When Reading Hospital embarked on a 476,000-square-foot addition to its West Reading, Pennsylvania, location, the goal was to replace and relocate operating rooms spread across four buildings and provide 150 new private patient rooms. The nine-story tower that opened in October includes five floors of private patient rooms, 24 surgical suites, eight minor procedure rooms, reception and recovery areas and an expanded trauma unit. Most of the new facility features noraplan® eco floor covering with nora nTx.
nora nTx is a pre-applied, solvent-free adhesive backing that minimizes prep work and eliminates drying protocols, saving valuable time and money. The product is resistant to high moisture vapor emissions and has no pH limits, eliminating the need for moisture testing and remediation before installation.
According to Hutwelker, the application of nora nTx provided two advantages during construction. “It did not require a moisture mitigation system, which represents a savings in not only dollars, but also in time—two months in our construction schedule. Secondly, we had one company providing all the warranty for the flooring, which is pretty much unheard of in other projects. One warranty from one supplier is very helpful.”
Others involved in the project pointed to additional advantages nora flooring offers. David Major, the hospital’s director of facilities and construction, says “Maintenance of the product is greatly enhanced. We don’t have to unwax or wax the floors.”
Tim Cole, director of environmental services, agrees. “The floor offers as much as 20 to 30 percent in labor savings related to the care and maintenance of the floor. In addition, from an environmental standpoint, you can clean and maintain the floor with less caustic chemicals and cleaners as opposed to other traditional floor coverings.”
The floor’s simple maintenance regimen is also expected to improve patient throughput. Says Cole, “With nora flooring, we can turn over patient rooms very quickly—probably in half the time it would take to do a floor we have to clean and wax.” And he appreciates the floor’s low-gloss finish, which helps older patients sometimes disoriented by shiny floors.
Meanwhile, Marie Keim, Reading Health System’s director of epidemiology infection and prevention, applauds the floor’s contribution to infection prevention. “The surfaces are smooth; we don’t need to be concerned about residual water, bacteria and other items going into cracks and crevices and harboring any sort of bacteria or organisms. The other positive aspect of the nora flooring is that it resists staining...and the floor makes it much easier to stand throughout our day as we provide services to our patients.”
Comfort underfoot, stain and slip resistance, a simple maintenance regimen, improved indoor air quality and construction time and cost savings—together, these benefits support the hospital’s decision to install nora rubber flooring with nora nTx throughout its new tower.
nora systems, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-332-NORA
Fax: (603) 894-6615
Email: info-us@nora.com
Website: www.nora.com/us
Related Stories
Sponsored | Flooring | May 18, 2015
Suburban L.A. high school battles moisture-soaked flooring
School officials had to take action when popped flooring created trip hazards
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Dec 11, 2014
Fire rated glazing provides visual appeal and safety to garages
When it comes to designing parking garages, providing vision and transparency might not be the priority due to fire rated code requirements – but keen architects with grand visions see opportunities rather than restrictions, thanks to the advances in fire rated glass and framing technology.
| Oct 30, 2014
CannonDesign releases guide for specifying flooring in healthcare settings
The new report, "Flooring Applications in Healthcare Settings," compares and contrasts different flooring types in the context of parameters such as health and safety impact, design and operational issues, environmental considerations, economics, and product options.
| Jul 24, 2014
MIT researchers explore how to make wood composite-like blocks of bamboo
The concept behind the research is to slice the stalk of bamboo grass into smaller pieces to bond together and form sturdy blocks, much like conventional wood composites.
| Jul 2, 2014
Emerging trends in commercial flooring
Rectangular tiles, digital graphic applications, the resurgence of terrazzo, and product transparency headline today’s commercial flooring trends.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.
Sponsored | | Mar 21, 2014
Nationwide Children’s Hospital combines advanced technology and colorful design
A key component of the facility’s interior design is a comprehensive and colorful flooring design, consisting of arcs and curves.
| Mar 12, 2014
nora Technical Academy Certifies 1,400 Installers and Counting
Program marks six years of hands-on installation training with 2014 class schedule
| Mar 5, 2014
5 tile design trends for 2014
Beveled, geometric, and high-tech patterns are among the hot ceramic tile trends, say tile design experts.
| Jan 21, 2014
Dur-A-Flex’s New Accelera Fast Track Flooring System Helps Contractors Increase Efficiency, Profitability and Allows Facility Owners to Minimize Downtime
Dur-A-Flex, Inc., a leading manufacturer of commercial, industrial and institutional seamless, resinous flooring, has released Accelera Fast Track Flooring, the newest in its lineup of performance systems.
