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April 3, 2020

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Improved floor hygiene

Every day a significant amount of dirt and micro-organisms accumulates in the scratches and joints of busy flooring surfaces. Reducing this type of contamination is essential if the floor is to be kept scrupulously clean. Using traditional methods to remove it is almost impossible but, Bona says, using its latest deep cleaning and recoating methods, the hygiene levels of floors can be considerably improved.

Recoating an operating theatre floorThe Bona concept is to periodically deep clean and seal the floor’s surface, ideally from the time it is installed, to produce a smooth, homogenous surface which can be easily and efficiently cleaned during its lifetime. The sealing treatment fills any fine cracks and scratches, as well as the joints between LVT panels – to eliminate the possibility of dirt and micro-organisms building up on the surface, and making daily cleaning easier and more efficient.

Using safe, non-hazardous products from Bona’s Commercial System range, the deep cleaning and recoating process also enables you to maintain the beauty of the floor and prolong its life – with minimal downtime during treatments. Recoating involves superficial sanding with a Bona FlexiSand machine using Bona Diamond Abrasives for a perfectly smooth surface. This is followed by an application of Bona Pure, a hard wearing, non-yellowing, clear PUR coating specially formulated for the treatment of resilient floor coverings. Floors treated with Bona Pure also meet the DIN 51130 (R9) standard for slip resistance.

Tried and tested

To prove the hygiene performance, Bona commissioned a study of its use on LVT flooring – the type typically used in hygiene sensitive areas such as hospitals. The test, carried out in conjunction with the IFR Institute in Germany, was to verify that a smooth, joint-free LVT surface can be created by overcoating with Bona Pure, achieving a surface that met the standards required by the internationally recognised TRBA 250 (Technical Rules for Biological Agents in Healthcare and Welfare Facilities).

The test involved coating one half of a new LVT wood effect plank floor with Bona Pure, while the other was left untreated. A solution containing flourescent pigments was then applied daily across the whole floor and cleaned using the Bona PowerScrubber and Bona Deep Clean Solution. Daily contamination with the pigments, followed by cleaning, was carried out over a period of eight weeks. At the end of the test period, UV lights were used to expose the levels of contamination on each part of the floor.

The part of the floor not treated with Bona Pure showed high levels of contamination. The part treated with Bona Pure showed hardly any. The LVT planks were then removed to examine for signs of contamination below the surface. On the untreated area, a high level of contamination was found below the planks due to penetration through the joints – and almost none on the part treated with Bona Pure.

By applying a coat of Bona Pure on an LVT floor, Bona therefore meets the criteria defined in the TRBA 250 regulations. Its sealing power creates a barrier against residual germs and micro-organisms, making it easier to keep the floor scrupulously clean.

In addition to recoating with Bona Pure, the Bona Commercial System offers a range of cleaning and long-term maintenance treatments for all types of resilient and wood surfaces. For example, there are options enabling the total transformation of a resilient floor by using Bona Pure Colour PUR based paint (available in any RAL colour), and the inclusion of graphics or logos etc below the final clear top coat.

The Bona Commercial System not only allows you to improve floor hygiene, but also to totally transform the look of an existing floor without replacing it.

Download a brochure for the full story.

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Abdul Thorlu-Bangura
Abdul Thorlu-Bangura
3 years ago

Will it work on cement floor

Alison Hopkinson
Alison Hopkinson
3 years ago

Hi Abdul, thanks for your enquiry, this Bona system has been primarily developed for treating resilient flooring such as rubber, pvc, and linoleum. It has been used successfully on other surfaces but at the moment testing continues before this becomes a general recommendation. Can I invite you to contact our sales manager directly to discuss your project further. Please mail Jack Weavers at [email protected]
Thanks
Alison Hopkinson
Marketing Manager
Bona Limited