Resilient Flooring and Chemical Hazards: A Comparative Analysis of Vinyl and Other Alternatives for Health Care

As currently produced, no resilient flooring option commonly used in health care is perfectly hazard free. The material types vary considerably in the amount, extent, and exposure to PBTs and other chemicals of concern that are involved in each material's life cycle and in the potential for future improvement. There are many opportunities for specifiers and purchasers to encourage manufacturers to reduce or eliminate the use and production of PBTs and chemicals of High Concern, primarily in the linoleum and polyolefin alternatives. With encouragement from the marketplace, some resilient flooring manufacturers can readily reformulate their products to virtually eliminate the PBTs and CMRs from manufacture, use and disposal.