« High-traffic areas that experience
frequent exposure to outside elements,
like police station lobbies, generally
require low-maintenance flooring.
Architects, designers, facility managers
and end-users spend inordinate amounts of
time planning and discussing the benefits
of each type of flooring before specifying
a product to ensure the floor's viability in
specific environments. Planning teams are
faced with a variety of choices, including
carpeting, linoleum, vinyl composition tile
(VCT) and rubber for commercial applications. Among the most important considerations they factor into material selection are
the maintenance needs of the flooring, and
how those needs impact the time, effort and
cost associated with the flooring. A facility's
sustainable goals also are reviewed.
In a hospital, specific areas have specific needs that are determined largely by
the patients, staff and services they offer.
For example, the needs of a family waiting
area vary greatly than those of a neonatal
intensive care unit in terms of aesthetics,
Cleaning up food and drink spills in school
cafeterias can be done quickly when durable,
no-wax flooring is in place.
» CCRS 2013 SponSoR
• CirCle No. 41
january : february 2013 — CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation
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