Self-cleaning floor
A self-cleaning floor is a floor surface that reduces the amount of chemicals, energy, and human resources associated with cleaning floor surfaces. Such floors are meant for use in hospitals, toilets and other places in which cleanliness is of vital importance.[1] In Europe, most of the leading ceramic tiles and sanitary ware manufacturers have products on the market with self cleaning features.[2]
Industrial applications
Hospitals
The Grabo Silver Knight resilient floor covering is the first photocatalytic self-disinfecting surface. Its self-disinfecting property is provided by the unique double-defense line constituted by Nano-Silver and Nano-TiO2 particles. This product is targeted towards the health sector, aiding in preventing the spread of infection in hospitals.[3][4]
Dairy
The Cozy Floor by Blue Diamond Industries, LLC is a self supported, self cleaning hot water heated floor system, designed to eliminate the use of bedding under calves.[5]
Food processing facilities
The SunWash self-cleaning floor coatings provide a washable finish and are developed to withstand the high traffic and humid conditions such as those present in food processing facilities.[6]
Food service
Mechline Developments’ Sani-Floor consists of a suction pump and automatic waste lifting. The system can be installed in any food production area to take care of spills hygienically and safely.[7]
Public restrooms
Many public toilets, such as the Sanisette, have self-cleaning floor mechanism.
Conceptual designs
The Smart-Floor is a concept designed by the student Svetozar Belogrozdev of Swansea Metropolitan University. It is a hygienic self-cleaning floor solution that prevents dust and dirt from settling. Regulated vacuums cycles through the floor 24 hours a day and intelligent pressure sensors detect if there is anything in the room and automatically regulate the vacuum going through the tiles. It was one of the six UK designs that made the top 100 designs in Electrolux Design Lab 2013.[8]
Another approach involves the use of central vacuum systems beneath micro perforated raised floor tiles to allow a small negative pressure to be pulled so that all dust and dirt are automatically collected.
See also
References
- http://www.respigbreed.cz/2011/1/4.pdf
- http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/reports/reportpdf/report162.pdf
- http://www.mocheta.com/images/pvc/pvc/grabo/silverknight/silverknight.pdf
- http://www.graboplast.com/files/silver%20knight%20brochure_EN.pdf
- http://www.cozycalfcribs.net/pdfs/1560%20Cozy%20Calf%20Care%20Flyer%206-10.pdf
- nurun.com (2013-09-16). "Bright and shiny | The London Free Press". Lfpress.com. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- "Self-cleaning floor grating wins award". Cleanroomtechnology.com. 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- "Electrolux Design Lab: Top 100 become Top 50". The Design Sheppard. Retrieved 2017-04-21.