Gulf Construction Online - DuPont puts the focus on hygiene

Hospital Construction

Corian is particularly suitable for sensitive departments.

DuPont puts the focus on hygiene

Global chemical solutions company DuPont redefines hospital hygiene through its Corian line of surfacing applications.

01 March 2006

Corian – an exclusive product of DuPont that has long been recognised for its hygienic qualities – continues to bring modern design solutions to Gulf hospitals and is increasingly being used in a wide range of surfacing applications ranging from sinks and wall cladding to counter-tops.

Its hygienic advantages have recently been recognised by LGA QualiTest, a leading independent product testing centre based in Nurnberg, Germany. Tested alongside other surfacing materials such as granite, ceramic and laminate, Corian showed minimal fungal growth and ease of cleaning and was the only material, along with Zodiaq, also from DuPont, to be awarded a hygiene certificate, claims a spokesman for DuPont.
“Hygiene has always been the most important consideration in hospital design, and with hospital-based infections becoming increasingly virulent and patient numbers continuing to rise, it is becoming an even more critical issue,” says the spokesman.
“In hospitals all over the world, ‘nosocomial’ or hospital-based infections – often developed from a very low dose of bacteria by patients already weakened by their conditions – pose a serious problem, particularly in sensitive departments such as intensive care, neonatal and the burn care centres. At the most serious end of the spectrum, however, a growing number of ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) remain immune to antibiotics and can be life-threatening for the patients.”
Since surface contact is one of the main ways that such infections can spread, it is vital for hospitals to ensure that all work surfaces can be easily cleaned and sterilised and many hospitals are using Corian to meet this need, he points out.
Made of acrylic polymer and natural minerals, Corian is completely non-porous and is joined using a special method, which gives a seamless surface without grout lines or awkward corners where bacteria can hide. Thus large areas can be quickly cleaned and made germ-free by eliminating any kind of build-up of bacteria or microorganisms. It is also resistant to mould and mildew, and is therefore particularly suitable for wet areas, which can be breeding grounds for bacteria, the spokesman adds.
Because of its sterile nature, this brand can be used in highly-sensitive areas such as operating theatres, neo-natal and intensive care wards. Beautiful, durable and practical, Corian is also often found in reception areas, cafeterias, patient bathrooms, washing areas, laboratories and mortuaries, where it is the material of choice for many applications such as wall-cladding, worktops, bathroom fittings, windowsills and tables. Since it is naturally warm to the touch, it is also suitable for areas of direct human contact such as baby baths.

Kuwait foray
Recognising these properties of Corian, Kuwait-based interior designer French Decoration Centre International (FDC) recently chose the product for one of its prestigious projects, the Al Ghannam Medical Services Hospital in Al Jabriya, Kuwait, built at a cost of between $34 million and $41 million.
More than 575 sheets of the premier solid surfacing material have been used in various applications such as patient washbasins and counters, nurses’ stations, dental workroom counters, examination room stations, reception desks, laboratory worktops, and even a decorative waterfall feature. Though hygiene was the main reason for choosing Corian, FDC was also swayed by the material’s design versatility and durability to create pleasing interiors.

Warmer aesthetic
He continues: “FDC’s fitting of the Al Ghannam Medical Services Hospital is typical of the way many interior-decorating designers are beginning to look at healthcare projects. As medical research has revealed that a warm and cheerful hospital environment goes a long way in improving patient recovery rate, private and government hospitals worldwide are moving away from the all-white of the past to the warmer and more colourful interiors.
“In terms of design, the brand has much to offer. Available in a palette of 100 colours, it can be worked like wood or thermoformed (bent when heat-treated) and then joined seamlessly to create almost any design. This enables designers to incorporate hygienic and practical details such as integral sinks, curved backsplashes or front skirts without a single seam as well as create ergonomic features such as rounded corners, which are safer for elderly or handicapped patients. Using advanced CNC (computer numeric control) cutting machinery, Corian can be routed to precise dimensions, enabling logos, signage or decorative effects to be carved into the material.”
Exploiting the diverse design possibilities of Corian, FDC has used 11 different colours in this project, including pure white, creamy neutrals and rich reds and browns.
“For the first time in the Gulf region, designers have used the technique of 3D thermoforming in many designs, allowing the creation of fully-rounded sinks, for example. Corian was also combined with other materials such as wood and stainless steel to create an aesthetic as well as a practical working environment,” the spokesman points out.

Easy maintenance
Another main challenge faced by hospitals today, apart from the hygiene issue, is the constant wear and tear and damage to interiors – accidental or otherwise – particularly in high traffic areas such as corridors and day surgery rooms.
“If interiors are easily damaged, constant maintenance and upkeep of these areas can prove both costly and disruptive. This is another reason why Corian has proved to be advantageous. Naturally durable and solid, with the colour going throughout the depth of the surface, it does not de-laminate and is resistant to chips and cuts. It is also heat- and chemical-resistant, adding to its durability and long-life.
“With Corian, if damage such as cuts, scratches or even graffiti does occur, it can normally be easily sanded away and the surface quickly restored. Even when the time comes for refurbishment, Corian surfaces can often be re-used in a new configuration, reducing the overall cost of a re-fit,” he adds.

Landmark projects
With its combination of hygiene, design potential and easy maintenance, this brand is becoming more and more widely used in hospitals across the Gulf region. In Kuwait, it can be found at the London Hospital, Hadi Hospital, Jahrah Hospital, Farwaniya Hospital, Sabah Hospital, Ameera Hospital and the Dar Al Shifa Hospital.
In Qatar, it has been used in making nurse station counters and reception counters at the Airport Health Centre, while wall cladding has been installed at the Al Khor Hospital. At Hamad General Hospital, the security counters are in Corian and at Al Amal Hospital, the entire operating theatre has been clad with Corian.
Tony Azzam, regional manager in the Gulf for the brand, says: “This list of applications is testimony to the fact that Corian meets the needs of today’s hospitals. With its combination of functional and aesthetic benefits, the brand allows designers to create attractive environments in the most challenging of conditions.”
DuPont – the producer of Corian – the world market leaders since the 1960s, has set high standards in hospital hygiene and looks forward to increasing its share of the Middle East market.