Flooring
New Altro Wood Adhesive Free Sets A High Standard At Special School Brand new Altro Wood adhesivefree safety flooring has been fitted in Kaimes Special School, in Edinburgh, setting a high standard for easy to fit, slip-resistant and homely surfaces for pupils and staff. The installation of the new flooring was part of a wider refurbishment of the school by the City of Edinburgh Council, and integral to their drive to reduce sensory overload in primary and secondary schools by using ‘natural’ neutral colours and textures. A spokesperson from the Interiors team at Edinburgh Council, says: “The biophilic design principles of bringing nature into schools have been proven to aid learning, promote calm and improve mood among pupils. Using a wood-effect flooring is a great way to create that atmosphere, and this is why we use Altro Wood adhesivefree— it’s a beautiful, homely and comfortable surface that also has very high slip resistance. It ticks all the boxes for us. “We worked closely with Altro
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flooring
on Kaimes Special School, and they recommended their new Altro Wood adhesive-free flooring for several reasons. Pupils at Kaimes all have complex emotional needs and creating a calm, comfortable space is very important. Reducing sensory overload and harsh colours is a vital part of this, and the existing floors were solid blues and greens, which were too overpowering visually. We know from using ranges from the Altro Wood collection in other schools that this surface can very effectively change the mood of a space with its neutral, warm and natural look. “The adhesive-free element of the new flooring was also vital for this project, because the existing flooring had traces of asbestos in the adhesive. In other circumstances we would have had to lift the old flooring; a very costly and timeconsuming process. But we were able to lay the new Altro adhesivefree flooring straight on top of the old surface, which rendered the asbestos completely harmless. It was incredibly quick to fit as well,
going down in just a day, which hugely reduced disruption in the school. And of course there is no adhesive, so no lingering odours.” New Altro Wood adhesive-free creates maximum impact with minimum downtime. Its 12 woodlook colour choices allow the creation of biophilic, stylish, or warm and homely aesthetics. It also coordinates with Altro’s other wood ranges. With 14dB impact sound reduction, a 10-year guarantee and Altro’s one in a million slip-resistance reassurance, the flooring offers high levels of comfort underfoot, providing a safe, durable and decorative solution for busy spaces. Using Altro’s award-winning adhesive-free installation method, it can be welded and walked on the same day, and at the end of its life can be removed easily, allowing it to be reused or recycled. Using Altro adhesive-free floors, installation time can be halved, compared with a traditional adhered installation. It is ideal for busy public
Building & Facilities Management – April 2020
