“The new range offers a unique package of benefits to specifiers and end users,” says Polyflor marketing manager Simon James. “As well as proven sustainable slip resistance and a superior impact sound reduction of 19dB, new Polysafe Wood FX Acoustic provides underfoot comfort for people standing for long periods as well as easy maintenance and a choice of eight highly attractive and realistic timber effect designs.

“This launch reflects our position in the vanguard of new product development with a range that is currently unrivalled in the market. It reflects the fact that decorative safety flooring is now increasingly used in corridors, reception areas and other general circulation areas as well as social housing environments, and allows designers and end users to tackle both safety underfoot and nuisance noise with a single attractive, high performance product.”

Suitable for heavy residential and very heavy commercial installations, new Polysafe Wood FX Acoustic is seen as ideal for use within schools, hospitals, residential and commercial buildings as well as within student accommodation, hotels and residential care.

In acoustic performance terms, the product exceeds the requirements of Building Regulation Part E for a sound insulation level of ≥19dB, making it suitable for use within multi-storey dwellings, school buildings as well as single-storey commercial premises where impact sound reduction is desirable to create a quieter working environment for staff and visitors.

And because the flooring achieves its acoustic performance by means of an integrated foam backed layer, it offers both enhanced underfoot comfort and anti-fatigue benefits in commercial premises where employees may be required to stand for long periods of time.

The 3.7mm gauge flooring incorporates a 0.65mm clear PVC wear layer with clear/white aluminium oxide particles to ensure sustainable slip resistance. Enhanced slip resistance is achieved through these aggregates being incorporated throughout the main wear layer.

In common with all Polysafe ranges, Polysafe Wood FX Acoustic complies fully with HSE guidelines, providing sustained slip resistance throughout the guaranteed life of the product. The range also achieves 36+ on the RRL Pendulum wet test (Slider 96/Four S rubber) with a surface roughness of 20 microns and above to ensure a low slip risk classification is achieved.

As well as compliance with HSE Guidelines, Polysafe Wood FX Acoustic meets the performance requirements of EN651, the standard for resilient floor coverings with a foam layer, and, fully tested to fire safety standard EN13501-1, is certified as Class Bfl-S1, achieving the criteria EN ISO 9239-1 8kw/m² and the mandatory requirement of EN ISO 11925-2 pass.

In addition, the product incorporates antimicrobial agents and has been independently tested to demonstrate that it inhibits the growth of MRSA on the flooring. An effective cleaning regime is, however, the most important defence against infection.