The Kent & Canterbury Hospital has recently undergone a major refurbishment programme to replace its existing floorcoverings, which were in very poor condition. As the hospital has expanded and altered over the last few years, it was decided to rationalise the colour scheme at the same time to make wayfinding simpler. Tarkett’s vinyl floorings deliver exceptional performance to meet the high demands of modern healthcare facilities and are available in a wide variety of colour options, which made them the ideal choice.
Tarkett’s iQ Optima was specified for the refurbishment, as project Architect Jon Dyer explains: “The main hospital street serves as both primary pedestrian circulation and service corridor. The floors endure the effects of both a high volume of foot traffic and movement of hospital equipment on a daily basis. We therefore needed a resilient floorcovering with high abrasion resistance to wear. We also intended to rationalise the colour selection to aid wayfinding and Tarkett’s iQ range met the requirements of the brief in a cost effective way. The final installation looks superb and because their PUR content reduces the maintenance regime, they will hopefully provide many years of excellent service.”
In the latest phase of refurbishment, iQ Optima flooring has been installed to the main hospital street, down to theatres and into the Fracture Clinic where works have also involved replacing several screeds. As part of Tarkett’s highly successful iQ Range, Optima offers outstanding quality, performance and design characteristics. The palette has recently been expanded to offer over 60 colour options, with complementary multi-colour weld rods for a seamless finish.
Made from high-quality raw materials, iQ Optima features a 3rd generation PUR surface reinforcement that guarantees no wax or polish will ever be needed. Thanks to its Unique Surface Restoration, simple dry buffing will restore the flooring surface to its original appearance and properties. This gives extreme longevity and helps minimise maintenance costs, resulting in one of the best life cycle costs on the market. This delivers tangible financial benefits for healthcare providers.
Tarkett understands the need to create hygienic, easy-to-clean, attractive surroundings that help create the best environment to aid patient recovery. Improving indoor air quality is an important part of this, which is why all Tarkett’s homogeneous vinyl floorings (including iQ Optima) have VOC emissions below quantifiable levels. The wide variety of attractive colours and design options harmonise with any interior scheme and the exceptional performance characteristics ensure they continue to offer years of outstanding service in the most demanding environments.