Operating rooms: your complete technical system guide

For areas where there will be regular spillages, we recommend a moisture-tolerant adhesive. AltroFix 19 Plus is a two-part polyurethane adhesive that, once cured, is not affected by spillages of water and other liquids.

As with any public building, the type of floor you choose should be determined by a risk assessment. For operating rooms we recommend Altro Orchestra. At 2.85mm thick it offers comfort under foot for staff who are on their feet for hours at a time, plus it has excellent resistance to residual indentation caused by wheeled equipment. Altro Orchestra cuts impact sound by up to 15dB, ideal in areas where concentration levels are high. It also offers good chemical resistance and Altro flooring is fully compatible with vinyl clamping drainage systems.
  Combined with Altro Whiterock, Altro Orchestra creates a complete hygienic, impermeable system that’s easy to clean and maintain. We have information on cleaning, plus downloadable cleaning guides.

We offer weld rods that match our flooring, plus training on this and every aspect of installing an Altro floor.

For an area where hygiene is crucial, choose Altro Whiterock. Watertight and impervious, this fully bonded walls system gives bacteria and vermin nowhere to hide.  Not only this but its smooth finish is easy to wipe, steam or power-wash clean.  
Altro Whiterock White, and Altro Whiterock Satins which have 20-year guarantees, have been designed to fit perfectly with Altro floors and doors, forming a sealed, watertight system. Both Altro Whiterock and Altro vinyl floors can be hot welded with a colour-coordinating weld rod.  Jointing trims are also available for Altro Whiterock as an alternative.
Altro Whiterock is normally installed after the flooring - ensure that the flooring is protected from mechanical damage or spillage of adhesive during the installation. You can find our downloadable installation guidance here.

Cove former is fitted at the junction of wall and floor before the flooring is installed. Use of this profile enables the flooring to be coved up the wall to the required height.  We recommend that the cove detail is fixed using a contact adhesive, please consult your preferred manufacturer for recommendations.   

The use of a concealed transition strip, behind the Altro Whiterock sheet, will provide a recess at the base of the wall sheet which allows it to overlap the flooring. The wall sheet is then sealed where it meets the flooring using AltroMastic flooring sealant. The detail provides a neat and attractive finish and ensures that spillages and cleaning water will run down the walls and onto the floor, without compromising the integrity of the system. An additional advantage is that should you want to replace the flooring at some point in the future, this can be done without removing the Altro Whiterock sheet. For more information on the concealed transition strip, watch our short film.

There are several ways of joining adjacent sheets of Altro Whiterock. One option is to hot weld the joints using a colour-coordinating welding rod. For full details on how to do this, we have a short video. Follow this by silicone-sealing all abutments and exposed edges.

We recommend using a combination of Altro adhesive and application tape to adhere Altro Whiterock. The tape is positioned at the top, middle and bottom of the sheet. To help the tape stick to the substrate, use Altro W165 Primer. See this installation step in action here.

You have a choice of adhesive depending on the surface you are installing Altro Whiterock onto. AltroFix W139 two-part PU adhesive will bond the wall sheet to the majority of surfaces, including ceramic tiles, and is water-resistant. AltroFix W157 can be used to bond Altro Whiterock on clean, dry, absorbent surfaces only. If you use this adhesive over impervious substrates, such as ceramic tiles, it will not set.

Altro Whiterock should be installed on a surface that is sound, dry and free of contaminants. See our short video on setting out your wall sheet.

This is a quick and simple way to join Altro Whiterock wall sheets together in a way that cannot be removed once the sheet is fixed. Single-part trims are designed for hospitals, prisons and other areas where the trim could be removed and used to harm the individual or others. Unlike with the two-part trim, a small chamfer is applied to the sheet to make it easier to fit the single-part trim.

Two-part trims are ideal for general purpose applications outside of critical care and secure areas. Once fitted they overlap the exposed edges of adjacent sheets of Altro Whiterock, providing a neat and easily cleaned watertight finish.

Leave a 2-3mm expansion gap between the wall sheet and ceiling, then use a colour co-ordinating AltroMastic, ensuring that the wall sheet has been cleaned first and that the protective cover has been removed.

Allow the flooring to lap up the wall an even distance on each side of the internal angle. Then force the material to a point and, at the same time, push it down into the angle until it touches the base of the cove former. Next, using an appropriate knife, cut the flooring from the base of the cove former to the outer edge, where the flooring comes to a point. Last, fold one side into the angle and cut off the surplus. Repeat the process with the other side until the mitre is fitted neatly. Find our technical guidance here.

Thermoformed corners look great and, because there is no break in the sheet, are a more hygienic way to fit around corners. We work on thermoforming in our Altro Whiterock training school. For a quick refresher, take a look at our two minute video.

The most attractive and hygienic way to fit Altro Whiterock around a window is to thermoform it into the reveal, 3mm short of the frame. Fit a trim, or hot weld, to join the remaining vertical joins above and below the window reveal. The expansion gap between the wall sheet and the window frame should be filled using AltroMastic, as should the angles where the horizontal and vertical sections of the wall sheet meet. We work on thermoforming in our Altro Whiterock training school. For a quick refresher, take a look at our two minute video.

Our doorsets are custom-made, hygienic, low-maintenance and meet the necessary fire standards for public buildings. They are available covering either side, or both sides, of the door to match your chosen shade of Altro Whiterock. To help protect staff from accidents, we recommend choosing a vision panel. Opting for hinges which allow the door to open both ways is also recommended to accommodate wheeled trollies. To reduce areas that harbour bacteria and discourage staff from using their hands, we recommend push plates rather than door handles. To discuss the type of handle you require, please give us a call. 

Once the Altro Whiterock has been fitted, use AltroMastic in a coordinating colour, to seal the small expansion gap between the wall panels and the doorframe.

Where possible, light switches and plug sockets should be removed before the wall sheet is installed. If this isn’t possible, simply measure the position of the socket or light switch is, and transfer the measurements to the Altro Whiterock wall sheet, leaving a 2-3mm expansion gap around each one. Cut out the shapes using a jigsaw, and following all recommended health and safety guidelines. For guidance on setting up your work station, see our video. One the wall sheet has been installed, fill the expansion gaps using AltroMastic in a coordinating colour.