency for the health system. It's also a deci-

experience and played a role in the HCAHPS perception of cleanli-

sion that leads to long-term costs for the end user over the life of the

ness scores, as it pertains to question 8: "During this hospital stay,

flooring product due to maintenance protocol, potentially costing

how often were your room and bathroom kept clean?" Nemours saw

the health system millions of dollars over the life of the substitute

their score rise from the 60th to the 90th percentile for patient expe-

floor. This is the true cost of de-selection.

rience. Additionally, patterns in the floor support wayfinding and

The built environment affects outcomes and making informed

clearly define patient/caregiver/family zones, which improves care-

decisions, as hospitals such as Nemours have discovered. Flooring is

giver access to the patient and contributes to an overall positive pa-

the foundation of the healing environment and, as such, has a tre-

tient experience.

mendous impact on operational and clinical drivers for their health

Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ ). Rubber flooring's dense, ho-

system. Although it is true that floors must still support an attractive

mogenous surface helps repel dirt. As a result, the floor tends to stay

design and adhere to budget guidelines, just as important is their

clean longer and can be maintained with regular dust mopping.

ability to improve patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction, along

When deeper cleaning is required, a mop and tap water is often suf-

with caregiver retention and operational efficiency. CA

ficient. Further, premium rubber floors do not require the application of coatings or waxes. The absence of finishes and other chemi-

Sandra Soraci, EDAC, LEED AP, NCIDQ , is marketing leader of

cals benefits everyone in a healthcare setting, especially those who

Health Care Solutions for nora systems inc., Salem, NH. Kristin

might be sensitive to smells or suffer from asthma or allergies these

Ledet, IIDA, is a senior project manager and principal at FKP|Can-

products aggravate.

nonDesign, Houston.

FEBRUARY 2018

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com


http://www.magazine.com/1802nora http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture February 2018

The Architects
Showcase
Index
Portfolio
Student Unions
Facade Mimics Coral
Smart Design For Learning
Metal Wall Panels Renovate City Hall
Tile Roof Crowns Mansion Renovation
Fixtures Wash Out Light Puddles
Stadium Supports More Than The Team
Selecting The Correct Damper
Energy-Efficient Boilers Revitalize Apartment Complex
U.S. Steel Tower Grows Greener With Retrofit
Going Green On The Green
Channel Glass Leads Visitors To Fort
Speedway Improves Track Views
Flooring Impacts Evaluation At Children's Hospital
Exteriors Products
Lighting & Electrical Products
HVAC & Plumbing Products
Windows & Doors Products
Interiors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover1
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover2
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 1
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 2
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 3
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 4
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 5
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - The Architects
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 7
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Student Unions
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 9
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 10
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 11
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 12
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 13
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 14
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 15
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Facade Mimics Coral
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 17
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 18
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 19
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 20
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 21
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Smart Design For Learning
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 23
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Metal Wall Panels Renovate City Hall
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 25
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Tile Roof Crowns Mansion Renovation
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 27
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 28
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Exteriors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Fixtures Wash Out Light Puddles
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 31
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Stadium Supports More Than The Team
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 35
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Lighting & Electrical Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Selecting The Correct Damper
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 38
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Energy-Efficient Boilers Revitalize Apartment Complex
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - U.S. Steel Tower Grows Greener With Retrofit
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 41
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - HVAC & Plumbing Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 43
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Going Green On The Green
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 45
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Channel Glass Leads Visitors To Fort
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 47
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Speedway Improves Track Views
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Windows & Doors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Flooring Impacts Evaluation At Children's Hospital
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 51
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 52
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Interiors Products
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 54
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 55
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Showcase
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Index
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Portfolio
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover3
Commercial Architecture February 2018 - Cover4
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