Vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring has been around for more than 100 years, invented initially to replace linoleum. In the 1940s, vinyl flooring became very popular for areas where resilience, durability, and water-resistance was important.10 Vinyl composite tile is a mixture of natural pulverized limestone, filler materials, thermoplastic binders, and color pigments. Vinyl is less porous than concrete
and subsequently less permeable. This reduces the capacity for the surface to absorb and store pathogens or the nutrients feeding these pathogens. Most importantly, this allows for more effective cleaning during daily operations.
Vinyl flooring minimizes pathogen growth at the surface and reduces penetration of these pathogens throughout the entire body of the concrete.11 This is due to the hydrophobicity, or ability to repel water, of the vinyl flooring. These anti-adhesive surfaces are used to protect the porous concrete and impede microbial attachment to the surface. Not only does vinyl protect humans from harmful pathogens, but it also protects businesses, schools, and hospitals from constant maintenance and flooring replacement.
Conclusion
To maintain human safety in stores and hospitals, it is imperative to minimize pathogen spread and growth. This is done by utilizing flooring with minimal permeability. Vinyl flooring is less permeable and, therefore, optimally prevents pathogens from saturating through the body of the material. This has been shown through the absorption of moisture through the body of the sample, as well as the pathogen growth found at the surface. Therefore, it was found vinyl flooring systems are more resistant to pathogen growth, spread, and contamination to customers and employees, creating a safer and more profitable shopping experience (Figure 1).12
Notes
1 Lemmen, S., Hafner, H. Z., & Lutticken, R. (2004). Distribution of multi-resistant Gram-negative versus Gram-positive bacteria in the hospital inanimate environment. Journal of Hospital Infection, 191-197.
2 Roos, R. (2010, May 24). USDA estimates E coli, Salmonella costs at $3.1 billion. Retrieved from Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy: www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2010/05/usda-estimates-e-coli-salmonella-costs-31-billion.
3 See note 2.
4 Gaille, B. (2018, October 6). Small Business and Marketing Advice. Retrieved from 27 Retail Grocery Industry Statistics, Trends & Analysis: brandongaille.com/27-retail-grocery-industry-statistics-trends analysis/#:~:text=There%20are%20more%20than%2038%2C000%20grocery%20stores%20and,industry%20is%20just%201.1%25.%20%28Food%20Marketing%20Institute%29%20%235.
5 USDA Economic Research Service. (1996). Bacterial Foodborne Disease—Medical Costs and Productivity Losses. AER-741.
6 Read more about polished concrete here, www.concretedecor.net/departments/grinding-polishing/polished-concrete-continues-to-gain-momentum-as-flooring-choice.
7 Bailey, R. (2018, September 19). Phases of the Bacterial Growth Curve. Retrieved from ThoughtCo.: www.thoughtco.com/bacterial-growth-curve-phases-4172692.
8 See note 7.
9 Rusin, P., Maxwell, S., & Gerba, C. (2002). Comparative surface‐to‐hand and fingertip‐to‐mouth transfer efficiency of gram‐positive bacteria, gram‐negative bacteria, and phage. Journal of Applied Microbiology.
10 Lewitin, J. (20, November 09). Types of Vinyl Flooring Materials: Tile, Sheet Vinyl, and Luxury Vinyl. Retrieved from the spruce: www.thespruce.com/vinyl-flooring-materials-1314764.
11 Westbrook, M. A., & Belkowitz, J. S. (2020). An Analysis of Pathogen Growth on Vinyl and Polished Concrete.
12 Data retrieved from “An Analysis of Pathogen Growth on Vinyl and Polished Concrete.
References
- American Concrete Institute. (n.d.). The relationship between porosity and permeability of concrete. Retrieved from Technical Questions: concrete.org/tools/frequentlyaskedquestions.aspx?faqid=661.
- Bennion, J. e. (2008). Decreasing Listeriosis Mortality in the United States, 1990-2005. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 867-74.
- CDC. (2013). Multistate Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to Foster Farms Brand Chicken (Final Update). Retrieved from CDC: www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-08-20/index.html.
- CDC. (2020). Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Peaches. Retrieved from CDC: www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-08-20/index.html.
- Council for Agriculture, Science and Technology (CAST). (1994). Foodborne Pathogens: Risks and Consequences: Task Force Report
No.122. 1-87. - USDA Economic Research Service. (1996). Bacterial Foodborne Disease—Medical Costs and Productivity Losses. AER-741.
Mallory Westbrook graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelors of science in biomedical engineering. Westbrook began working with Intelligent Concrete, LLC in 2017 and specializes in research on nanotechnology for concrete strength and durability. Westbrook has published several articles relating to concrete science and technical transfer.
Jon Belkowitz, PhD, PE, is the chief technical officer at Intelligent Concrete, LLC, specializing in concrete research, development, and education with a focus on nanotechnology. Before Intelligent Concrete, LLC, he served in the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1996 to 2006, specializing in civil engineering. Belkowitz has worked in private testing laboratories on structural engineering and materials development projects to include the application of nanotechnology in concrete. He has worked as a consultant on projects in the United States, India, Turkey, Africa, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. He has worked as chief of materials for a 3D concrete printing firm, an advisor for NASA on 3D printing of concrete, holds patent applications on 3D printing with concrete, and is an American Concrete Institute (ACI) member on the subject. Belkowitz received his masters of material science from University of Denver and his PhD in mechanical engineering with a specialty of nanotechnology in concrete at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. His mission is to save the world with all the concrete in it.
