Safer by Design

Forbo Flooring Systems has launched Step, a new range of safety vinyl-flooring with an emphasis on good design. Whilst meeting HSE requirements for slip resistance, the Step range is far removed from traditional safety flooring, with a choice of inspiring colours, textures and finishes including wood and stone effect and holographic chip. Now, designers can specify safety flooring based on its aesthetics, rather than merely its legislative compliance.

Step complies with HSE recommendations >=36 pendulum test value and >=20 surface roughness and covers slip resistance R10-R12 and barefoot safety. In addition, the range meets EN13845 relating to PVC floorcoverings with enhanced particle-resistance.

Step also benefits from a PUR surface finish that ensures effective cleaning and maintenance, with all R10 rated designs featuring the PUR Pearl coating with matt embossing, which provides a distinctive, smooth and lustrous finish that is highly scratch, scuff and wear resistant and also results in a more natural appearance.

However, the real focus of the new collection has been the range of designs, which feature fresh colours and contemporary styling not usually associated with traditional safety flooring.

A choice of 72 colours is available, with design freedom further facilitated by non-directional patterns and the capability to incorporate bespoke designs and logos using the aquajet technique.

All colours and patterns in the Step collection have been carefully co-ordinated with other Forbo Flooring collections and the colour range is continued across the different slip requirements, allowing the creation of harmonious, colour co-ordinated interiors no matter how varied and demanding the requirements may be. A wide selection of bright colours have been incorporated, for maximum visual impact and standout from a safety perspective.

"Slips and trips account for over a third of all reported accidents and there is an increasing duty of care to design out risk as much as possible," said Julie Dempster, UK Marketing Manager at Forbo Flooring Systems. "With the new Step range, designers need no longer feel that because of this, their design freedom is curtailed. Forbo has been able to combine its expertise in safety flooring and flooring design to develop a range that delivers on all fronts."

SureStep Original is available in a choice of 20 diverse colours, spanning the colour wheel in terms of lightness and tone.

SureStep Colour's outspoken primary colours and fresh, happy patterns give a clean crisp appearance that will enhance any environment. Positive, pure colours are easy to mix and match for a range of striking optimistic effects.

The holographic chip in SureStep Star gives an unexpected 3D effect and adds colour to the natural and neutral colour series.

Inspired by nature, the pattern repeat in SureStep Wood and SureStep Stone has been minimised to ensure a more realistic installed effect.

Finally, for enhanced slip-resistance of R11 and R12 and Grip, SafeStep is available in a total of 20 colours, all matched with Surestep Original.

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