Decorating to infection-control housekeeping standards

Segregating the work zone properly

We build a physical barrier — usually a zip-door polythene enclosure with negative pressure extraction where sanding is involved — rather than trusting an open doorway and good intentions. Anything less risks dust travelling to a clean area faster than a mop can catch it.

• Zip-door enclosures used for any sanding or cutting work
• Negative pressure extraction fitted where dust generation is significant
• Enclosure integrity checked at the start of every session, not just once

Tools and materials that don't cross zones

Equipment used inside a clinical work zone stays in that zone. We don't carry a step ladder or a bag of tools from a contaminated area straight into a clean corridor without it being wiped down first, and we keep a dedicated set of tools for higher-risk rooms wherever the job justifies it.

The end-of-day terminal clean handover

Before we leave any clinical area at the end of a session, we carry out our own damp-wipe down of hard surfaces and remove all waste, then hand the room to the site's own cleaning team for their terminal clean rather than assuming our tidy-up replaces it. That handover is agreed with the infection control lead beforehand, not improvised on the day.

Choosing coatings that support cleaning, not just looks

In clinical rooms we specify hygienic, washable systems that tolerate repeated chemical cleaning without dulling or breaking down, and we avoid textured or porous finishes in any area subject to routine disinfection. The finish has to survive the cleaning regime, not just the paint job.

• Washable, low-porosity finishes specified for all patient-contact surfaces
• Textured or matt finishes avoided where chemical cleaning is routine