Dulux Trade
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Dulux Trade provides sustainable solutions for unique healthcare project
Dulux Trade has teamed up with top healthcare contractor Willmott Dixon to highlight the very latest innovations in building sustainable healthcare facilities. Dulux Trade has provided a selection of specialist paint products for the Willmott Dixon Healthcare Campus - a unique project based at the BRE (Building Research Establishment) Innovation Park in Watford, showcasing a range of cutting edge solutions for constructing more environmentally friendly healthcare buildings.
For this project, Dulux Trade created a custom-built specialist paint based on three of its existing products - Sterishield, Light & Space and Diamond - drawing on its in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector.
Sterishield from Dulux Trade is ideal for use in healthcare settings due to its silver compound active ingredient which inhibits bacterial growth, to fight infection and promote a more hygienic patient environment. This was combined with Dulux Trade Light & Space - a ground-breaking product containing highly reflective particles that reflect light back into a room more effectively than standard paints. In addition to significantly increasing perception of interior space in a room, up to 20 per cent less light is required, saving energy and reducing costs. And finally, the durability of the Dulux Trade Diamond range was added to give paintwork increased resistance to withstand regular cleaning and last longer before it needs retouching.
For interior trim, ultra eco-friendly Dulux Trade Ecosure undercoat and gloss were selected. Developed in conjunction with global sustainability specialist, Forum for the Future, the Ecosure range of paints has been formulated to minimise its environmental impact, while delivering outstanding performance.
Like the bespoke specialist paint, all Ecosure products are water-based, meaning they are naturally low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), giving them less embodied carbon and making them more environmentally friendly than solvent-based formulations.
Mike Clarke, Health Manager at Willmott Dixon comments: "We were attracted to Dulux Trade by its revolutionary Light & Space product, but we loved the bespoke combination of Light & Space with Sterishield and Diamond to address the key challenges faced by the healthcare sector - hygiene, durability and sustainability. Visitors to the campus have also been impressed - feedback on the specialist paint has been excellent."
The Willmott Dixon Healthcare Campus addresses sustainability issues throughout the build process, and has itself incorporated greener building practices, including the Environmental Wash System from Dulux Trade. This is the first unit on the market to provide an environmentally responsible way of washing out painting tools, by converting water-borne paint washings into clear water and solid waste, allowing for easier and safer disposal. All paint cans have also been recycled via the Dulux Decorator Centre recycling programme which encourages painters and decorators to dispose of leftover paint and cans responsibly.
With the NHS's target to make all new buildings carbon neutral by 2018, sustainable building practices have never been such a hot topic in healthcare construction. As the market leader in performance coatings, we are continuously looking for ways to lower the environmental impact of our products as part of our 'Step Towards Greener' philosophy. With our specialist knowledge of the requirements of the healthcare sector, we are ideally positioned to advise the industry on making practical and affordable choices for constructing innovative and sustainable buildings for the future.
The Willmott Dixon Healthcare Campus is also part of INSITE 09 - an exhibition attracting thousands of visitors from the design and construction industries wishing to learn more about sustainable building practices.
