As people return to public spaces, two issues loom large: guiding individuals safely around the interior and reminding everyone to maintain a safe distance from each other. Wayfinding and zoning are simple ways to help people navigate your space, and flooring has long been a key component of the solution. Adding new visual cues beneath people’s feet helps coordinate their movement, reducing the likelihood of individuals coming into close contact. Tarkett is offering a suite of solutions aimed at helping businesses address these challenges, while creating appealing spaces for people to work, play, learn and heal safely.
A number of preconfigured wayfinding solutions from Tarkett make specification easy, and may be customized to meet individual needs. Die-cut shapes are available through the company’s Imaginations program in a wide variety of materials from modular soft surface to heterogeneous sheet vinyl. Designs include 24 in. x 24 in. arrow or footprint tiles that can be easily dropped into an existing floor to integrate clear distancing markers. Modular 18-in. circles are another way to mark appropriate distancing, while larger 6-ft. diameter circles help delineate individual workspaces or zones. Custom Powerbond area rugs offer yet another opportunity to add iconography and messaging onto the floor.
For LVT, 18 in. x18 in. tiles printed with “Stand Here” messaging are a simple and stylish way to integrate distancing markers into an existing space with the switch of a few tiles, whether a long- or short-term solution is needed. Also, arranging 6 in. x 36 in. LVT planks into arrow patterns is another easy way to provide subtle wayfinding.
“As the world begins to emerge, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and retailers are working to balance the reopening of the economy with the continued health and well-being of their people. Returning to public space presents a set of unprecedented challenges, and flooring can play a crucial part in addressing them,” said Leslie Thompson, director, workplace segment strategy. “Tarkett’s Human-Conscious Design is our promise that we will put people first in everything we do. As the world gets back to business, Tarkett has the knowledge, products and services necessary to guide you through the next normal.”
For completely customizable solutions, Tarkett’s Imaginations Custom Floor Design program enables architects, designers and facilities personnel to create custom die-cuts for carpet, LVT, rubber or resilient sheet. These can include specific designs, messaging or imagery, which can then be fabricated and shipped directly to the jobsite.
Tarkett’s Collections Infinies program is another unique solution for creating custom, digitally printed LVT with wayfinding and zoning elements. The collection lets businesses either co-create a brand-new design or recolor an existing design to suit their brand or theme.
Facilitating social distancing may also require expanding or repurposing existing space. Tarkett offers a wide variety of flooring options designed for fast installation, immediate occupancy and easy cleaning and maintenance, while also contributing to healthy indoor environments. iQ Optima sheet vinyl, for example, retains its superior wear, stain and abrasion resistance with just an occasional dry buff. No wax or finish is needed for the life of the product, and maintenance requires only a damp mop with a neutral cleaner. The series has earned the asthma & allergy friendly certification from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Tarkett also offers a number of innovative, safe adhesives, including RollSmart, which dramatically reduce the time needed for installation and curing. Installers are able to get in and out of buildings faster, lowering potential health risks and letting building employees get back to work more quickly.
