CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskWhich paint grades are appropriate for care environments, and how to specify correctly for hygiene and compliance.
Standard trade emulsion is not appropriate for care home bedrooms and bathrooms. Specify a washable, wipeable paint in all areas that require regular cleaning -- typically a mid-sheen or satin finish emulsion with a scrub resistance rating to BS 7719. For wet rooms and bathrooms, specify a dedicated bathroom or kitchen paint with mould-resistant additives. For areas with high infection control requirements (isolation rooms, treatment rooms), specify a tested anti-microbial paint and obtain the manufacturer's test data confirming efficacy against relevant organisms including MRSA and norovirus.
Internal wall and ceiling finishes in care homes must meet minimum fire performance standards under the Building Regulations (Approved Document B) and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. For bedrooms and common rooms, the wall and ceiling finish must meet Class 1 surface spread of flame (BS 476 Part 7) or Class C-s3,d2 under the Euroclass system. Most trade emulsion paints exceed this requirement, but intumescent or specialist paints must be used in specific locations -- confirm with your fire risk assessor if in doubt. Retain data sheets for all paints applied.
Paint failure -- peeling, flaking, poor coverage -- is almost always attributable to inadequate preparation rather than paint quality. Before any redecoration, all surfaces should be: cleaned of grease and contamination, rubbed down to key the existing paint, all cracks filled and allowed to dry, any mould treated with a biocide and the source of moisture addressed, and a suitable primer applied to any bare or repaired areas. BS 6150:2006 (Code of practice for painting of buildings) is the relevant British Standard. Do not allow contractors to 'cut corners' on preparation -- the programme saving is always outweighed by the cost of early failure.
Water-based paints have significantly lower VOC (volatile organic compound) content than solvent-based paints and are the standard specification for occupied care homes. VOCs cause irritation of the airways and eyes, and are particularly problematic for residents with respiratory conditions. Specify only water-based products in all areas accessible to residents. When stripping or overpainting old solvent-based finishes, ensure adequate ventilation and carry out work when residents are not present in the immediate area. Keep the safety data sheet (SDS) for all paints used on site for reference in case of any adverse reaction.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.