A self-cleaning floor is a surface that has the ability to clean itself without external action. This ability is usually performed through automated pods set to dispense water regularly. Such floors are designed for hygienic usage, especially in places that require constant maintenance and cleaning, like hospitals and washrooms. In Europe and a few African countries, many ceramic tiles and sanitary ware manufacturers have products on the market with self-cleaning features.[1]

Floor of a public toilet in Germany, designed to be cleaned automatically

Industrial applications edit

Hospitals edit

The Grabo Silver Knight resilient floor covering is the first photocatalytic self-disinfecting surface. Its self-disinfecting property is accomplished through the use of Nano-Silver and Nano-TiO2 particles. This product is targeted towards the health sector, aiding in preventing the spread of infection in hospitals.[2][3]

Dairy edit

The Cozy Floor is a self-supported, self-cleaning hot water heated floor system, designed to eliminate the use of bedding under calves.[4]

Food processing facilities edit

The SunWash self-cleaning floor coatings provide a washable finish and are developed to withstand high traffic and humid conditions in food processing facilities.[5]

Food service edit

Mechline Developments’ Sani-Floor consists of a suction pump and automatic waste lifting. The system is intended for use in any food production area to take care of spills hygienically and safely.[6]

Public restrooms edit

Many public toilets, such as the Sanisette, have utilized self-cleaning floor mechanisms.

Conceptual designs edit

The Smart-Floor is a concept designed by Svetozar Belogrozdev of Swansea Metropolitan University. It is a self-cleaning floor design that is intended to prevent dust and dirt from settling. Regulated vacuums cycle through the floor constantly while intelligent pressure sensors detect if there is anything in the room and automatically regulate the vacuum going through the tiles. The Smart-Floor is one of the six UK designs that won the top 100 designs in Electrolux Design Lab 2013.[7]

Another approach to self-cleaning floors involves the use of central vacuum systems beneath micro-perforated raised floor tiles to allow a small negative pressure to be pulled so that all dust and dirt are automatically collected.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/reports/reportpdf/report162.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ nurun.com (2013-09-16). "Bright and shiny | The London Free Press". Lfpress.com. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  6. ^ "Self-cleaning floor grating wins award". Cleanroomtechnology.com. 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  7. ^ "Electrolux Design Lab: Top 100 become Top 50". The Design Sheppard. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 2017-04-21.