Safety and Types of Flooring
Author: Mike Smith Slips and falls are the number one cause of accidents in hotels, restaurants, and public buildings, 70% of which occur on flat and level surfaces. That being said, there are many factors to consider when choosing new flooring and among those is safety.
Resistance to slips and falls is a critical component of the overall safety of any flooring. Although there are risks, this shouldn’t limit your choices when choosing one type of flooring over another, especially if the flooring is treated to reduce this risk. There are solutions out there that will actually render a highly slippery floor safer than before, whether it is wet or dry, by being treated with certain chemicals. Below, we discuss some different flooring material options.
Ceramic flooring is an excellent option for a variety of reasons, but can also be a major hazard when wet, especially ceramic that is highly glossed. Ceramic is durable, long-lasting and requires very little maintenance. It is however, a very hard material which can cause fatigue after standing on it for a prolonged period of time and, moreover, is one of the more difficult materials to install.
Quarry flooring is another frequently used material because it is durable and affordable. Historically it has been used primarily for commercial applications, but it is now being seen more and more in private homes. Quarry tiles have the advantage of being available in a variety of shapes as well as being frost-proof which makes them durable enough to be used outdoors, but they can be a dangerous surface if not treated.
Stone flooring is an all-time favorite. Marble, Limestone, and Slate are just a few varieties that are frequently used. Marble in particular has an elegant appearance and a tough resistant surface. Marble flooring, however, does run on the expensive side and can be a major hazard when wet.
While each flooring material will have varying levels of resistance to slips and falls, there are flooring treatments available to make your floors slip-and-fall resistant. A good option is SURE STEP, a flooring and tub treatment by Interlake Chemicals.
Regardless of the type of flooring, it is important to remember that a high trafficked floor which is subject to excess moisture can present a high-risk of injury. To ensure slip and fall resistance, a surface treatment is an excellent option.
About the Author: Interlake Chemicals offers the most comprehensive line of safety chemicals. SURE STEP treatment by Interlake Chemicals International Limited makes the treated floor absolutely non-slip, and thus extremely safe. SURE STEP by Interlake Chemicals works in dry AND wet floor conditions, and is backed by a company guarantee of up to 5 years.
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