Improve infection control with hygienic wall cladding
Maintaining optimum hygiene is important in practically every workplace – particularly in healthcare, food preparation, and laboratories – and is a major consideration when selecting products in these industries.
Environmental Health Practitioners prefer a seamless wall surface within kitchens and appreciate the hygiene benefits of wall cladding. Infection control within NHS Trusts will no longer allow ceramic tiles to be used, due to risk of bacteria growth/infection. Numerous companies and county councils specify wall cladding as standard.
Controlling the spread of germs is critical to all who are exposed to them – including patients, staff, customers and consumers.
In this post, we will take you through the properties offered by hygienic wall cladding that will improve infection control and maintain today’s strict industry regulations.
1. Seamless, non-porous surface
Hygienic wall cladding is designed to be smooth and free of cracks. It’s a fully-sealed, watertight system so that bacteria, mould, and viruses can’t sneak in. Its non-porous nature prevents moisture and contaminants from penetrating the surface, reducing microbial growth. This makes it very unfriendly towards nasty pathogens looking to make a homely breeding ground.
2. Easy maintenance and resistance
The smooth surface of hygienic cladding requires less effort to clean compared to traditional wall finishes like tiles or paint, which may have grout lines or porous textures. Faster and more thorough cleaning reduces the time and labour required while maintaining high sanitation standards. Hygienic wall cladding is resistant to chemicals, stains and odours, making it compatible with rigorous cleaning protocols involving disinfectants and sanitisers. This durability allows for frequent cleaning without degrading the material, ensuring consistent hygiene over time.
This is especially important in Healthcare environments, which have complex cleaning requirements, and where walls need to survive aggressive cleaning and regular disinfecting. Altro’s hygienic wall cladding will withstand these tough cleaning regimes – and because they're resistant to damage and chemicals, they're ideal for healthcare environments. For advice on the best products to use to main Altro wall cladding, you can refer to their cleaning guides
In high-risk environments, where pathogens can easily spread from surfaces to individuals, the ability to disinfect walls thoroughly is critical. Hygienic wall cladding acts as a barrier, reducing the likelihood of cross-contamination in sensitive areas like operating rooms, food prep zones, and cleanrooms.
3. Compliance with industry hygiene standards
Hygienic wall cladding meets strict industry regulations and guidelines for infection control, such as those set by healthcare and food safety authorities. In particular, Altro’s hygienic wall cladding was tested by the Food Hygiene Department of Campden & Chorleywood Food research Association Technology Ltd. (CCFRA), which proved that it's compliant with the European Directive on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs. Altro hygienic wall cladding is also Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) approved, and is safe for food and medical environments, providing the hygiene and protection needed
4. Hardwearing and robust
Surface damage like cracks and dents can trap dirt, moisture and bacteria, making thorough cleaning more difficult. However, this isn't a problem with products like Altro hygienic wall cladding, as it has extremely high impact resistance. Altro conducted durability test results on their wall cladding which showed impacts that would damage ceramic tiles barely left a scratch on the wall cladding surfaces. The same goes for the wall cladding's thermoformed corners – an area where ceramic tiles are especially vulnerable.
In summary, by creating a sterile and low-maintenance environment, hygienic wall cladding plays a significant role in infection prevention, making it a must-have for industries where hygiene is paramount.
Hycom specialise in the application of hygienic products to support a fully compliant infection control programme. For more advice, or to request an infection control survey, please get in touch
