Let’s Start with Hospital Concrete Floor Slabs
There are 2 risks for hospitals when it comes to flooring over concrete:
– Biofluid contamination causes irremovable bacterial odours
– Concrete moisture damages the flooring
The possibility is that both could happen – but did you know both can be prevented swiftly during construction?
Hygiene and Contamination
Here’s the prime point for any healthcare facility. Many things get spilt on the floor of a hospital, and most of them are bad for the concrete floor slabs. Both cleaning chemicals and bio-fluids provide moisture-borne contamination which seeps into the porosity of the concrete.
What then happens next:
- Bacteria feed on the contaminants, setting up chronic odours which cannot be cleaned away because they are inside the concrete.
- Contaminants react with the concrete itself, or with the reinforcing steel, setting up a cycle of premature deterioration.
Is it enough to treat the surface with an antibacterial coating? No. The effectiveness of these treatments lasts for only a comparatively short period of time – certainly not the intended lifespan of the slab. Furthermore, when it comes time for the floor coverings to be replaced, topical coatings will certainly be compromised and need replacement as well.
Is it possible to seal the porosity of the concrete completely, so that contaminants can’t enter in the first place? YES. Meet FLOOR-TECT® moisture protection system, incorporating genuine hydrogel treatment and offering permanent protection. More about FLOOR-TECT® below, but what you need to know is that an anti-contaminant version is available specially for health and aged care projects.
Yes, that said permanent. FLOOR-TECT® never needs replacement, it becomes a part of the slab itself.
Moisture Control under Floor Coverings
This is a broader issue, relating to direct stick floor coverings including vinyl and carpet tiles. Moisture levels within the concrete remain high for a surprising length of time. Combined with construction timeframe pressures, there is a real risk that floor coverings will be installed before the moisture levels are sufficiently low.
The result is bubbling, adhesive failure, or delamination.
The common response to this issue is to apply a last-minute coating to the slab, to prevent moisture rising behind the floor covering. This is usually an unbudgeted expense.
There is a better way. Once again FLOOR-TECT® will solve the issue, permanently immobilising moisture within the slab. This prevents moisture migration which in turn prevents moisture vapour rising between the slab and the floor covering.
FLOOR-TECT® is E96 Certified to ensure compliance with flooring standard AS 1884:2021, when primer is used in conjunction with penetrating moisture barrier.
Car Park Floors and Ceilings
Hospitals are hubs for gatherings of people, both staff and visitors, and car park structures are normally part of the complex.
Car park floor slabs need protection against
- Traffic abrasion and load
- Moisture-borne contaminants brought in via the vehicles
- Carbonation caused by vehicle fumes
INFRA-TECT® comes into play in this situation. This multi-benefit treatment will seal the porosity of the concrete, with anti-dust hardening benefits.
As a bonus, INFRA-TECT® does not cause tyre squeal – unlike most topical coatings!
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Waterproofing
- Basements?
- Exposed car park roof decks?
- Plant and equipment decks?
For basements we offer BASE-TECT® multi-part approach, guided by BS8102:2022.
For roof and plant decks, turn to TOP-TECT®, which applies a similar methodology for comprehensive waterproofing.
Bonus!
Hydrogel concrete treatments enhance curing! If applied early, the spray-applied hydrogel components of these systems will all provide high-quality hydration, equal or superior to 7 days’ water curing.
Save time and money!
Involved in the design or construction of a hospital? We really need to talk!
More solutions for healthcare and aged care concrete in our dedicated industry page.
And an on-demand webinar on hygiene and anti-contamination in concrete floor slabs.
