Better Indoor Environments: Marmoleum
Mark Bauer, Environmental Specialist at Forbo Flooring Systems
December 2020
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It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a year like no other. Global lockdowns have left many of us locked out of our normal office environments. Instead, legions of workers around the world are getting used to working from home and making the best of the current situation. The good news is that things will eventually return to normal. In fact, with growing hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel, a return to office life seems imminent. As we plan for this eventuality, it’s important that businesses look for new ways to ensure their buildings are as healthy and hygienic as possible. At Forbo, we believe this means creating better indoor environments; a process that must start from the floor up, explains Mark Bauer, Environment Specialist at Forbo.
Indoor Air Quality
In practice, this endeavour requires a new emphasis on the importance of indoor air quality. As such, there’s now an onus on building owners, businesses and facilities managers to familiarise themselves with the concept and its associated requirements. Whilst not as understood as outdoor air pollution, poor indoor air quality can adversely affect the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
In particular, those who suffer from respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are at far greater risk of being affected. However, there are anti-bacteriostatic and Allergy UK approved solutions available on the market, which will contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
Improving Indoor Environments
Take our Marmoleum collection, for example, it is made from 97% natural materials and is low emitting. What’s more, with the correct cleaning regime it can reduce the levels of particulate volatile organic compounds and biological contaminant exposure in buildings. This natural and sustainable flooring solution can be used to improve indoor environments and make them healthier than ever before.
In addition to choosing products that can improve the indoor air quality of spaces, solutions that are naturally bacteriostatic and can inhabit the spread of viruses should also be considered to help
physically reduce the transmission of viruses.
Naturally Bacteriostatic
Thanks to its natural raw materials, Marmoleum is naturally bacteriostatic and independently proven to inhibit the growth and spread of infections such as MRSA, Norovirus, Acinetobacter baumannii and C Difficile helping to contribute to a healthier and more hygienic environment. An inherent property of the product, the bacteriostatic qualities of Marmoleum won't diminish over time, giving peace of mind and constant protection from the moment it is installed.
In light of the recent pandemic, this benefit now takes on a whole new significance. Indeed, even after COVID-19 has dissipated, businesses around the world will be far more aware about the potential destruction that viruses can cause. So, it will be important that anti-bacterial solutions, such as Marmoleum, become more commonly specified.
Despite its countless downsides, the ongoing pandemic is providing those that look after buildings with an opportunity to assess the current situation and to see if any of the spaces can be changed to improve the health and well-being of end users. At Forbo, we’re here to help companies across the country as they start this endeavour and will continue supplying office flooring solutions to help make healthy indoor working environments a reality.
Watch our webinar
Innovator & artist, Daan Roosegaarde, and CEO of the World Green Building Council, Cristina Gamboa, shared their inspirational outlook at the first Forbo Flooring Systems international webinar, entitled A vision for a CO2 neutral future.
During the webinar, the two guests also urged for change to start sooner rather than later. Gamboa: “Constructing a world that destructs, is no longer valid.”