Flooring and accessories specialist Gradus has supplied multiple products to the Kent Institute of Medicine & Surgery (KIMS), a £95-million, seven-acre, state-of-the-art hospital development.
More than five years in the planning, the purpose built development is designed to provide a tertiary care facility. As such, it needed to ensure that products specified for the project were of a high standard in keeping with the exceptional levels of patient care the hospital will be providing.
Facilities at KIMS include 74 dedicated inpatient beds, including seven chemotherapy rooms, plus a further 20 day care beds and seven critical care beds.
Gradus products were installed throughout the main hospital buildings. Wall protection products were supplied and fitted by the company, including InPro Sanparrel, a through-coloured and textured PVC-u sheet that provides total wall protection, concealing the effects of impact and abrasion particularly on the lower part of the wall most vulnerable to damage from wheeled and pedestrian traffic. Bespoke Sanparrel numbering was also used to highlight room numbers, complementing the design of the building and helping to aid navigation.
As an alternative to low level wall guards, SSFR51 stainless steel floor rail was used to protect walls from wheeled traffic. 1300 and 1500i wall guards in Arctic and 3500W Dual Rail in Oak and Arctic were also installed. 3500W Dual Rail offers an ideal solution where pedestrian support is required in addition to protection against severe impact and has been developed to meet the specific needs of healthcare environments, meeting the guidance set out in the NHS Estates Health Building Note 00-10 and Health Building Note 00-04. The wall guards and dual rail offer a contemporary design feature to enhance the building’s aesthetics, with the Arctic finish helping to blend the profiles in with the walls for a subtle effect.
Genus carpet was installed in ward bedrooms and consultation rooms in the main hospital and on the ground floor of the Clydesdale Bank building. Genus is manufactured using Marquesa solution dyed yarn, which has been developed to make the cleaning of spillages and soiling easier to deal with, whilst ensuring the carpet retains a fresh look. Marquesa yarn is non-absorbent and therefore keeps dirt and liquids on the surface of the yarn, preventing it from entering the fibre. This reduces cleaning times and makes the cleaning process less strenuous.
The cleanability and bleach resistance of Genus means that spillages and stains can be removed with bleach and other intensive cleaning agents, without damaging the carpet’s appearance or fibres, making it ideal for healthcare environments. It also offers comfort underfoot, cushioning footsteps to reduce foot and leg fatigue.
Gradus offers a wide choice of carpet ranges which coordinate and work well together, and can therefore be used to differentiate different zones of a building or to create a unique design statement.
The Wall Street range is one such range and includes two designs, which are both available in tile format, in loop pile construction – ‘Wall Street’ and ‘Wall Street Stripes’. Wall Street Stripes features an attractive linear design and Wall Street is a coordinating plain textured design. Wall Street can be installed either broadloom or quarter turn and Wall Street Stripes can be installed either broadloom, quarter turn or brick bond. This offers great flexibility and can be used to enhance an interior by customising the floor to complement a specific design scheme or corporate identity.
Wall Street and Wall Street Stripes were installed on levels one, two and three of the Clydesdale Bank building, which includes a mix of offices and consultation rooms. Two coordinating colours were used, helping to differentiate various zones, such as meeting rooms and reception areas and create a unique and interesting floor scheme.
Protecting interior floorcoverings by removing dirt and moisture at the point of entry helps to reduce long-term maintenance costs and ensure a safe and hygienic environment for staff and patients. An effective barrier matting system can reduce the amount of dirt and moisture tracked into a building by up to 90% helping to improve the appearance of surrounding floorcoverings and reduce slip accidents. Esplanade Plus primary barrier matting was installed at the main and side entrances to KIMS, along with Boulevard 6000 secondary barrier carpet. With a patterned design to disguise the effects of soiling, Boulevard 6000 incorporates a heavy scraper yarn for optimum dirt removal and is made with 100% solution dyed nylon to provide excellent soil and moisture retention properties.
To reduce the risk of slips and trips on stairs, AKVXT1R stair edgings were installed on all staircases throughout the hospital. Comprising an aluminium channel with a choice of insert material, the insert extends around the leading edge of the profile to ensure that foot contact is always made with the slip-resistant element of the stair edging. The profile is 65mm on the tread and 40mm on the riser to meet the guidance in BS 8300:2009+A1:2010. The insert used provides a single solid band of colour that delivers visual contrast with the surrounding floorcovering, ensuring 30 points difference in Light Reflectance Values (LRV) to help create an inclusive environment for both staff and patients.
Peter Corbett, Design Manager for main contractor VINCI Construction UK, says: “We found the Gradus installation and specification team to be very helpful. They helped us through the process and were also very flexible, enabling us to complete the project on time and in budget.”
Jayne Cassidy, Chief Executive of KIMS, comments: “Safety, hygiene, comfort and aesthetics were all vitally important when designing KIMS, so we needed to ensure that any products used in the construction of the facilities delivered on all these points. Gradus helped us to achieve this, resulting in an inclusive and welcoming environment for staff, patients and families.”
