Healthcare facilities need wall surfaces that can withstand frequent cleaning, daily wear, & demanding hygiene requirements. Whether it is a hospital, clinic, laboratory, or treatment room, proper wall panels will ensure a clean and functional environment.
However, different areas have different needs. Here are 5 key things to keep in mind while selecting wall panels for Canadian health care centers.
1. Hygiene and Cleanability
The healthcare surfaces should be easy to clean and disinfect as per their intended purpose in the intended setting. There should be smooth surfaces, which are easy to clean, as well as having the same joints that may be sealed. This applies to the total surface installed since cracks and damage, as well as unsealed joint edges, make the cleaning process hard.
One should always check whether the panel surfaces can be cleaned using the cleaners/disinfectants used at the facility.
2. Moisture Resistance
Bathrooms, washrooms, utility rooms, and other moisture-prone facilities require wall materials appropriate for their working requirements. FRP panels (fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels) are frequently utilised in commercial buildings because they are moisture resistant and easy to maintain.
3. Durability & Impact Resistance
The Healthcare walls are likely to have constant interaction with carts, beds, equipment, and foot traffic. Select panels that depend on how much impact and use they will have in each particular area. Corridors, storerooms, equipment rooms, etc., are likely to need protection from other parts of the clinic or office.
Choosing the appropriate material will allow you to decrease the amount of maintenance needed and improve the state of your surface. Pay attention to the panel’s strength, thickness, and impact resistance.
4. Chemical Resistance and Maintenance
Healthcare institutions require frequent cleaning to ensure hygiene & prevent the spread of diseases. This means that they will require disinfectants, detergents, & other cleaning materials. It is important to identify the ability of these chemicals to affect the panels that are going to be used.
One of the things that should be looked at when selecting wall panels for healthcare institutions is their resistance to chemicals which are used in your institution. If they are not resistant, then there will be discoloration and degradation of the panels.
Another thing that should be taken into account is the ease of maintenance of the panels.
5. Installation, Joints, and Long-Term Performance
Performance of wall panels is not just about the materials; the installation of the system is also a factor.
If the joints have not been finished well, or if there are gaps or damaged pieces, then it creates spots that are hard to maintain and clean. For health care settings, the installation should suit the application as well as the hygiene needs of the facility.
Before the installation is done, make sure that the guidelines of the manufacturer regarding surface preparation, adhesives, joints, edges, and maintenance are taken into consideration. Also take note of how easy it will be to fix any damaged pieces.For Canadian healthcare installations, ensure that the wall panels and their installation comply with the building codes and fire safety requirements.
Conclusion
When selecting wall panels for health facilities, one cannot only consider the right finish to use. Hygiene, moisture resistance, durability, chemical resistance, and installation will all come into play.
If you’re looking for wall panels that can withstand moisture and easy maintenance, perhaps you might want to take a closer look at FRP wall panels, as long as the material is appropriate for your application. At Avanta Builds, we provide FRP wall panels that can be used in commercial projects. Browse our selection now and choose one for your next project.
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