Hygienic systems

Systems

We don’t just make floors and walls.   We make integrated systems: elements that work together to provide innovative solutions.  

Surfaces, joints and corners, from floor to ceiling, are impermeable and give you the confidence that when you clean your surfaces, no nasties are hiding.

Find out more about what we’ve done to become industry pioneers.

Altro’s integrated hygienic system

Altro's hygienic system is designed for working in kitchensHere at Altro, we were the first company to innovate a complete system of compatible hygienic wall cladding and floors. It's an integrated system, which means it fits together perfectly to provide a hygienic, watertight surface. This doesn't just offer the best possible protection against bacteria and vermin; it makes cleaning easy too.

Altro resilient flooring and Altro hygienic wall cladding are Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) approved (certificate number PE-615-ALT-RG-02 for flooring, PE-616-ALT-RG-02 for wall cladding), and are safe for food and medical environments, providing the hygiene and protection needed.

A complete system

Our entire compatible system of walls and floors is designed to provide a completely sealed environment, from floor to ceiling.

Altro hygienic wall cladding and floors have been engineered to work together: the joined surfaces stay that way – joined. This gives you peace of mind the surfaces will stay hygienically sealed.

Consistent quality

Altro products are always made from finest materials, which are consistent in grade and colour across every sheet, batch, joint and trim to provide uniform high performance and ensuring compatibility between Altro floors and walls.

Easy to keep clean

Used together, Altro hygienic wall cladding and Altro floors provide a robust, hardwearing surface that resists stains, odours and chemicals. PVC is non-porous and non-shedding – nothing gets in and nothing gets out. PVC has a very high impact resistance, preventing damage that can trap bacteria compared to traditional surfaces.

Altro's hygienic system is designed for working in kitchensDetailing

Effective detailing

We know the devil’s in the details. That’s why our hygienic wall cladding and floors have been constructed to maintain their integrity and meet the strictest hygiene standards. Our complete system is designed to provide a perfect fit, with no gaps or rough edges around joints and details. As there are no openings where dirt can be trapped or bacteria and vermin can breed, maintaining excellent hygiene becomes a whole lot easier.

A fully sealed system

Altro hygienic wall cladding is a fully-bonded system with effectively sealed edges, abutments and jointing systems. It can even be sealed around pipes, ventilation outlets, light switches, plug sockets and other fixtures and fittings.

Our floors are also fully sealed. When joined together with Altro hygienic wall cladding, they form a watertight covering - from floor to ceiling.

Thermoforming

Because Altro hygienic wall cladding is thermoformed around internal and external corners and window sills on-site when it’s installed, it forms an uninterrupted surface that’s resistant to impact and damage. There’s no need for unsightly corner trims which can form potential dirt traps that are difficult to access and clean.

Joint forces

Joints and junctions are a key part of system integrity. There are two really popular ways of creating junctions between your hygienic wall cladding and floors. One is the overlap method, where the wall cladding overlaps the floor and the junction is sealed with mastic.

The other is the transition strip method, which uses a transition trim to seal the junction between floor and wall. They can be hidden transitions, which still has an overlap, or a single or two-part trim, which closes the gap but is visible.

When you install hygienic wall cladding, smooth, secure joints make cleaning easier and help stop dirt, moisture, bacteria or vermin from moving in. Altro wall cladding can be secured using one of four different types of joint:

  1. Welded: the most hygienic joint, it’s flush to the surface, and the only one suitable for clean rooms and operating theatres. It’s also suitable for general hospital use and kitchens.
  2. Single-part: used for safety reasons, it's ideal for secure units as it can't be pulled off.
  3. Two-part: the quickest and easiest joint to fit, it's aesthetically pleasing and forgiving on an uneven surface. Often used in kitchens, it can be used almost anywhere except specialist clean areas where a welded joint is recommended.
  4. Altro Whiterock FlexiJoint: a slim, aesthetically-pleasing joint unique to Altro and available in pre-cut lengths. It can be used nearly everywhere apart from specialist clean areas where a welded joint is recommended.

Installation best practice

Altro's flooring and wall cladding hygienic system working for JaguarWhat's the best way to install a system?

We recommend using one of the specific installation methods described below to make sure Altro systems perform best in hygienic environments.

Sticking together

Some hygienic wall cladding products are installed using the 'dot and dab' method, where patches of adhesive are applied at intervals. This method doesn't create full contact between the wall cladding and the substrate beneath. And this forms voids where vermin and insects can live.

We do things a bit differently: we recommend our wall cladding is always installed with a layer of adhesive applied to the whole underside of the wall cladding, with no gaps. This makes sure the finish is fully bonded and there are no voids.

In hygienic environments our floors are also fully bonded to the substrate, giving a watertight finish. The only exception to this is our loose laid safety flooring range, which is still welded and sealed to provide a hygienic, impermeable environment.

Jointing method

For environments such as hospitals and kitchens where the need to maintain a clean environment is vital, we would specify the hot welded joint as the only joining method to ensure the highest standards of hygiene are maintained.

To create a welded joint, a weld rod is passed through a heated nozzle which softens both the weld rod and the edges of the Altro wall cladding or floor sheets at the same time, heat-fusing the materials together. This type of joint is the simplest to clean because it forms one continuous flat surface.

Learn more about the joint welding method.

Expert installers

When it comes to installing Altro systems, we recommend using an Altro Whiterock Partner Installer. Hand-picked for their high level of skill and expertise along with their commitment to our quality values, Altro Whiterock Partner Installers are trained by ourselves and audited to ensure the highest standards are maintained, to provide you with the service you expect from Altro.

We also run training sessions for flooring contractors to fill them in on the latest industry standards and techniques in fitting Altro floors. That way, they have hands on experience, helping them to understand how to get the best out of Altro products. We have been working with flooring contractors for decades and have built up great relationships with them, so if you want some help finding the right one for your job, please give us a call.

Find out more about Altro Whiterock Premier Installers.