John Del Re qualifies as a modular carpet expert, having used the product in hospital applications since the 1980s. But with all his experience, he wasn’t sure about using modular carpet in high-traffic, high-maintenance areas.
September 28, 2006 - Facilities Management
John Del Re qualifies as a modular carpet expert, having used the product in hospital applications since the 1980s. But with all his experience, he wasn’t sure about using modular carpet in high-traffic, high-maintenance areas.
To test the idea, Del Re, now director of facilities at Memorial Medical Center, turned to Milliken Healthcare for an engineered modular carpet for an outpatient surgery area. When the carpet maintained its appearance, Del Re installed it in the cafeteria.
Encouraged, Del Re installed Milliken’s Sense in other areas including nurses’ stations, corridors and a pediatrics wing. The modular carpet uses a high-performance system called Carpets for Extreme Conditions that tufts Antron Legacy nylon fiber from INVISTA into a tight construction for durability and roller mobility.
The modular carpet product has performed so well that Del Re plans to use it in Memorial’s $160 million, seven-story expansion. “We have so much construction, we need flooring we can easily remove and put back down,” Del Re says.
The carpet line uses an adhesive-free backing called TractionBack that installs 30 percent faster than broadloom, according to the company. The carpets can be sent back to the manufacturer to be rejuvenated, redesigned and reused. Chemical formulations can be applied to keep carpet cleaner and prolong life, including AlphaSan antimicrobial treatment, Color Seal for bleach resistance and StainSmart for stain resistance.
Del Re’s experience has made him the in-house expert on modular carpet for other hospitals in the Sutter Health system. “My staff is really happy with modular carpet,” Del Re says. “Other facilities are starting to see the benefits, too.”
