No compromises: Amtico dedicates expertise to developing safety flooring that's equally stylish.

Although safety has always been paramount in commercial settings, the pandemic has brought about greater awareness amongst end users.

Rather than a technicality – a box to be ticked by an architect, designer, or contractor – the safety credentials of an interior product are something to behold. And, be shared.

According to Gensler’s post pandemic workplace trends, health and wellbeing is now amongst the top priorities for employees in relation to what they desire from their workspaces. And this relates to both the support of psychological wellbeing and physical health. Similarly, guests visiting hospitality venues are understandably also concerned about the safety and hygiene of their surroundings, as highlighted in this article ‘COVID-19 and hospitality 5.0: Redefining hospitality operations’ published on the National Library of Medicine. And it perhaps goes without saying that safety is the number one priority in healthcare settings.

While hugely important, the element of safety should not overshadow a product’s aesthetic, because this also plays a role in influencing our health and wellbeing. A balance must be struck between function and form. And this is exactly the approach taken by British manufacturer Amtico for its stunning, on-trend safety flooring collections.

Here, we take a deeper dive into how 'safe' doesn’t have to mean compromising on style...

Made in Coventry, Amtico’s luxury vinyl tile (LVT) safety flooring collections boast antimicrobial protection and slip resistance for the lifetime of the product. Spacia 36+ offers a palette of 90 on-trend wood and stone designs – the perfect coupling of beautiful form and outstanding function – while Signature 36+ comprises 24 woods, nine stones and three abstracts from the flagship collection.

When is a safety floor not a safety floor? When it doesn’t meet the BS EN 13845 Enhanced Slip Standard, says Amtico

According to the HSE, almost all slips happen when flooring is wet or contaminated with anything from oil to food debris and even dust. The best way to combat slips and trips is to design them out of a building. And a key part in achieving this is to specify a reliable, yet attractive, safety floor. In addition to the contemporary palettes and textures available, Signature 36+ and Spacia 36+ LVT can be specified in a range of flexible plank and tile sizes, including two parquet options, providing the freedom to create stylish floors that also meet the requirements of the BS EN 13845 standard.

Both R10 and 36+ are slip resistance ratings measured ‘ex-factory’ or ‘out of the box’, which means the performance is stated at the point of purchase only. Many standard LVT products will achieve R10 or 36+ when leaving the factory, but they can only be truly classed as safety flooring if they achieve the BS EN 13845 Enhanced Slip Standard, which is measured through abrasion testing.

Signature 36+ and Spacia 36+ perform at the highest level, making the collections suitable for ‘Commercial Very Heavy’ and ‘Light Industrial Heavy’ use. Amtico has a unique manufacturing technique that distributes slip resistant particles throughout the wear layers, ensuring enhance slip resistance over the floor’s entire lifetime but without compromising on the aesthetic.

Particularly beneficial for healthcare environments, planks and tiles in Amtico’s 36+ collections are enhanced with an ionic silver additive, which is applied to the urethane coating during production. The active ingredient provides a hygienic surface where bacteria cannot multiply or survive and has been proven to reduce bacteria present by more than 99.99% over 24 hours.

Made-to-order at Amtico’s UK factory, Signature 36+ and Spacia 36+ safety LVT combines authentic designs with high-performance slip resistant particles and antimicrobial technology to create safety floors that are easy to specify, quick to install and durable. Whether the space requires a beautiful aged wood or captivating stone feel, Amtico’s 36+ designs mean you never have to compromise creative vision for safety performance.

Spacia 36+ collection: Nature inspired

Made in Coventry, Amtico’s Spacia 36+ LVT collection offers a palette of 42 woods and 48 stones, including on-trend terrazzo and marble designs, all with a 0.55mm high density wear layer. The collection also carries a 10-year commercial warranty and accreditations, including M1 building emissions classification.

Signature 36+ collection: Urban elements

With style and safety still firmly in mind, Amtico’s Signature 36+ collection of premium and safety LVT flooring suits a variety of commercial applications, including hospitality, workplace, and healthcare environments.

The flooring’s toughened 1mm upper wear layer, and patented Quantum Guard protection, provide all the resilience and long-lasting properties that Amtico’s flagship Signature collection is known for, while offering enhanced slip resistance for the lifetime of the product. Signature 36+ comprises 24 Woods, nine Stones and three Abstracts to help you create truly aspirational spaces that meet safety guidelines.

Signature 36+ Woods range from warm and golden tones, to neutral and dark oaks, including the new Rustic and Treated Grains designs. The Stones feature tonal grey backdrops with delicate markings through to industrial, skimmed-effect concrete; and Abstracts consist of metallic and pewter tones taking inspiration from brushed aluminium and patinated metals.

Designed and manufactured in the UK with the same premium quality and design ethos as all Amtico Signature products, Signature 36+ delivers sustained performance in slip resistance, alongside the endless design possibilities of LVT planks and tiles.

The collection of Signature 36+ planks and tiles carries a 20-year commercial warranty, reinforcing its ability to withstand heavy traffic areas without compromising on quality.

Find out more about Amtico’s extensive range of on-trend safety flooring here - the optimum balance of style and substance.