A guide to help schools, colleges and universities choose floor coverings that are comfortable, inspiring, sustainable and practical 06 | 2024 Key development areas within the education design and build sector INSIGHT In association with
3 INSIGHT | Welcome to INSIGHT, the education design & build flooring special report. The UK education sector encompasses an exceptionally diverse variety of buildings, from tiny village primaries to high-tech, purpose-built academies. Regardless of the size, it’s essential that all floor coverings chosen not only meet the practical requirements, but also contribute to creating a comfortable, inspiring and motivational learning environment. With the focus on achieving net zero, this list of requirements has expanded to include the consideration of sustainable and climate-friendly building materials too. And with the annual summer holidays providing an ideal opportunity for school refurbishments, the need for speed is more important than ever. At Forbo, we understand how complex it can be to choose floor coverings that tick all of these boxes. That is why, throughout this issue, we provide you with everything you need to know to choose beautiful, practical and sustainable flooring. INTRODUCTION INSIGHT Editor: Andrew Pring Design: Gemma England Sales: [email protected] Lewis Cooper Segment Marketing Manager for Education at Forbo Flooring Systems from education design & build magazine (edb) Stable Publishing Limited SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington SM6 7AH T. 020 8288 1080 www.stable-media.co.uk In association with
| INSIGHT 4 Adhesive-free flooring can be laid quickly and efficiently and helps reduce the carbon footprint of a project by cutting down on the materials used throughout a job and allowing the flooring to be reused or recycled – ideal for estate managers who want the job done swiftly and sustainably Circularity Speed, Safety and
Image: Bhagesh Sachania 5 INSIGHT | The education sector presents unique time constraints for building refurbishments, with a limited window of opportunity for any required works. With schools in almost constant use during the week, any refurbishments that take place must be completed outside of school hours, either over the weekend or during term holidays. Even then, if the area cannot be closed off for refurbishment, traditionally adhered floor coverings may not be the optimum choice, with the need for subfloor preparation (where required and drying time to be factored in too). Time is of the essence As a result, when time is of the essence, adhesive-free flooring can present the ideal solution. Adhesive-free flooring offers a rapid and reusable solution, designed to be laid straight down onto a variety of subfloors and surfaces or even over existing flooring, with minimal preparation in many cases. With no need for adhesive or tackifier, installation time can be reduced by over 50% - a huge saving. On top of this, adhesive-free flooring can be walked on and furniture replaced as soon as it has been installed, as opposed to the 48hour wait associated with traditional adhered installation methods. This brings with it obvious benefits for education spaces, where the flooring could be installed over weekends or towards the end of a wider refurbishment project over the school holidays, hours before students and teachers are re-entering the premises. Material circularity That said, it isn’t just installation times where adhesive-free flooring can shine. Sustainability is a key consideration on all construction and interior design projects, with schools under the same pressure as other buildings and sectors to meet the government’s net zero targets. While there are numerous factors that make up and contribute to true sustainability, material circularity has a part to play. This is where the focus is on maintaining value and avoiding the creation of waste, and considering the
| INSIGHT 6 whole lifecycle of a product, as opposed to its in-use phase. At the installation stage, adhesive-free floor coverings can help to reduce the carbon footprint of a project by cutting down on the materials used throughout a job, with no adhesive required and minimal sub-floor preparation. Looking further into the future and when the time eventually comes to replace an adhesive-free floor, the products are easy to lift up and remove. With no adhesive residue left on the back of the material, these can then either be re-used elsewhere through various Take Back Schemes or easily removed and recycled back into production – aiding in the circularity of the wider flooring industry. Sub-floors are left clean and sound, ready for a repeat installation, while savings on future renovations can be made as there will be no costly sub-floor preparation required upon removal. Adhesive-free floor coverings also emit low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or aromas during refurbishment, helping to create better indoor environments and contribute to the improved wellbeing of staff, students and visitors. There’s also less dust and mess during installation, as a result of minimal or no sub-floor preparation. As with all floor coverings, there is no one solution fits all. As a result, there is a range of adhesive-free solutions available, each suitable for a variety of different applications. This is particularly ideal for education buildings, as they have many different areas, all of which will have their own unique flooring requirements. Safety first To ensure the safety of students and staff, safety flooring can have a key role to play within our schools, colleges and universities. It’s commonly installed in kitchens, changing rooms, toilets and laboratories, or any other area where there is the potential for spills to cause slips and trips. Fortunately, there are adhesive-free, slip-resistant flooring solutions available, combining the need for installation speed and material circularity with safety and well-being. An HSE-compliant safety flooring, Forbo’s Surestep Fast Fit has been designed for Safety flooring is commonly installed in kitchens, changing rooms, toilets and laboratories, or any other area where there is the potential for spills to cause slips and trips
7 INSIGHT | demanding commercial environments, where a quick turnaround and minimal disruption is required, but slip resistance is also a priority. The genuine >36 PTV safety flooring can be installed with no adhesive and laid over a variety of existing subfloors, including new concrete substrates. Available in 12 of the most popular colourways and designs from the wider Step collection, these include contemporary neutrals with a speckled finish to more modern aesthetics, such as sophisticated concrete and wood designs. The collection also features a PUR Pearl finish, which ensures the flooring is both stain and chemical resistant, making it easy to clean and perfect for the demanding commercial applications found within our country’s educational buildings. With over 50 years of experience, Forbo’s safety vinyl is a trusted name, dedicated to creating healthier indoor environments, with a focus on the safety, hygiene and wellbeing of those who use the interior space. Reflecting this commitment, Forbo’s Step safety flooring has the lowest embodied carbon on the market, is 100% phthalate-free and incorporates an average of 24% recycled content, as well as meeting all HSE and European safety norms. In addition to this, Step is manufactured in a factory running on 100% renewable electricity, using energy sources such as wind. To learn more about Surestep Fast Fit, visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/ surestepfastfit
| INSIGHT 8 Linoleum floor coverings are versatile, hard-wearing and possess outstanding sustainability and hygienic credentials – little wonder so many schools and colleges see them as the ‘go to’ option for a new floor With 32,000 schools across the UK, the education sector has a critical role to play in helping achieve the government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. In fact, they reportedly have the power to prevent 625,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. While the primary focus will be on saving energy and cutting carbon emissions during its operational life, retrofitting and refurbishment projects will have a role to play also. For new schools, the emphasis should be on specifying greener building products and materials where possible, from the outset. Passivhaus accreditation has become an increasingly popular goal for architects, due to its reliable building performance, energy savings and the benefits it can bring to occupant comfort and learning outcomes. Already, there are 28 Passivhaus certified educational buildings in the UK – a number that is surely set to rise. For existing schools, the summer shutdown period is an ideal time to look at any classroom refurbishments or energy-saving measures that can be implemented, retrofitting greener products and surface finishes. The flooring piece of the puzzle With flooring the largest surface area in any building, specification decisions made here can have a major impact on a school’s overall embodied carbon levels. As well as considering the sustainability of materials of the future the net zero schools Marmoleum: creating
9 INSIGHT | specified, durability is another key factor. Floor coverings need to be capable of handling the daily rigours experienced in regard to traffic, safety and ease of maintenance. In many ways, durability goes hand in hand with sustainability, with a longer service life and minimal maintenance both helping to reduce overall carbon levels. Although flooring is only one piece of the puzzle, it can play a vital role in the holistic design of spaces that cater to these requirements of the education sector. Linoleum – the original sustainable flooring Originally discovered over 150 years ago, linoleum floor coverings have come on leaps and bounds over the years, remaining a popular solution to this day. With the versatility of designs available, alongside its outstanding sustainability credentials and hygienic properties, linoleum is easily capable of fulfilling the role asked of it. Widely regarded as one of the most sustainable floor coverings available on the market – indeed, the original sustainable flooring - linoleum is made using rapidly renewable natural raw materials, such as linseed oil, jute, pine rosin and wood or cork flour. In fact, it was linseed oil that unintentionally inspired the creation of linoleum in the first place, when Frederick Walton watched the linseed oil used in paint harden on the surface, thus creating linoleum With the versatility of designs available, alongside its outstanding sustainability credentials and hygienic properties, linoleum is easily capable of fulfilling the role asked of it
| INSIGHT 10 expected within our country’s schools. With its ‘top-coat’ lacquer, it is resistant to wear, tear, stains and scuffs. This topcoat can reduce cleaning and maintenance requirements, as well as increase long-term durability – another key sustainability factor in its favour. A positive effect of this is that it does not require a wax or polymer coating after installation, resulting in less disruption and down time. However, it isn’t just with durability and sustainability where linoleum succeeds. Aesthetics are not left behind, with many flooring manufacturers continually updating their portfolios to reflect modern architectural trends. This provides architects and specifiers with a variety of design choices to choose from. Marmoleum At Forbo, our Marmoleum collection of linoleum flooring coverings is independently certified as climate-positive (carbon negative) from cradle to gate, without the need for carbon offsetting. This means that the CO2 produced in the extraction, transportation and manufacturing of the floor covering is more than balanced out by the removal of CO2 during the growth process of its natural materials. In fact, every square metre of Marmoleum 2.5mm sheet that’s made contributes to removing an additional 663 grams of carbon dioxide from the air. Additionally, the award-winning Topshield Pro water-based surface lacquer offers three times greater protection than its predecessor, both protecting the integrity of Marmoleum and facilitating easy cleaning and maintenance. With over 300 colours and designs available across its different ranges and structures, Marmoleum makes it easy to create bright and engaging interior spaces, perfect for encouraging learning and productivity. Every square metre of Marmoleum 2.5mm sheet that’s made contributes to removing 663 grams of carbon dioxide from the air in 1863. These ingredients are all naturally occurring, making linoleum the ideal choice for sustainability-focused projects. In addition to this, linoleum has total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) that are 30 times lower than the European norm and 50% lower CO2 emissions than other resilient floor coverings. This means linoleum can help contribute to healthier indoor environments, for both students and staff. There are also some brands of linoleum which boast the prestigious Allergy UK ‘Seal of Approval’, meaning, with the correct cleaning regime, the flooring will not harbour allergens or dust mites. Linoleum ticks all of the boxes for durability too, being able to withstand the high footfall
Case Study 11 INSIGHT | For Calderwood Primary School, an award winning project forming part of the Calderwood Masterplan development in West Lothian, Scotland, the architects were tasked with creating an open and collaborative series of learning spaces for teachers and students to enjoy for years to come. Thanks to Forbo’s large portfolio of solutions for the education sector, a variety of products were specified throughout the school, including Marmoleum, which played a prominent role. The team spent time researching and investigating various colours and textures to ensure the collective vision was achieved. In keeping with the desired neutral palette, Forbo’s Marmoleum Decibel Concrete offered the perfect, calm colourway in Asteroid. It was important to utilise a product within the large open plan areas that would cope with the number of pupils occupying the key spaces, with Marmoleum fitting the bill. To learn more about Forbo’s climate positive Marmoleum collection, visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/marmoleum
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