Building Owners Seeking Healthier, Safer Indoor Spaces Can Turn to New Armstrong Ceiling Solutions to Ease COVID-19 Pandemic...
August 27 2020 - 9:00AM
Armstrong today announced that it is now offering its Health Zone™
ceiling systems and Clean Room Grid systems – currently
contributing to protection of staff and patients in hospitals and
healthcare facilities – to all building owners who want occupants
to be and feel safer indoors.
According to a recent McKinsey executive survey, on average, 88%
of the workforce will be back on-site by December. Given that
expected reality, employers will likely have two major concerns:
reducing workplace disease spread and helping employees feel safe.
Airborne transmission of pathogens can pose a threat to people
indoors, including tenants, employees, students and customers.
Armstrong solutions are designed to contribute to cleaner, quieter
and healthier spaces, all of which are important attributes to help
building owners address post-COVID-19 safety concerns.
A recent survey shows that 60% of architects and designers are
finding that most or all of their building owner clients are
discussing how to make their interiors safer and healthier because
of the pandemic. The three most popular actions beyond enhanced
cleaning are: space layout or reconfiguration changes (85%),
upgrades or changes to HVAC systems (64%) and the addition of walls
or dividers (61%).
Indoor air flow is impacted by many variables, particularly in
interior environments where air movement is affected by fans,
diffusers, ceilings, walls and people. Architects and building
owners looking to retrofit existing facilities or design new spaces
can incorporate products being used today to protect people from
diseases in healthcare environments, for use in any indoor
space.
“Healthcare organizations across the country are using negative
pressure rooms, gasketed ceiling systems and filtration devices to
reduce transmission of viruses,” said Dr. Jeffrey Siegel, leading
air filtration expert at the University of Toronto. “This approach
hasn’t been widely adapted to the workplace or education settings
yet but could provide a health benefit or cleaner air in those
settings.” Ceilings play an integral role in the effectiveness of
these approaches used in healthcare facilities.
Armstrong® Health Zone ceilings with BioBlock® Plus performance
resist the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew and odor on the ceiling
tile surface. Health Zone ceilings are also water repellent,
washable, sustainable, recyclable and safe for use with
CDC-recommended disinfectants.
Health Zone panels also exceed Facility Guidelines Institute
requirements for cleanability and acoustics in general healthcare
spaces. Health Zone ceiling panels can be paired with gasketed
Clean Room Suspension (grid) systems in areas where air pressure is
used to redirect contaminated air away from occupants. “In most
buildings, the ceiling grid and panels are effectively part of the
supply and return air ducting. Investing in a gasketed suspended
ceiling where there are concerns about recirculation of
contaminated air should be considered. This potentially helps any
effort to filter the air,” said Rives Taylor, director of Design
Resilience at Gensler architecture.
“Armstrong’s Health Zone ceiling systems, originally designed
for healthcare environments, can help meet the demands of creating
healthier spaces beyond healthcare,” said Victor Grizzle, CEO of
Armstrong World Industries. “As we collaborate with architects,
designers, building owners and leading experts, they consistently
reinforce the important role ceilings systems play in healthy space
designs. As the leader in ceiling systems, we have dedicated
resources to continue the innovation leadership required to meet
these changing design requirements. We are committed to providing
best-in-class healthy space solutions.”
New Infusions Translucent PartitionsBeyond the
ceiling, Armstrong is also introducing a new line of vertical
panels that provide a design-oriented approach to creating greater
separation between people. The nonporous and easily cleanable
translucent wall partitions can transform existing shared spaces
into protected and segmented zones. Placing physical barriers is
among recommendations in the American Institute of Architecture
(AIA) “Reopening America: Strategies for Safer Buildings.” Called
Infusions™ Resilient Partitions, these large format, standard 24" x
96" wall panels are easy to install and can reconfigure existing
layouts to meet social distancing guidelines. Unlike plain
plexiglass sheets, they are artfully designed in a variety of
patterns and colors and can be hung from ceilings or walls.
For more information about Health Zone ceiling systems, Clean
Room Grid systems, Infusions Resilient Partitions and Armstrong’s
broader portfolio of solutions for changing spaces, visit
armstrongceilings.com/healthyspaces. Chat live or reach a
U.S.-based Armstrong TechLine expert at 800-276-7876.
About Armstrong World IndustriesArmstrong World
Industries, Inc. (AWI) is a leader in the design and manufacture of
innovative commercial and residential ceiling, wall and suspension
system solutions in the Americas. With over $1 billion in revenue
in 2019, AWI has about 2,500 employees and a manufacturing network
of 14 facilities plus five plants dedicated to its WAVE joint
venture.
Media Contacts:Tom Jollie, Padilla 651-335-7897Cindy O’Neill,
Armstrong 717-725-9514
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9d92382-9219-4631-afad-c77396dc2b15
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