According to Kaiser Permanente’s Thomas Cooper, Manager of Strategic Sourcing and Technology, “For Kaiser Permanente, developing a sustainable approach to the way we design, equip, build, maintain and commission our buildings is essential to our vision of creating environments that celebrate health across generations. Our efforts to remove PVC products from our facilities are directly related to the adverse effect PVC has on our environment and health.”

During a 2 1/2-year search for appropriate alternatives to PVC products, Kaiser Permanente studied a variety of resilient flooring options including linoleum, laminate, rubber and polymeric flooring. A special research committee evaluated each manufacturer on product performance (especially maintenance), healthcare product line and environmental criteria. “We also conducted pilot projects at four of our sites, performed in-house testing for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and staining and conducted staff surveys,” said Cooper. “As part of our research, we monitored product installations and maintenance, conducted national site visits of installations at other healthcare institutions and public buildings with very high traffic, interviewed references across the country and evaluated first cost impact on construction projects.” Kaiser Permanente also developed a business case that included installation and maintenance costs and health issues.