Healthcare

If there is a sector for which the compact material KRION® is highly recommended, it is the health sector, as its anti-bacterial properties and additive-free composition make it the perfect material for medical centres, clinics, hospital rooms and even operating theatres, where maximum hygiene conditions are necessary.

In addition to these characteristics, the solid surface developed by Systempool has the characteristic of being completely aseptic and easy to clean, making it suitable for use in spaces of the health sector that require it. Furthermore, the chemical soldering between the different pieces and the possibility of curving them allow us to create continuous surfaces without joins or corners, preventing the accumulation of microorganisms which may contaminate rooms, hospital clinics, treatment rooms or operating theatres, thus reducing the apparent risks.

KRION® in projects of the health sector

Discover all the health projects in which the solid surface KRION® has been essential for obtaining totally clean, adequate spaces, without giving up the innovation and modernity that characterises this material.

KrionÂ®: A design bacteriostatic surface

We continue to get to know a little more about the interior of Krion® and its physical and technical features. This time, we will talk about its bacteriostatic character. A specially important property for the healthcare and catering sectors in which ensuring... a hygienic and germ-free environment is key. One of the main advantages of Krion® over other materials on the market is its additive-free bacteriostatic character. Although there are other materials which have this quality, they have achieved it by combining bactericidal liquids. The problem with this type of anti-bacterial solutions is that, over time, these products may lose effectiveness and the pathogenic microorganisms can become immune to these types of chemical biocides, and furthermore, they can grow on the surface again. This bacterial resistance does not happen on Krion® surfaces, since we are dealing with an additive-free material. Properties of Krion® which facilitates the absence of bacterias With the condition of Krion® as an almost zero-porosity surface, contributes an atmosphere free of bacteria and microorganisms that are not able to reproduce. This impossibility of bacteria proliferation favours the creation of aseptic atmospheres which guarantee the healthiness of spaces in medical settings. Gastronomically speaking, this almost zero porosity, together with the transformation of the material with imperceptible joints, they make it an ally for such special environments. Furthermore, the material from PORCELANOSA Grupo is totally aseptic. A feature that, together with its easy-to-clean properties, make it perfect for using in spaces which require total hygiene standards. Other properties of our solid surface which prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms: the chemical welding between the pieces and the possibility of curving them; this results in the creation of continuous surfaces without joints or edges. Some of the features that prevent the build-up of microorganisms that pollute spaces. K·Life: the added value Krion® K·Life 1100, contributes to non-proliferation of pathogens, turning it into a aseptic surface thanks to its composition and properties. All of this together with the aforementioned properties, make it become the adaquate surface for hospital settings. In this way, although all projects require a minimum degree of hygiene safety, the values achieved by Krion® regarding in terms of resistance to chemical and cleaning agents standards, make it the most efficient and effective option for health-and-gastronomy-related atmospheres.The health and safety aspects offered to people are greater than those that other materials such as wood, quartz, marble and granite can provide. What do bacteriostatic and bactericidal mean? To understand fully what Krion® bacteriostatic quality consists of, it is important to know the meaning of bacteriostatic and bactericidal, since the terms are commonly confused. What does it mean if a surface is bacteriostatic? The word “bacteriostatic” has two parts: "bacter" and "static". "Bacter" is a prefix that clearly refers to bacteria. For its part, "static" comes from the Greek "stasis" and means stopping. When something is static, it cannot move. So, when a surface or product is bacteriostatic, it means that it can stop bacteria. By acting on their metabolism, a bacteriostatic product can completely stop the growth of bacteria and their reproduction, by depriving them of food that helps them to multiply, leading eventually to their death. It is essential for the materials we use daily, such as kitchen surfaces, or those in bathrooms, to have bacteriostatic properties. Krion® Pillow Pink countertop Bacteriostatic surfaces are not only easier to clean, but also ensure that microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, cannot multiply. This is clearly of vital importance in the home and even more so in healthcare environments. The different bacteriostatic products that we can find on the market include Krion®. As it is almost completely non-porous, microorganisms do not find places to lodge or food that would help them to multiply. Fungistatic and bacteriostatic coatings, such as Krion®, are the best option for covering sensitive areas in clinics, care homes, nurseries and hospitals. What does bactericidal mean? This term is better known. The word "bactericide" consists of two parts: "bacter" and "cide". "Bacter" again refers to bacteria and the suffix "cide" comes from the Latin verb "caedo" which means to kill. If a product is a bactericide, therefore, it means that it kills bacteria. Acting on the cell wall and the enzymes, the bactericide prevents the bacteria from living. Bactericides include the following: Bactericidal cleaners. They are usually in liquid form and are normally used for cleaning, especially in food environments. Anti-pathogenic surfaces. These are surfaces coated in substances that destroy pathogens by physical or chemical interaction, or the emission of antibacterial agents or biocides. The difference between bacteriostatic and bactericidal Now that we know the definition of bacteriostatic and bactericidal, let us examine more closely how they differ from each other. First of all, they differ in the way each of them acts. A bactericide eliminates bacteria, while a bacteriostatic product stops the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. While bacteriostatic products inhibit the synthesis of the proteins in the bacteria, bactericides act on the cell wall, altering or interfering with the bacteria's DNA metabolism to kill it. Does this mean that bactericidal surfaces are better than bacteriostatic surfaces in the fight against microorganisms? In fact, they are not. The bacteriostatic effect also leads to the death of the bacteria, which cannot proliferate and end up disappearing. > Study on the behavior of Krion® against viruses The main difference lies in their effectiveness. A bactericidal surface may become less effective when the additives necessary to kill bacteria are present in reduced amounts. However, this does not happen with a bacteriostatic surface, such as Krion®, where no additives are needed to achieve the bacteriostatic effect. Krionâ“‡ is, therefore, a surface whose bacteriostatic properties do not decrease over time, making it equally safe throughout its working life for use with food or even in hospital environments.

The benefits of KrionÂ® KÂ·Life in hospital atmospheres

Although any area that people come into contact with must meet certain hygiene and safety conditions for the user, there are certain places where cleanliness levels must be extreme. We are talking about healthcare environments, where every detail that can influence the hygiene of a space... counts. Be it clinics, hospitals, medical consultations or cosmetic centres, healthcare environments require materials, tools and protocols that ensure an environment free of bacteria and pollutants. A good choice of materials is essential for preventing the spread of pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, especially now that we are living with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a need and a responsibility of architects, entrepreneurs and designers to generate environments that are safe for people who are going to use the hospital or other health facilities. As a result of the need to find materials that are beneficial to health-related environments, various studies have been carried out to understand the behaviour of viruses on a Krion surface. The prestigious architecture, engineering and hospital management portal Hospitecnia has published an article about Krion® K·Life 1100 and how the material creates better hospital environments. The benefits of Krion® K·Life in Healthcare spaces As a primary requirement for use in healthcare spaces, any material must have a series of certificates issued by independent bodies that guarantee the safety of the facilities and the users. KRION has numerous health and safety certificates, including: REACH, GREENGUARD, A +, EPD, BPA FREE, as well as two certificates that give us the category of healthy product, HPD (Health Product Declaration ) and DECLARE. REACH: This is a European compliance record and assessment, the purpose of which is to improve the protection of the environment and human health against all risks that may arise due to the use of certain potentially dangerous chemicals in materials. GREENGUARD GOLD and A+: This certificate guarantees that a product has been designed for indoor spaces and that it complies with strict limits on chemical emissions (VOCs) for more than 10,000 chemicals, being safe for hospital or school environments. DECLARE and HPDs: Thisis a transparency certification that mainly shows the ingredients of materials to verify their safety level for both the health of people and the environment. EPD: This isa type III eco-label that is based on the life cycle analysis to assess the environmental impact of a product. In addition to certifications that guarantee the safety of this material, these are some of the advantages of Krion® K·Life for the healthcare sector highlighted by professionals: Easy cleaning: With almost zero porosity, Krion® does not allow dirt and pollutants to penetrate the material. Its imperceptible joints also assist cleaning, as there are no hard-to-reach corners where germs can accumulate. Resistance to chemical agents: Health spaces must absolutely ensure that the hygiene of the place is thorough. Therefore, aggressive compositions are often used to disinfect and kill bacteria. Krion® is resistant to these types of materials, ensuring the integrity of the surface and its durability. Customisation capacity: It adapts perfectly to the designs of healthcare centres to guarantee the health and well-being of users. The thermocurving property contained in our solid surface, helps to adapt it to the environment under the established professional requirements. A functional environment must go hand in hand with an aesthetic and friendly environment that works with patient care. Zero porosity: This capacity has been tested using different methods or water absorption tests. KRION has been introduced into ambient water and boiling water and the amount of absorbed water has been analysed. The result has always been 0.07% of the water absorbed, i.e. practically zero porosity. Asepsis: The surface is aseptic and very easy to clean thanks to its zero absorption. KRION's aseptic quality is accredited by trials such as Wear & Cleanability CSA & IAMPO. It also holds the NEMA LD3, ISO 19712 and UNE 56867 certifications, which guarantee its resistance to stains and chemical agents. Bacteriostatic capacity: Several studies have been conducted based on ASTM G-22, ASTM G-21 and ASTM Standard D6329 and all have yielded positive results: Krion® prevents the growth and spread of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi. Krion® K·Life's solid surface combines some of the properties most valued by customers; being able to improve the quality of the environment, which is fundamental in healthcare environments.

Krionâ„¢ Colors, a universe of colours for your solid surface

Krion™ Colors offers a universe full of colours and tones in a multitude of formats to create unique projects — such as kitchens, bathrooms or wall surfaces — that are bursting with life and are primed for other materials and decorative elements. One of the great... advantages of Krion™ solid surface sheets is that they retain their colour and durability over time, as their mineral composition allows them to stand up to blows and cracking. This characteristic keeps the solid surface sheets unchanged from day one. In addition, Krion™ solid colours come in multiple finishes, including high gloss, satin, matte and sandy, depending on the aesthetic needs of the space. Lastly, solid surface sheets can be pieced together with no visible joins to bring continuity to the design. Now you know why Krion Colors are setting the trend, delighting architects and interior designers and offering endless possibilities in interior design. Series and colours Snow Series Material composed of top-quality mineral fillers and acrylic resins. Snow White by Krion is the ideal solution for any design project, including the kitchen or bathroom. Its pure white colour can be fully integrated with any other decorative material to generate a space full of elegance and light. Krion® K·life 1100 Colors Series The Colors Series range is characterised by soft pastel colours that are perfect for warmer and welcoming spaces where you can relax and feel at ease. Krion® Colors Pillow Pink Colors + Series If there is anything that sets the Colors + Series apart, it's certainly its vitality. Choose from a wide range of colours to develop cosmopolitan and daring projects that are full of personality, permeating rooms like kitchens and bathrooms with colour and freshness through solid surface worktops. Krion® Colors Imperial Yellow Light Series This series is characterised by its bright, fresh and gentle tones that create welcoming and comfortable spaces. Since it is a translucent material that lets light pass through, it is ideal for decorating straight or curved backlit surfaces. Nature Series An ecological series inspired by nature and distinguished by the Eco-Cycle® seal. Its solid surface sheets are manufactured in large part with recycled Krion™ for a sustainable and top-quality design. Its range of colours offers a very natural touch for pleasant and eye-catching spaces. Krion® Colors Granite Nature Star Series The quintessential series that shines bright thanks to microparticles full of reflective metallic details. Its light base tones will bring peace and serenity to your decorative designs and generate beautiful hues with a shiny effect. Krion® Colors Atlantic Blue Royal Series If you want your workspaces to have the appearance of natural stone, Royal Series is your choice. Its range of natural colours created using crystalline particles offers continuity and homogeneity by eliminating joints â — ideal for sanitary applications with trim and curved corners. Enjoy all the above alongside the range of properties provided by Krion Solid Surface. Krion® Colors Crystal White Asteroid Series A classic yet daring series for projects with a unique style. The solid surface sheets are composed of particles that produce a sense of disorder while contributing harmony to the surface through different colours. Krion® Colors Asteroid Cream Royal + Series Royal + Series sheets represent the pure essence of natural minerals. This is our most innovative series thanks to its metallic and transparent particles, making it perfect for designing working surfaces, like kitchen countertops, and giving it a look similar to natural stone. All this comes in addition to the properties of Krion Solid Surface, where continuity and homogeneity take centre stage by eliminating joints â — ideal for sanitary applications with trim and curved corners. Its wide variety of colours and different finishes bring a natural feel to the space. Terrazzo Series A series inspired by timeless terrazo but adapted to the latest design trends. Give a classic yet daring touch to your spaces with Terrazo Series solid surface, featuring a wide range of colours that combine perfectly with other materials. Krion® Colors Griggio Classico Luxury Series Sophistication and elegance go hand-in-hand with the Luxury Series, offering a range of colours inspired by natural stone that are full of natural beauty and are perfect for creating refined and cosmopolitan spaces. All while guaranteeing the benefits offered by Krion Solid Surface. Krion® Colors Carrara Black Art Veins Series Inspired by natural stone, the Art Veins Series is perfect for creating elegant spaces thanks to its subtle, defined lines that are full of character. Its curated colours feature small particles that bring a sense of depth for a bold, modern design that is ideal for workspaces and other surfaces. Krion® Colors Nero Palazzo Opale Series An original series inspired by marble that will bestow movement and light on your decorative projects thanks to bright and intense steaks that simulate the flow of water. Discover how its backlighting produces new lines and shapes that will bring life and texture to your space. Krion® Colors Opale Verde Materia Series This series is perfect for creating joint-free surfaces that enliven the decorative space with texture and continuity. Choose the Materia Series solid surface to satisfy the latest demands of interior design and architecture, always with the maximum guarantee of the technical features offered by Krion. Browse our catalogue to take a more detailed look at the infinite possibilities offered by Krion Colors when designing your projects. Krion® Colors Materia Luce

KrionÂ®, a safe and sterile material for healthcare settings

The properties of Krion® Solid Surface make it one of the most highly-rated materials for these spaces Laboratories, clinics, pharmacies and hospitals are just some of the places where installing Krion® is the best option. In this article we'll look at exactly why, and how important... installing Krion® in healthcare settings really is. The properties of Krion® Thanks to its properties, Krion® has the benefit of being one of the best materials for use in healthcare settings. Let's take a look at some of them. Bacteriostatic Equipment manufacturedin Krion® has bacteriostatic surfaces, without the presence of any bactericides in its composition. Thanks to its zero porosity, it prevents microorganisms from settling on the surface, preventing them from spreading. This means any dirt remains on the surface and won't seep in, making it easier to clean and disinfect. This material guarantees your surface remains free from germs and is fully sterile and aseptic. This is why it's completely suitable and safe when in contact with medical equipment. No joints or corners Surfaces made with Krion® can be made to be completely continuous, without any joints or corners. Connections are sealed using a special Krion® adhesive, creating an imperceptible join and completely smooth finish, thus guaranteeing a continuous surface. And what's more, its thermoforming capacity and mechanised production allow for seamless joins between walls and corners, meaning it can be adapted to every corner without sacrificing continuity. This stops the proliferation of pathogens in joints, and makes the surface easier to clean and disinfect. Durable and resistant Thanks to its mineral composition, Krion® can be easily repaired without altering any of its properties. It's also extremely resistant to blows and scratches, making it incredibly durable. Fire resistant material Krion® is highly fire resistant. This is demonstrated by the compact material's Euro Class B-s1-d0 certification. Chemical resistant Resistance to chemicals is, of course, particularly important in healthcare settings. It guarantees the durability of the material, which is resistant to continuous cleaning and disinfection and will remain visually unaltered. Sustainable Krion® is 100% recyclable, and is an environmentally inert material. And it also holds Greenguard, A +, BPA Free, Declare, HPD and NSF certificates, all of which back up its sustainable credentials. Krion® in hospitals and operating rooms Krion® is used in various healthcare spaces, from hospitals and operating rooms to treatment rooms and dental clinics. Its innumerable features and properties make it the perfect option for installation in places that need to be fully disinfected. Because it's bacteriostatic and easy to clean, this is the ideal material for installation in healthcare settings. Healthcare products In terms of healthcare settings, various options of no-overflow sinks and washbasins made in Krion® are available. These have been specially designed for healthcare settings and minimise dirt and bacteria Virus-free, protected laboratories Finally, we can't end our article on the properties of Krion® Solid Surfaces without mentioning how they act in the face of viruses. One study observed the behaviour of specific viruses deposited on Krion® material without any treatment, compared with the same virus' behaviour on a plastic surface. There was an 88.75% reduction in viral activity of the influenza A virus during the first 2 hours of contact with a Krion® surface, whereas the reduction on a plastic surface was 18.44%.

How do viruses behave on a Krionâ„¢ surface?

Up to now, at Krion we have had first-hand knowledge of how bacteria acted on Krion™ surfaces, which are non-porous, have no visible joins and can form curved edging to make maintenance easier. However, current circumstances call for special attention to the behaviour of viruses, to... respond to the queries submitted by our associates regarding the infectivity of viruses on Krion™ surfaces. The study was carried out by the Virology Research Services Ltd. laboratory in the United Kingdom, using the FID50 counting system, on a Krion™ surface. During the study, an inert plastic surface of the type commonly installed in health centres was used for comparison. Two types of safe virus were chosen for this scientific study. The first was the HCoV-NL63 coronavirus, which belongs to the SARS-CoV-2 family. It affects humans but is not lethal. The second was another potentially dangerous virus, Influenza A, which causes common flu and has a great impact on society during the year. Conduct of the study The Virology Research Services Ltd. laboratory was responsible for depositing the non-lethal human coronavirus HCoV-NL63 and the Influenza A virus on an untreated Krion™ Snow White 1100 surface and on a plastic surface for comparison, following the modified ISO 21702 standard. The Virology Research Services Ltd. laboratory. The infectivity of the HCoV-NL63 coronavirus was 82.22% lower 24 hours after coming into contact with a Krion™ surface, while in the case of plastic the reduction was 55.28% over the same period of time. After 48 hours, infectivity was 97.25% lower, compared with 98.45% for plastic, and after 72 hours it was 98.22% lower, compared to 98.45% for a plastic surface. There was an 88.75% reduction in the activity of the Influenza A virus during the first 2 hours of contact with a Krion™ surface, whereas the reduction on a plastic surface over the same period was 18.44%. After 24 hours, the presence of the virus on the Krion™ surface was reduced by 99.73% compared to 99.97% on plastic and after 48 hours it had decreased by 99.98% compared to 99.99% for plastic. Results of the study by The Virology Research Services Ltd. laboratory. We may conclude that the reduction in infectivity of both viruses on a Krion™ surface indicates a lower likelihood of infection. Krion urges everyone to follow the health and safety recommendations issued in the current pandemic to prevent the spread of infection. Krion™ Solid Surface: resistance and safety The most advanced mineral compact on the market is synonymous with resistance and safety thanks to its ability to withstand impacts and solar radiation. It is also non-porous, with imperceptible joins, maximising hygiene and preventing the proliferation of bacteria. Krion offers excellent mechanical properties and aesthetic qualities, always following the latest design trends, making it the ideal solid surface for any type of project, whether residential or in the hotel and catering sectors.