Many people mistakenly believe all antibacterial vinyl flooring offers the same level of protection. In reality, antibacterial flooring for hospital corridors may not meet the standards required for the frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals in operating rooms or laboratories. If the wrong type of flooring is chosen, the antibacterial layer will quickly erode, turning the floor into a breeding ground for bacteria instead of eliminating them.

Here’s the secret to choosing the right antibacterial vinyl flooring that suits your actual needs.

How to effectively choose antibacterial vinyl flooring.

To choose the right type of antibacterial vinyl flooring, users need to consider the intended use, traffic density, cleaning requirements, and aesthetic factors of each area.

Step 1: Assess the hygiene standards of the installation area

First, you need to determine: “How high is the risk of bacterial contamination in this area?”.

For spaces requiring strict hygiene such as operating rooms, laboratories, or cleanrooms, the flooring standards must go beyond ordinary antibacterial properties; it must withstand strong cleaning chemicals used in daily hospital cleaning procedures. Accordingly, homogeneous antibacterial vinyl sheet flooring is preferred, with an antibacterial layer integrated throughout the material, ensuring its properties remain undiminished throughout its lifespan.

For spaces with high traffic but lower cross-contamination risks, such as hospital corridors, clinics, international schools, beauty salons, spas, etc., you can also consider the multi-layer (heterogeneous) antibacterial vinyl flooring line to balance antibacterial performance, walking experience, and aesthetics.

If you only need basic antibacterial properties for homes, offices, small spas, or clinics, you can consider using LVT vinyl tile flooring, which has a surface coated with an antibacterial layer for better cost-effectiveness and easier replacement when needed.

Homogeneous Antibacterial Vinyl Flooring in Operating Room

Step 2: Choose brand and product line based on budget

In Vietnam, antibacterial vinyl flooring is divided into 3 segments: high-end, mid-range, and economy.

High-end segment: European/American Standards

This is the "gold standard" for top-tier international hospitals (JCI). Some notable brands include:

Gerflor (France), most famous for its Mipolam line and exclusive Evercare™ surface treatment technology (resistant to Iodine, Betadine, and potassium permanganate without staining)
Tarkett (Sweden): a direct competitor to Gerflor, nổi bật with its IQ Optima line that can self-heal its surface simply by dry buffing.
Polyflor (UK): a brand with over 100 years of history. Its medical flooring lines like Polyflor 2000 PUR or Polysafe meet ISO 22196 standards and have been tested to inhibit the growth of 99% of dangerous bacteria such as MRSA (staphylococcus aureus) and E. coli.

Note on origin: The specialized product lines mentioned above are manufactured directly in European factories (France, UK, Sweden, etc.) and imported as complete units into Vietnam. This ensures the products strictly comply with EU regulations on VOC emissions and antibacterial properties, which is entirely different from low-cost flooring manufactured in third countries.

Reference price range (materials): 450,000đ – 900,000đ/m² (depending on the line).

High-end Gerflor Antibacterial Vinyl Flooring

Mid-range segment

This is the most popular segment in Vietnam, offering a good balance between quality and price, suitable for private clinics, general hospitals, schools, and beauty salons.

LX Hausys (South Korea – formerly LG Hausys): A "national" brand in Vietnam. Very beautiful designs, with realistic concrete-look or fabric-look patterns. Stable quality.

Reference price range (materials): 280,000đ – 450,000đ/m².

Economy segment

These are antibacterial flooring lines from domestic Chinese brands or OEM products (private label manufacturing), with average quality but extremely competitive prices. Suitable for small-scale private medical facilities with low infection risks, such as veterinary clinics, small pharmacies, school infirmaries, or budget-friendly spas.

Reference price range (materials): 180,000đ – 250,000đ/m².

Step 3: Review technical specifications

After narrowing down the brand and price segment, you need to select a high-quality flooring line with the following specifications:

Flooring dimensions: 20m x 2m x 2mm/ 2.5mm. Thicker flooring offers better load-bearing capacity.
Antibacterial certifications and related scientific tests in documentation such as ISO 22196 or JIS Z 2801, quality standard ISO 10874 (EN 685), class 34 – 43 to ensure high durability.
Fire Rating: Bfl-s1 according to EN 13501-1 standard to ensure fire safety.
Slip Resistance rating R9 for dry areas, R10 – R11 for restrooms/wet areas according to DIN 51130, helping to reduce the risk of falls.
Achieve Floorscore certification or a TVOC after 28 days <10 µg/m³ index to ensure the air is free from harmful plastic odors.
Highest abrasion resistance (T group)
Electrical Resistance: approximately 10^6 – 10^9 Ohm if you need static dissipative (ESD) properties for equipment rooms; or ensure static generation < 2kV for ordinary office areas.

Gerflor antibacterial vinyl flooring with wood grain in a Ho Chi Minh City clinic

Step 4: Choose a supplier/installation unit

This is a crucial step to ensure you purchase genuine products and guarantee the longevity of the entire project.

Key criteria when selecting a supplier/installer:

Possess official distribution certification and complete documentation such as CO (Certificate of Origin) and CQ (Certificate of Quality).
Have an experienced and highly skilled installation team. You can request the contractor to provide references for similar medical or educational projects.
Provide technical support, maintenance guidance, and a comprehensive long-term warranty policy, ranging from 5 to 10 years depending on the flooring type.
In addition to material costs, request the distributor to provide a complete quote including installation, adhesives, auxiliary materials, and transportation costs. Simultaneously, compare multiple suppliers to ensure a balance between quality, price, and service.

Thien Ha Floor – A reputable supplier and installer of antibacterial vinyl flooring in Vietnam, with over 12 years of experience in projects for schools, hospitals, and other medical facilities nationwide.

We are currently an official distributor for many high-quality antibacterial flooring lines such as Gerflor, Tarkett, MIA, Polyflor, etc.

Contact Hotline 0909 192 557 for detailed consultation and the best quote!