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David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1542
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Friday, January 13, 2017 - 04:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

What type of products do you specify for surgery room floors? Thanks.
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Ronald J. Ray, RA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, AIA
Senior Member
Username: rjray

Post Number: 149
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2017 - 05:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I thought surgeons walked on water.
J. Peter Jordan
Senior Member
Username: jpjordan

Post Number: 930
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2017 - 12:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Have just completed renovations to a surgical suite where the product was a resinous floor.,\
J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP
James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: jsandoz

Post Number: 201
Registered: 06-2005


Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2017 - 01:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Floors in surgery rooms are also usually coved and more often now part of a seamless assembly that includes the walls too. Also, consider that the flooring may need to be conductive to prevent sparks from static electricity which could ignite certain gasses, oxygen for example, or flammable materials like gauze. The humidity level in these rooms is usually kept very low.
Edward J Dueppen, RA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: edueppen

Post Number: 35
Registered: 08-2013
Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 09:36 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David - what we usually specify is homogenous vinyl sheet flooring with heat welded seams and flash-coved base. Armstrong Medintech is a good example. Make sure to include epoxy adhesive so that the floor does not creep under rolling loads.
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1033
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 10:05 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Please pay heed to James' comments. While vinyl sheet often offers some level of static-control, they are rarely static-dissipative. With the advent of hybrid ORs using all sorts of technology as part of the procedure, a static discharge can quite literally cause patient injury if the scanner or other electronics glitch, even momentarily, at a critical time.

Please check with your manufacturers. Seamless flooring is still critical for infection control but the process has become much more complicated.

One other concern to address is doctor comfort. Many procedures can last hours. Imagine repairing someone's internal organs while you're experiencing exhaustion because the floor you're standing on is hard as concrete.
Greta Eckhardt
Senior Member
Username: gretaeckhardt

Post Number: 48
Registered: 08-2013


Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - 09:27 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

For about 10 years, working at 2 different firms in the Boston area, I have almost always specified sheet rubber flooring with integral seams and either a flash cove base or a sanitary base. The surgeons and nurses are standing for a long time and the resilience is important for reducing stress or fatigue in their feet.
Phil Babinec
Senior Member
Username: pbabinec

Post Number: 14
Registered: 09-2004
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2017 - 10:56 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I see the sheet rubber more often than not.
Cold welded with wall protection.

Look at thickness also - 3mm for as mentioned above with fatigue.
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1602
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Friday, August 18, 2017 - 01:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I had specified Mannington BioSpec for the project and all was well. Today I received an email from my client with a link to this discussion about the welded seams opening up.

https://thefloorpro.com/community/topics/issues-with-biospec-heat-welded-seams-separating.14285/

My client wants to issue a change to the documents replacing the sheet flooring with seamless resinous flooring. Do you have any recommendations?
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1095
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 04:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David, as was noted earlier the downside of resinous flooring is that it doesn't cushion the operating staff's feet and legs which can lead to them tiring faster. I don't know of any way to pad under the system as none of the coatings will flex that much without cracking or breaking. Using mats on top of the flooring increases the chance for infection. Perhaps they can find a good disposable mat.

I wonder if a resinous flooring can be installed and then have a seamless rubber floor installed around the operating table where the team stands. I'm not sure how the transition would work to make this a clean room equivalent condition.
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC
Senior Member
Username: redseca2

Post Number: 599
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Monday, August 21, 2017 - 12:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We also frequently specify rubber flooring.

I have also specified a cushioned fluid applied floor similar to Sika Comfort Floor, but that was actually for the large surgery suites at a veterinarian hospital.

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