Using color and coatings for healthcare

by Katie Daniel | May 9, 2016 1:44 pm

by Nancy Hutchinson
Coatings have become more specialized and technologically advanced than ever before, which is good news for architects and specifiers of healthcare facilities. These advancements mean specifiers are able to make better coating decisions based on appearance and function. This is especially important because evidence-based design research shows well-designed healthcare facilities can play a key role in creating a comfortable atmosphere that promotes healing.

However, these improvements also mean the process of choosing the proper coating is more complex, since there are more factors in play. From different types of substrates and aesthetic requirements to volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations, sustainability, and green certifications, there is a lot to consider.

While selecting the right paint or coating may seem overwhelming, understanding and simplifying the specification process and asking the right questions makes it easier for design professionals to select a product that looks good and works well.

Specifying paints and coatings
Different paints have different benefits, features, and limitations. Therefore, it is important to consider the specific coating application before choosing the appropriate paint. For example, lifecycle cost is among specifiers’ top considerations. Higher-quality paints are more durable and have a longer lifecycle than lower-quality paints, thereby increasing the time between repainting.

High-quality paints are made of premium ingredients and include more solid material—pigments and binders—than lower-cost options. They are easier to apply, require fewer coats to achieve the same coverage, and have better adhesion qualities. Over time, high-quality paints are more mildew-resistant and experience less chalking, fading, flaking, and peeling than lower-cost options.

High-quality paints also include premium hiding pigments—titanium oxide, for example—and other small amounts of pigments creating the color. Lower-quality paints tend to include less pigment and more filler, which has initial good hiding capability but eventually breaks down over time.

The binder in paint is another key consideration. High-quality binders help create a paint that adheres well, resists moisture permeability, and experiences fewer cracks, stains, and damage from abrasion and exposure to sunlight. Finally, there are two categories when it comes to liquid carrier in paints—water-based and oil-based.

High-quality oil-based paints adhere well to surfaces—a key part of a long-lasting paint job. However, over time oil-based paints may oxidize and become brittle, which can lead to chipping and yellowing. These paints can also take up to 24 hours to dry, which can be an issue during the renovation of a healthcare facility. Oil-based paints are often the best choice when repainting surfaces with four or more layers of old oil-based paint.

Similar to oil-based paints, latex- or water-based paints tend to adhere well to a variety of surfaces. However, latex-based paints are less brittle and have more elastic properties, making them more crack-resistant. They also dry quicker, retain color better, and have more resistance to chalking than oil-based paints.

Advancements
Paint technology has experienced rapid advancements in recent years. In addition to being more durable and easier to use, paints now allow healthcare facilities to combat other issues as well.

For example, new technology in paint actually has the power to kill bacteria. This is important for healthcare facilities because hospital-acquired infections are one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Additionally, some paints can help improve indoor air quality (IAQ). These advancements are particularly valuable to facilities with medically sensitive occupants. In many cases, carpet, fabrics, and insulation can have negative effects on IAQ because they can release formaldehydes and aldehydes. Technologically advanced paints can reduce airborne concentrations of these air-quality-reducing agents. These paints do so by transforming aldehydes in the air into water molecules and a harmless inert gas.

Healthcare facilities must also address odors emanating from various sources, including patient rooms, restrooms, and cafeteria areas. Paint can play a role here too, as technologies to help neutralize and dissipate indoor odors exist to improve the atmosphere for patients and staff alike.

Paint durability in healthcare settings is vital—in part due to the frequency in which walls must be cleaned and sanitized, and because there is heavy traffic in certain areas. Paint advancements allow more durability, and a reduction in the regularity with which walls must be repainted.

The right questions
Understanding paint’s different benefits and existing variables can help focus in on the proper product for a specific area of a healthcare facility.

When considering the environmental conditions of the painted area, one should question the:

• amount of water in the area;
• frequency of cleaning;
• traffic an area receives; and
• variability of the temperature.

Specifiers should also consider the substrate on which the paint will be applied. In some cases, paints can be applied directly. In others, a special primer may need to be specified. If it is a repaint, the history of the surface is important, as it will determine if a latex-based paint can be used, or if an oil-based paint is a better option.

It is also important to consider the:

• VOC regulations and whether the coating meets them;
• objectives in terms of green or sustainable building (as not all paints meet all certification requirements);
• maintenance requirements and the impact on patients
  and employees;
• color and sheen of paint to create the desired atmosphere;
• monochromatically, or accent colors of the paint; and
• availability of the paint where the project will occur.

Color selection
For the most part, the days of sterile healthcare facilities with stark white walls are gone (with the exception of operating rooms or laboratories, where anything but white could prove to be too distracting). Instead, there is now an emphasis on the comfort of the patients, and the staff’s role ensuring patients receive proper care. Warm, inviting spaces help patients heal, and are just as important to the well-being
of staff members.

Often, color selection is derived from permanent objects, such as the floorcoverings. Paint color is relatively easy to change, while floorcoverings, generally, are not. Therefore, initial decisions must be made with permanent items, and with the space’s intended function in mind. In many cases, a neutral foundational color is a good choice. Accent colors can be determined from this point. When this system is chosen, the color of accent walls can be changed more frequently, at less effort and cost than changing the color throughout an entire facility.

Healthcare spaces
It is critical to consider the space’s function when choosing a paint or coating.

Patient rooms
As these spaces are intended for healing, color choices should help advance that objective. For example, a medium-white hue—one that is not too stark, but not too warm—is a calming color and creates a sense of purity and well-being. This color can be used on its own, or in conjunction with a bolder accent color. In general, the accent color is located behind the bed, so the patient does not stare at it throughout the day. This ‘pop’ of color creates an inviting atmosphere for guests or hospital staff.

Rehabilitation/therapy rooms
The purpose of these rooms, as their name implies, is to provide space for people to heal and get better. In instances where people are exercising, for example, it makes sense to use brighter colors that provide an energetic atmosphere. While yellows and oranges may be too much on their own, using bright colors on accent walls is a good choice. On the other hand, if the room is used more for occupational therapy, such as relearning how to walk, then bold colors may be too distracting.

Assisted living areas
When spending a long time in one place, color choices should be reflective of what might appear in a personal home. Cool colors such as blues and blue-greens have a calming influence, but beiges, wood tones, and natural colors create warmth and a ‘homey’ feel. In these areas, vibrant colors may create anxiety, so they are generally used sparingly.

Children’s areas
Bolder colors create feelings of energy and playfulness in these areas, which can aid in the healing process. However, bold colors should be reserved for accent walls so as not to overwhelm patients, as children tend to prefer natural colors.

Wayfinding
For many people, a visit or stay in a hospital can be a stressful experience. The same is true for their loved ones. Having difficulty navigating a facility adds to this stress. As a result, it has become increasingly common for healthcare facilities to use colors to help people move from one area to another. The main corridors should be painted in a neutral color, and an easy-to-see accent wall should be used at the end of the hallway to help navigation.

Conclusion
In summary, there are many great benefits that come along with advancements in paint. By simplifying the specification process and asking the right questions, architects and specifiers for healthcare facilities can easily make the right selections for a positive outcome.

Nancy Hutchinson is director of marketing for Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Group in North America. She is responsible for marketing strategy for hospitality, healthcare, multifamily, and commercial architect segments. Throughout her career she has also held various field sales, management, and learning and development positions. Hutchinson can be reached at nancy.j.hutchinson@sherwin.com[1].

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/using-color-and-coatings-for-healthcare/

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