Hygienic Decorating: Why Decorating for healthcare needs extra care.

A professional painter and decorator will always aim for high-quality results whilst keeping the area clean and tidy during the works. Whilst renovating a healthcare environment, however, there are many more considerations, and cleanliness is even more imperative. Responsible commercial decorating contractors, like Intertech Contracts, take care to ensure that they use proper hygiene practices and procedures during projects in medical environments.

If you are looking to renovate a space within the healthcare sector, you need to know that your commercial painting and decorating service are experienced in this area. In this article, we’ll have a look at some of the things that your contractor should be taking into consideration.

The prime factors when decorating for the healthcare sector

Control Bacteria – It stands to reason that healthcare spaces need to be hygienic at all times, and therefore limiting the spread of bacteria is essential. Whether you are renovating a surgery or a hospital, infection control is the highest priority. Particularly in hospital areas that care for vulnerable patients, protecting patients with weakened immune systems is imperative.

The NHS calls for a collaborative approach to the cleanliness of healthcare areas. This includes visitors and contractors. So as a visiting contractor, it is crucial that our impact on the site during our work is taken seriously.

Withstand Deep Cleaning – NHS guidelines state that “all surfaces should be visibly clean” and, as such, are cleaned on a daily basis, sometimes more. Healthcare environments are cleaned more regularly than general offices, for example.

With a more rigorous cleaning regime, it is important that any decoration can withstand this level of cleaning. Some paints cannot stand up to being wiped down so often, meaning redecoration is required more frequently.

Further to being able to withstand daily cleaning, paintwork and flooring need to be able to tolerate the rigours of deep cleaning. The deep cleaning process of using steamers and other specialist equipment can have a harsh effect on decorations if the correct materials aren’t used.

Built-in Protection – In addition to considering how hardy your materials are, many products are available with in-built hygiene protection. For example, we use paints, including ion protection technology. The ions help inhibit the spread of infection, including MRSA and E-Coli.

Specialist hygienic paints also impede the growth and spread of mould. This paint is essential for environments that are being cleaned on a regular basis. Using hygienic paint products also help by making areas easier to clean.

Helping General Maintenance – Decorating any area is so much more than just a “fresh lick of paint”. Renovating your spaces helps with the general maintenance of your building. Keeping on top of decorating stops buildings and fittings from degrading.

Eliminating mould or rust setting in means that you’ll save money on the general maintenance before encountering more serious problems later.

Creating Calm – Going to hospitals and clinics is often a stressful experience for patients and visitors. Carefully considering the décor of healthcare environments can help. Creating welcoming spaces that are light and airy can have a huge effect on the wellbeing of people using the area.

More than this, it can assist with the cleaning procedures of the building. Choosing light colours for walls and surfaces creates a feeling of cleanliness. Also, think about the lighting; effective lighting can help see dirt and stains, allowing thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

Maintaining a hygienic process

We’ve discussed how keeping on top of your maintenance and employing a professional painting contractor benefits the healthcare industry. However, there is more to consider when decorating a medical space than just the materials and the end result.

At Intertech Contracts, we understand the importance of monitoring the environment while the works are ongoing. Care must be taken during the process.

• Paint carries fumes, although we use low-odour paints with significantly fewer fumes. And decorating can produce dust particles which can be harmful in a healthcare environment. Extra care must be taken to ensure that fumes and dust particles do not enter the ventilation system.
• Safely cordon off work areas to avoid accidents and contamination.
• Make sure that all staff are informed of planned works and are kept up to date throughout the project. Staff can then plan around the workspace and ensure that any unnecessary traffic through the area is kept to a minimum.
• It is important to keep areas clean and tidy during the process. At Intertech Contracts, we always pay attention to cleanliness on site, but within healthcare environments, extra care is taken to remain clean and hygienic.

Leading commercial painters and decorators in the healthcare sector

When hiring a professional painter and decorator, ensure that they have the relevant practices in place to protect your environment. Looking after your premises, staff and visitors is a priority.

By protecting your premises, Intertech Contracts can help you to maintain a clean, hygienic and impressive environment for everyone using your space.

If you need any help or advice in preparing your project, get in touch with the knowledgeable team at Intertech Contracts. We are always happy to provide a no-obligation quote and answer any questions you may have.