George Emms, Specification Sales Leader at Polyrey, part of Wilsonart UK, explains important considerations for architects to make when incorporating items such as wall coverings, doors and other surfaces during the design process of refurbishment projects.
Engineered surfaces are favoured in refurbishment projects for a number of reasons. Their speed of install and design flexibility can appeal to stakeholders bound by tight time constraints and seeking adaptable solutions. Similarly, they are easy to maintain post-fitting, and can offer a calming or eye-catching look depending on the project while being highly durable.
Yet with correct specification such a vital part of any major refurbishment works, architects are under more pressure than ever to ensure they include the right product. The need to do so is magnified by issues that can arise from errors and non-adherence with important UK and EU regulations, or environmental demands.
However, there are so many engineered surfaces available to choose from. This begs the question – how can architects assess the suitability of such solutions for their specific project? Doing so can be highly complex, but certain considerations should always be front-of-mind, as detailed below:
- Consider Building Environment Demands
The specific demands of the building environment must guide the choice of engineered surfaces for a project. For example, surfaces selected for a healthcare environment need to be chosen with improving patient outcomes in mind and reducing the risk of infectious agents. So, while selecting hygienic surfaces that are easy to clean should be considered as standard regardless of the setting, architects may wish to go further and opt for antibacterial laminate panels in hospitals and healthcare estates.
By contrast, the benefits of solutions that actively assist in destroying bacteria may not be so pressing in other building types such as hotels and hospitality venues. A building’s function should naturally inform surface choice and the inclusion of ancillary benefits like this, so ensuring best practice is vital.
- Compliance with Standards
A variety of amenities, surfaces, settings and furnishes will always be required across a building regardless of its sector. Beyond simple best practice and depending on the environment, these areas and components may be subject to strict regulatory requirements that need to be considered before specification.
For stakeholders potentially unfamiliar with sector-specific regulations, it is highly recommended that they reach out and involve third-party expertise in the selection process. Yet as a frame of reference, some of the most frequently encountered regulations include:
- Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) Standards – a product standard accredited by the UK Accreditation Service, including assessment and testing of solution performance, safety and ergonomics, alongside inspection of its manufacturing environment.
- Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) Greenguard Certification – certification indicating that a product has been tested and certified to meet stringent emissions standards for over 360 volatile organic compounds and chemical emissions.
- Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method – also known as BREEAM, this is the leading built environment sustainability assessment method, and requires independent inspections.
- The Building Regulations – specific requirements and standards coded within the regulations may vary depending on the type of engineered surface, so a comprehensive understanding of the documents’ different parts is vital for architects.
- Going Beyond Aesthetics
Each surface should contribute to a building’s overall aesthetic and reinforce its purpose. However, form must never trump function, especially in highly regulated environments. Indeed, continued remedial work that may arise following a building’s handover can affect an architect’s reputation, but this risk can be mitigated if specification revolves around three simple factors: namely, longevity, durability and ease-of-maintenance in surface selection, which should be prioritised as standard.
Though all panelling of this kind is promoted on these strengths, the fact remains that product performance in this area, as in most others, exists on a spectrum. Closely considering practical advantages beyond aesthetic appeal will help create long-lasting solutions with a baseline level of performance, regardless of the environment or setting.
- High Traffic, High Durability
One factor that needs to be addressed as priority is footfall, especially in customer-facing environments. If engineered surfaces are present in a high-traffic area, it is vital that their durability are subject to added scrutiny. For areas such as reception desks, High Pressure Laminate (HPL) solutions may be more suitable than other options such as Melamine Faced Boards (MFB).
This is because HPL-bonded boards use a high-pressure manufacturing process that combines the decorative paper fixed to a substrate with six sheets of kraft paper and a protective overlay. By contrast, MFB only uses one layer, resulting in a less durable solution. For highly abrasive environments, architects may also wish to consider the merits of compact laminate, which thanks to its solid impact core, does not require edging. As a result, opportunities for potential damage in high-traffic areas are eliminated.
- Evolving Guidance
It must also be noted that sector legislation and best practice is constantly evolving, and stakeholders working within its confines need to adapt accordingly. With many architects working across multiple industries, keeping abreast of these updates can be difficult, but it is nonetheless necessary.
Consequently, the supply chain has a key role to play in helping architectural professionals to be aware of changing requirements and how this may impact the design process. As well as offering a consultative role, these organisations can also offer more formal learning opportunities. For example, Polyrey offers a RIBA-accredited CPD called Everything You Wanted to Know about Decorative Panels and Engineered Surfaces.
In conclusion, the role of interior aesthetics during refurbishment projects cannot be overlooked. Items such as wall coverings, doors and surfaces not only play a key role in establishing a building’s form and function – they also greatly impact the wellbeing and experience of occupants and visitors. However, with a vast array of engineered surfaces available, architects may require assistance with product section. It is therefore vital these project stakeholders seek out third-party expertise where appropriate to ensure a seamless and holistic design process.