VI Launches a Task Force on Durable Coated Fabrics

The Vinyl Institute has brought together an interdisciplinary group to address the performance parameters of durable coated fabrics in healthcare settings. The goal is to educate stakeholders and ensure that vinyl manufacturers, designers, chemical cleaning manufacturers, and environmental services staff are collaborating to mitigate fabric failures in ambulatory, acute, and long-term care settings.

Task force participants agreed to address nine priority items:

• educating designers on the appropriate applications of durable coated fabrics in healthcare settings
• identifying cleaning processes and chemicals used in healthcare settings
• completing a healthcare durable coated fabrics selection guide and checklist
• identifying performance testing gaps
• developing a healthcare durable coated fabrics characteristics listing matching to existing performance testing
• engaging cleaning and disinfectant manufacturers
• developing a manufacturer-produced training program
• understanding environmental services cleaning protocols
• developing a business case that includes the full, real-life cycle product failure costs

The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID) has agreed to host a resource page on its website to share information about the task force’s work with members of the healthcare design community and other interested parties.

The group, which meets monthly, features healthcare interior designers and environmental services professionals from some of the largest healthcare systems in the northeastern U.S. along with healthcare design firms, cleaning and disinfectant product manufacturers and distributors, vinyl coated fabrics manufacturers and distributors, healthcare furniture manufacturers, and product association leads from the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association (CFFA), the Association for Contract Textiles (ACT), and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers (BIFMA).