Altro Wood adhesive-free - Kaimes School, UK

Altro Wood adhesive-free sets a high standard at special school

Issue

Altro Wood adhesive-free safety flooring has been fitted in Kaimes Special School, in Edinburgh, setting a high standard for easy to fit, slip-resistant and homely surfaces for pupils and staff.

The installation was part of a wider refurbishment of the school by the City of Edinburgh Council, and integral to their drive to reduce sensory overload in primary and secondary schools by using ‘natural’ neutral colours and textures.

Approach

A spokesperson from the Interiors team at Edinburgh Council, says “We worked closely with Altro on Kaimes Special School, and they recommended their Altro Wood adhesive-free flooring for several reasons.

“The biophilic design principles of bringing nature into schools have been proven to aid learning, promote calm and improve mood among pupils. Using a wood-effect flooring is a great way to create that atmosphere, and this is why we use Altro Wood adhesive-free – it’s a beautiful, homely and comfortable surface that also has very high slip resistance. It ticks all the boxes for us.”

Solution

Nick Burge, headmaster of Kaimes School, says: “The feedback from pupils, staff and visitors has been nothing but positive, and the flooring is proving practical too, easy to clean and it looks as good as it did when it was fitted six months ago.”

The Edinburgh Council Interiors team also specified two other Altro surfaces for Kaimes Special School. Altro Wood Comfort was fitted in the primary school classrooms, where pupils have high levels of behavioural problems. This 2.85mm thick option gives comfort underfoot and offers 14dB impact sound reduction, and has matching colour and design options with Altro Wood adhesive-free. Altro XpressLay adhesive-free flooring was also fitted in some corridors and circulation areas.

Altro Wood adhesive-free creates maximum impact with minimum downtime. Using Altro’s award-winning adhesive-free installation method, it can be welded and walked on the same day, and at the end of its life can be removed easily, allowing it to be reused or recycled. Altro Wood Comfort offers aesthetics combined with comfort and safety. It’s an ideal choice for areas that need to look good while helping to give comfort underfoot.

With matching design and colour options across this range, both floors have 14dB impact sound reduction, a 10-year guarantee and Altro’s one in a million slip-resistance reassurance, the flooring offers high levels of comfort underfoot, providing a safe, durable and decorative solution for busy spaces.

"We use Altro XpressLay a great deal in our refurbishments and new builds. Like the Altro Wood adhesive-free it goes down so easily and quickly and can also be recycled, so it fits in with our principles too." Interiors team at Edinburgh Council

"The new wood-effect flooring in the dining room and forum looks fantastic, and it’s playing an important part in creating a space that is now warm, homely, calm and inviting."  Nick Burge Headmaster of Kaimes School