Microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria present a significant set of challenges for hospital and healthcare professionals because of their ability to spread on surfaces in healthcare facilities. Rigorous disinfection protocols can accelerate degradation of painted wall surfaces in rooms of healthcare facilities that are considered higher risk. This learning unit will serve to educate the architectural reader about specific healthcare infrastructure disinfection guidelines, methods, and materials and how they can affect architectural coatings.

Learning Objectives

  • Examine the risk that healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) pose to patients and the disinfection protocols used to mitigate them.
  • Understand how disinfection and sterilization protocols can affect architectural wall coatings in healthcare facilities.
  • Explore testing that compared several paints and coatings in rigorous hospital environments and how they performed based on odor, durability, and cleanability.
  • Describe how two component waterborne polyurethane wall coatings combine high performance with aesthetics to meet both the needs of healthcare administrators and designers.

Pre-Requisite: None.