Surfaces for healthcare design 

The fight to control infections in healthcare facilities is no longer just a facility issue. Today, helping with infection control is a design issue and the surfaces that you specify play an important role in helping you create healthcare environments. 

DuPont and C.H. Briggs are pleased to play a part in helping you achieve your design goals with Corian® solid surfaces and Zodiaq® quartz surfaces. A growing network of contractors, trained to work in healthcare facilities, will ensure that your designs meet critical standards.

• Corian meets all and Zodiaq meets most of the 18 characteristics of a preferred surface as defined in the 2006 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities, published by Facilities Guideline Institute and AIA.
• Corian and Zodiaq have been evaluated in accordance with ANSI/UL Standard 723 Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials by the Underwriters Laboratory, Inc., an independent product safety certification organization.
• Corian and Zodiaq are NSF/ANSI 51 Certified for food contact. NSF is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization certifying products and setting standards for food, water and consumer goods.
• Corian and Zodiaq are also certified as low VOC emitting materials by the GREENGUARD® Environmental Institute, an ANSI Authorized Standards Developer establishing indoor air standards for indoor products and buildings. Corian and Zodiaq are also GREENGUARD Listed for microbial resistance.

Healing By Design

A rapidly growing body of credible research strongly links patient health and overall quality of care to the way a healthcare facility is designed - including both architectural and interior design elements. This research reveals the influence of architecture and design on all aspects of healthcare including speed of patient recovery, length of hospital stays, frequency of medical errors, and rate of staff turnover.

As a result, today's leading healthcare design professionals are using principals of evidence-based design to create a "total healing environment" for patients, families and staff.

In studying ways to reduce stress and promote healing, 5 key factors have been identified that can measurably improve positive outcomes for both patients and staff:

• Provide access to nature
• Reduce or eliminate environmental stressors
• Provide positive distractions
• Enable social support
• Give a sense of control

Interior designs that reflect nature and work to "bring nature indoors" play a vital role in meeting these objectives. The use of natural elements, and color palettes that reflect nature, can create a healing atmosphere for patients and positive working environment for staff.

The Corian Healing Colors Collection draws on a wide variety of colors and textures found in nature - giving you a broad range of options to complement the other elements of your design to help provide a positive impact on patient health.