Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) is a large teaching hospital in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the nearby University of Bristol and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in Bristol. The BRI is one of nine hospitals operated by the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

Most healthcare facilities including the Bristol Royal Infirmary see the importance of hardwearing interior finishes and how crucial they are when it comes to the overall building specification. The movement of items such as beds, trolleys, wheelchairs, and heavy medical equipment is a twenty-four-hour operation, therefore any floorings and wall protection products installed needed to withstand the daily rigours of a demanding hospital environment.

This is where the world class Mipolam Affinity collection exceeded the expectations of the Healthcare End User, in its outstanding performance when it comes to durability and easy low-cost maintenance. The Mipolam Affinity range was specified thanks to its 100% pure PVC construction which is a pressed and calendered homogeneous vinyl floorcovering, Its’ single layer of PVC delivers numerous benefits including: a remarkably high abrasion resistance, and it is also lighter, more flexible, and less brittle. It is also suitable for hot welding and ideal for creating seamless finishes, making it a widely popular choice for hardworking hospitals, laboratories, and cleanroom environments. The Mipolam Affinity range also comes with a unique and revolutionary surface treatment called Evercare™, that delivers an unrivalled level of chemical and stain resistance. In choosing Gerflor’s Mipolam Affinity the crucial element of high traffic, was successfully addressed, which was a high priority on the client’s specification agenda.

The refurbishment project would also benefit from the specification and installation of the Gradus Wall Protection system, comprising of the SureProtect Endure Wall Cladding and PVC-u SHR40P Handrails, alongside the High Impact Corner Guards, which provided an ideal protective solution for the busy healthcare environment.

Chris Pursey, Gerflor Key Account Healthcare Manager – Flooring commented on the project by saying, “The Estates team at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) and their contractor Sisk approached Gerflor for a complete flooring and wall protection specification for this highly busy service corridor. The existing wall and floor finishes were extremely worn and damaged and they wanted to quickly and efficiently improve the appearance of the space by introducing some lighter colours. Specifying Gerflor’s Mipolam Affinity from the fifty colours available to choose from and the Gradus wall protection system was the ideal fast track choice.”

In order to meet the specific requirements of the different areas of hospitals, Gerflor offer products that provide unparalleled resistance to foot, wheeled, heavy loading traffic with particularly durable flooring that is exceptionally hygienic thanks to the antibacterial and antiviral properties of their specialised ranges.

Chris Pursey explained that the trust had used Gerflor flooring and Gradus wall protection on previous projects and they wanted to use a single business that could provide a complete and holistic flooring and wall protection specification. The area has varying floor levels with ramps, so handrails were specified alongside wall protection sheets for additional safety. Mipolam Affinity flooring was chosen in two colours, with a darker grey used as a border to assist with wayfinding.

Ian Cartwright, Gradus Specification Area Sales Manager – Wall Protection, commented, “When we first visited this corridor, there was excessive damage to the walls, caused mainly by trolleys and wheelchairs. The site team had been making good the walls for a number of years, but long term this could not be sustained. As a combined business, Gerflor and Gradus were offered the opportunity to improve and renovate the healthcare corridor for both the flooring and walls, to propose some innovations that would deliver the required protection for the facility and ensure that any recommendations would also offer tangible cost savings for the client. By doing both together, it enabled Gerflor and Gradus to offer a complete and holistic surface protection solution that was not only aesthetically pleasing but would also deliver the technical performance required for the building, this included specifying the colour contrasts that would meet all the Approved Document M regulations for Light Reflectance Values (LRV’s). It was decided to match the SureProtect Endure wall cladding to the main colour of the walls and then use a contrasting colour for both the handrails and corner guards to meet the required guidelines.”

Representing the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) hospital, Nicholas Marsh, the Estates Officer for Capital, and PLACE Projects commented, “We needed a project where Gerflor and Gradus could provide a complete solution for the busy corridor in the King Edward building within the hospital. This corridor was identified as requiring complete renovation by the surveyors.”

On specification choices, Nicholas Marsh noted that they had problems ordering flooring from other companies due to the lead time, as the materials needed to be shipped in from abroad. Gerflor was recommended to them by their floor layer, together with a number of meetings taking place with the Gerflor representative Chris Pursey.

The area in question is one of the thoroughfares to the Hospital so there were issues with safe access and times for laying. Gerflor were able to supply the ideal solution that could be delivered in a timely manner.

The UK arm for the international construction and civil engineering company Sisk based in Bristol, would be tasked with delivering the installation element for the King Edward corridor project. The need for a high-quality install would be paramount as it would be providing a ‘showcase’ opportunity for the Gerflor and Gradus products.

Delivering excellence in the UK for almost 40 years with a proud record of leadership in the construction industry in Ireland and €1.5bn annual turnover, Sisk have the track record, scale, and capacity to successfully undertake large, complex, multidisciplinary programmes.

Mark Smith, Operations Manager at Sisk commented, “The project came about with a PLACE Visit which is patient-led and care in the environment. They identified that the corridor was requiring urgent refurbishment. The project had been in the pipeline for a few years but had got curtailed due to COVID and available funds.”

The timescales and fitting for the project would be on a very short lead time with Mark Smith outlining that they completed the installation in only one week for the Gerflor flooring and a further week for the Gradus wall protection and handrails, with two fitters utilised for each of the products specified. Mark Smith also explained that the Gerflor and Gradus products installed had recently been approved by the Trust and this renovation project was an ideal opportunity to showcase these world class innovations. The flooring and wall cladding installation and fitting went smoothly with no problems. This was particularly essential as Sisk were working in a ‘live’ hospital environment.

Making further comment Mark Smith summed up Sisk’s involvement by saying, “We had absolutely no issues with the Gerflor or Gradus products. The client is extremely pleased with the final result. Gerflor and Gradus are now the approved flooring and wall protection supplier for the Trust, with extensive works producing brochures and swatches to ensure the colours are suitable for the Healthcare environment.”

Ian Cartwright finally commented, “Being part of this project from start to finish was immensely rewarding. To see the difference, with the before and after images, demonstrates what can be done in a cost-effective way when using one supplier, who have both the products and experience, to enhance the buildings appearance, its longevity, and its overall performance.”

In conclusion Chris Pursey said, “The new Mipolam Affinity flooring is a big improvement on the old safety flooring that was previously installed and the replacement flooring from Gerflor is far easier to clean and maintain. The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust,

have recently chosen Gerflor and Gradus as their go to supplier for floors, walls, and accessories, which means that we can now supply the complete solution that they are seeking.”

When it comes to hospital floor coverings and wall protection in hospital environments, both Gerflor and Gradus have a continued commitment to product innovation, and this is paramount to their success in hospitals worldwide. The demands of the clinical environment in terms of infection control, hygiene, maintenance, and performance have pushed Gerflor and Gradus to create a comprehensive range of solutions for key areas in any hospital environment.

Nicholas Marsh ended by saying, “The Gerflor and Gradus products are performing exceptionally well and have been installed now for over six months. The new flooring and wall protection solutions have significantly upgraded the look and feel of the facility, and we would definitely specify Gerflor and Gradus again as their products are of a high quality.”

The Gerflor and Gradus healthcare ranges are ideal for use in a wide variety of applications across a healthcare facility. Products can be combined to provide a complete package that balances performance, aesthetics and cost, alongside environmentally responsible manufacturing processes.

Supporting Information

Overview of Gerflor and Gradus and products installed.

Gerflor Company Overview

Gerflor is a manufacturer of comprehensive contract interior flooring solutions, including vinyl, linoleum, carpets, and rubber. Gerflor innovations help to create attractive and functional environments, as well as enhance and protect a vast range of healthcare settings and interiors. Gerflor solutions are proven to enhance the longevity of a building whilst reducing long term maintenance costs. Gerflor works in partnership with the healthcare sector to ensure buildings are safe and accessible for all users.

Gerflor products overview specified for Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Mipolam Affinity is a vinyl flooring homogeneous pressed in 2m sheets, with a thickness of 2mm and a weight of 2800g. The non-directional design with colour throughout the thickness is available in 50 references presenting a contrasted designed & a matt finish. This flooring is recommended for collective buildings making skirtings easier, as well as angles and welding.

Mipolam Affinity is equipped with Evercare ™, patented surface treatment obtained by UV laser cross-linking offering the best chemical resistance to the main products used in healthcare environment as betadine, eosin, hydro alcoholic solutions, making the maintenance easy and the floor long lasting. This treatment avoids applying any acrylic emulsion throughout the lifetime of the product.

It is free of formaldehyde, heavy metals and CMR 1 & 2 or vPvB (very persistent and very bio-accumulative) or PBT (persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic) and is REACH compliant. It is 100% phthalates free and recyclable.

Its VOC emissions after 28 days (ISO 16000-6) are below detection levels (<10 μg / m3) and this product is classified A + (the best class).

A co-ordinated approach to design across the range delivers fifty fantastic colours in Mipolam Affinity, ten striking colours in Mipolam Affinity EL7 and six stunning colour choices in Mipolam Elegance EL5.

Gradus Company Overview

Gradus is a manufacturer of comprehensive contract interior solutions, including stair edgings, floor trims, barrier matting, lighting, and wall protection. Gradus innovations help to create attractive and functional environments, as well as enhancing and protecting a large selection of healthcare interiors. Gradus solutions are proven to enhance the longevity of a building whilst reducing long term maintenance costs. Gradus works in partnership with the healthcare sector to ensure buildings are safe and accessible for all users.

Gradus products overview specified for Bristol Royal Infirmary.

SureProtect Endure from Gradus is a versatile protective wall cladding available in 35 standard colours, designed to work as a stand-alone product or with Gradus’ PVC-u wall protection profiles for a complete solution. It provides a durable layer suitable for various environments, including education, healthcare, retail, and hospitality. SureProtect Endure can be used in sheet form for full wall coverage, cut into rub rails or kickplates, or thermoformed into bespoke profiles like corner guards, column guards, or door edge and frame protectors.

Gradus High Impact PVC-u corner guards are designed to protect vulnerable building areas from damage caused by wheeled and pedestrian traffic, reducing maintenance costs and maintaining interior appearances. They consist of an aluminium or PVC-u retainer, PVC-u cover, and finishing caps. The aluminium retainer offers reinforced defence against high impact damage, while the through-coloured, textured PVC-u covers conceal impact and abrasion effects and are easily replaceable. Available in three sizes, six standard heights, and 33 colours, these corner guards can be combined with other Gradus protection products for a complete solution.

The SHR40P handrail features an aluminium retainer, PVC-u cover, anodised aluminium brackets, and PVC-u accessories, including returns, corners, variable angles, and end stops, all with black reveals in an anti-bacterial finish for smooth joints. Available in 32 colours, the through-coloured PVC-u covers and accessories conceal impact and abrasion effects.

The 40mm diameter handrail offers a comfortable grip, complying with HBN 00-04, HBN 00-10, BS 8300-2:2018, and Building Regulations 2010. Handrails should be easily identifiable and selected in a colour with a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) 30 points different from the surrounding surface, all Gradus handrail colours measured for suitable visual contrast.

Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01625 428 922, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest flooring innovations.

Learn more about Gradus solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01625 428 922, emailing imail@gradus.com, or visiting gradus.com for the latest barrier matting, wall protection, lighting, and flooring accessory innovations.

Over the years Watford Grammar has required a high-quality level of refurbishment that has had to be both sympathetic in design yet provide future proof solutions that can really make the grade. The most recent development has been 500m² of flooring in the school laboratories on the ground and first floors. This would be a perfect opportunity for the Taralay Premium Comfort and Mipolam products manufactured and supplied by international flooring specialist Gerflor to really make a difference to the school’s environment.

With more than 70 years’ experience of innovation driven by investment Gerflor is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of vinyl flooring. Gerflor specialise in the education sector, offering high performance solutions that combine technical and design characteristics for any room within the facility. The design of their products support studying in the best environment possible. The constraints of hygiene, resistance and acoustic qualities are part of mandatory characteristics for this market.

In developing part of the school’s infrastructure to the next level they would ultimately need to choose a main contractor who could deliver quality…and in a timely manner.
From their offices in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire ‘Ashe Construction’ serve a great diversity of markets and industries with schemes which require new construction, internal and external refurbishment, alterations and fit outs. Their aim is to construct environments that enhance the lives of the people who use them.

Andrew Morris, Business Development Director, Ashe Construction commented, “there was a requirement for a STEM centre for Watford Grammar School this went to competitive tender and I am delighted to confirm that Ashe Construction successfully won.” He went on to add, “we specified Gerflor’s Taralay Premium Comfort and their Mipolam Accord EL7Anti Static vinyl flooring products. Both were a great fit for the project.”

A perfect option when specifying fresh new environments for a host of education projects, Taralay Premium Comfort from Gerflor provides the ideal solution for heavy traffic areas with a wear layer of 1mm, with no filler for outstanding abrasion and scratch resistance. The range is also available as an acoustic version, Taralay Premium Comfort delivers high acoustic performance (16dB) and has an indentation resistance to 0.06mm.

It has a double glass fibre grid plus VHD foam backing. Taralay Premium Comfort is also protected by the UV cured patented surface treatment Protecsol®2 from Gerflor which enables easy maintenance and eliminates the need for acrylic emulsion. Taralay Premium Comfort has a long- lasting appearance where the design remains within the whole thickness of the wear layer.

Mipolam Accord EL7 from Gerflor is a dissipative flexible homogeneous vinyl floorcovering available in both sheet and tile form, calendered and compacted. This floorcovering is treated with Evercare™: the latest improvements in polyurethane surface treatment obtained by UV laser cross-linking. Evercare™ provides outstanding chemical stain resistance and increases the long-term durability of the flooring. This treatment has excellent maintenance characteristics; it requires no wax for life! Mipolam Accord EL7 also acts as a continuous dissipater 106 ≤ Rt ≤ 108. The product is non-reactive to residual indentation with a value ≤ 0,02 mm. The flooring has a group P wear rating and is Bl-s1 fire resistant, together with providing a R9 slip resistance rating in the wet. The product is non-emissive of volatile organic compounds with TVOC after 28 days ISO 16000-6 µg/m³ < 10. Mipolam Accord EL7 also comes with a Floorscore® certification and is 100% recyclable.
On the question of specification Andrew Morris went on to further say, “Gerflor have a known reputation for robustness and quality in this particular sector.” Finally adding, “Gerflor are also known to be very reliable when it comes to this kind of installation method. We have specified Gerflor many times before and would have no qualms in choosing their products again.”

Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.

Some may think that being eighty years old isn’t that cool. They’d be very wrong.

Since 1937, the year that international flooring specialist Gerflor launched their homogeneous flooring Mipolam, we’ve seen man landing on the moon and the world-wide web being invented. For Gerflor during this 80-year period it’s been about providing products that have always been fit for purpose.

The Mipolam range has a legacy of testing going over many decades providing a stunning array of products and delivers the broadest, most comprehensive collection of homogeneous flooring available in the marketplace.

Since 1937, Mipolam has grown from a single product line to 25 different lines with more than 300 colours available worldwide. The original star in the homogeneous stable is Gerflor’s Mipolam Symbioz™ flooring which was the first Mipolam 100% bio-based plasticizer made of corn and wheat. Gerflor’s R&D heritage and technical capability with Mipolam Symbioz™ also delivers a high performing product that has a T Group, best abrasion resistance rating and with the exclusive and patented Evercare^® surface treatment provides easy maintenance, no wax needed for life and has high stain resistance. Mipolam Symbioz™ also comes with a stunning palette of 26 natural colours enabling freedom of design.

Brand new for 2017 is Mipolam Affinity and Mipolam Classic.

Mipolam Affinity which has 28 brand new references offers a fully new tone on tone non-directional design with higher contrast levels. The brand-new palette offers exclusive colours delivering natural tones in beige/ brown and greys which are all neatly balanced with accented colours.

Mipolam Classic has 18 references with 8 brand-new added. It has a directional design and offers a brand new back embossing feature. Available in rolls and tiles.

In extending some of the other products on offer an increased colour palette has now been added. Mipolam Accord with 28 references now has a further 12 brand new colours now available. It retains the same design which is semi directional. The stunning new palette with 28 exclusive colours offers natural tones in beige/ brown and greys and are again, all very neatly balanced with accented colours.

Mipolam Cosmo has 24 references with 6 being brand new. It retains the same design which is semi directional. A new palette with 24 exclusive colours offers natural tones in beige/ brown and greys and beautifully balanced with 6 new accented colours. The product is supplied with the exclusive revolutionary Evercare™ treatment which provides increased chemical resistance, easy maintenance and long-lasting durability.

Mipolam Esprit has a T Group rating for best abrasion resistance. Exclusive and patented Evercare™ surface treatment delivering easy maintenance, with no wax for life and high stain resistance. A palette of 24 non-directional colours ensures freedom of design. Mipolam Elegance is a high performing homogeneous flooring suitable for heavy duty traffic, available in sheets. Exclusive and patented Evercare^® surface treatment delivering easy maintenance, with no wax for life and high stain resistance and comes with a stunning palette of 33 colours with a 3D effect integrated into the design. The Mipolam Troplan range has a directional designs and densely compacted surfaces offering improved wear and ease of maintenance. It has an M Group rating for good abrasion resistance and comes with a palette of 18 semi-directional colours.

Creating products that fulfil Gerflor’s commitment to the environment and sustainability of our world is at the very heart of their ethos and thinking.

By combining the Mipolam collections with its patented revolutionary Evercare^® surface treatment, Gerflor has delivered product lines that offers unparalleled stain resistance to blood and chemicals (including iodine), the best slip resistance in its field, astonishingly low maintenance and unique environmental credentials. Gerflor’s Evercare^® surface treatment ensures no wax for life and bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties that deliver increased levels of hygiene. It is also 100% recyclable.

Mipolam ranges can be specified in public areas, schools, offices, computer suites, indoor leisure centres, factory floors and storage areas, together with hospital wards, corridors and cleanrooms requiring an aseptic environment. Mipolam provides a versatile solution for both refurbishments and new build projects, supplying clients and customers with a wide choice of products aimed at always exceeding their expectations on quality and design.

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg which nestles in Bavaria, Germany is currently experiencing a boom. When one of the city’s most prestigious medical clinics, the Klinikum am Bruderwald needed new flooring, they would turn to Gerflor to supply the high quality and performance required. The installation would also need to be first class, with the Kups-based flooring company Meusel Fußbodentechnik tasked with delivering and laying the specified Gerflor products. Tobias Knop, Key Account Manager Healthcare, Gerflor commented, “We initially had a very good meeting with Muesel in Kups, who have been a fantastic customer of ours for many years. We also had a very positive meeting with the technical leader from the hospital itself. The benefits associated with our Evercare^® easily convinced them to specify 1600m2 of our Mipolam Accord and Accord EL7.” He went on to add, “the Technical Leader at the Hospital Mr Schilling was very satisfied with the final result, together with the easy maintenance aspects of our products”. The visual impact of the Mipolam flooring would be a key feature in the finished look of the project.

When the WellStar Health System planned its new WellStar Pediatric Centre in Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, they wanted to create a playful, welcoming environment. Their demanding selection criteria for flooring products would be perfectly suited to Gerflor’s Mipolam Symbioz™. The interior features Gerflor’s Mipolam Symbioz™ in corridors, examination rooms, medical scanning areas and laboratories. As the industry’s only bio-based, homogeneous sheet flooring, Mipolam Symbioz™ utilises a unique 100% plant-based phthalate-free plasticizer and contains over 75% sustainable or renewable raw materials. Limiting the spread of infections is vital for a pediatric healthcare facility. Symbioz™ as with all Mipolam healthcare flooring is ISO 22196 certified to limit the spread of infections (including MRSA, E. coli and S. aureus) at 99% Durability and ease of maintenance were also important considerations. Symbioz™ has the best wear resistance for high-traffic areas and a no-wax-for-life surface treatment, which provides for a healthy lifecycle.

Some 7400Km away in France, Gerflor’s Mipolam range would also be making another huge contribution to a facility. At the European Aseptic and Sterile Environment training centre (EASE), which is on the Strasbourg University Illkirch Campus in the Alsace region students are immersed in real-life industrial conditions, becoming directly operational as soon as their tuition ends. The facility provides a high-quality training environment with 4300^{2>/sup> dedicated to the training of production protocols in cleanrooms. As a forerunner in the design of ultra-contamination control flooring products, Gerflor were delighted to be a sponsor of the EASE project by supplying their new generation Mipolam Symbioz™. It’s a range that’s designed and certified for supplying high levels of chemical resistance, whether its particulate, molecular or microbiological. It has no heavy metals, no solvents, no formaldehyde and is 100% REACH compliant. Sponsorship of the EASE project is a testament to Gerflor’s commitment to investing in the future…whilst keeping an eye on the present.}

As a worldwide recognised brand that’s a status symbol of quality and durability the spectacular new Mipolam references from Gerflor is yet another indication that this forward-thinking flooring manufacturer fully understands the needs of their customers… and the world at large.

Gerflor Group creates, manufactures, and markets innovative, decorative and sustainable solutions for floors, walls and finishes. Gerflor develops specific solutions to meet every indoor market application need; housing, healthcare, education, sport, retail, industry, offices, hospitality and transport vehicles. Gerflor Group gathers several world-renowned product brand names, such as Taraflex^®, Mipolam^®, Tarabus^®, Connor Sports^®, Sportcourt^® and Gradus^®. The Group turnover is 830M€, employs 3,500 people, operates 16 production sites and has customers in more than 100 countries.

This acquisition brings together three world-class sports brands; Connor, Sport Court and Taraflex all under one flagship group. The two companies’ combined resources will enhance their ability to offer more innovative solutions and improved services to their customers on a worldwide scale.

Gerflor creates, manufactures and markets innovative design-led sustainable solutions for flooring, wall and interior finishes. The Gerflor Group encompasses a number of well-recognised product brand names including; Taraflex®, Mipolam®, and Tarabus®. With 60 years of experience in the manufacture of Taraflex Sports Flooring, Gerflor has a unique position as a world leader in indoor sports flooring.

Connor Sport Court International is the US market leader in sports surfacing and has built systems for many elite associations including the NBA, NCAA, FIBA, USTA, FIVB, US Youth Futsal, and USA Volleyball.

Both CEO’s have acknowledged that this move capitalizes on each company’s strengths for the benefit of both businesses and customers alike.