A variety of Polysafe safety flooring products from Polyflor were chosen to create a new learning environment for health and social care students at the University of Derby’s Chesterfield Campus.
Opened in 1911, the Grade II listed St Helena Building has been renovated as part of a £6.7m project for the university, led by architects Frank Shaw Associates Ltd and main contractors Henry Boot Construction Limited. Polysafe safety flooring was installed around the campus by Nottingham based contractors Diamond Flooring, including in a clinical skills suite, six bed NHS-standard mock ward and an immersive simulation suite which represent a real-life working environment for students to learn in.

Polysafe Wood fx PUR vinyl safety flooring in Sun Bleached Oak was used alongside textile-effect Polysafe Arena in Steelwool in communal break areas such as the campus refectory. Polysafe Verona PUR flooring in the Dolphin Grey and Café Noir shades was selected for the mock hospital ward learning areas.

Designed to provide sustainable slip resistance in commercial kitchens, Polysafe Ultima flooring in Aurora Grey was also installed in the servery and food preparation areas.

Tim Zijlstra, Resource Centre Manager at the St Helena Campus, commented, “We have tried to replicate the look of a real-life hospital on campus to give our students a taste of their future working environment. The choice of flooring helps add to the realism, as well as providing our students and staff with a safe environment to study in.”