Worldwide medical imaging technology manufacturer Medrad, of Warrendale, Pa., wanted to install a flooring system in its Pittsburgh manufacturing facilities that reflected the company’s commitment to environmental consciousness. Medrad provides equipment and services to hospitals and medical centers in more than 85 countries from 18 locations around the world. Medrad chose DiamondQuest, a proprietary flooring system from QuestMark, because not only did it meet the company’s green requirements but it was also a cost-effective and low-maintenance floor. DiamondQuest is a multi-step, progressive grinding process that recycles existing concrete floors that, when finished, looks a lot like polished marble.

According to www.eneref.org , ground concrete floors potentially contribute to LEED points in at least three categories. In the Energy and Atmosphere category, polished concrete could contribute to LEED points because they don’t employ VOC materials, and because the sheen actually increases the room’s ambient light. In the Materials and Resources category, the technology increases the lifespan of the already existing concrete floors. And, Innovation in Design may offer a third potential credit.

Even if it discounted the obvious environmental attributes, Medrad enjoyed other manufacturing benefits. The company now has a safe, easy-to-maintain floor that didn’t interrupt the manufacturing process during installation. Specialized metal-bonded diamond tooling was used to grind the concrete, creating a brand new looking floor with incredible sheen. Since no coatings were used in the process, there were no harmful fumes. Amazingly, the large floor was completed in just days, and because there was no waiting for materials to cure, the floor was immediately accessible after the process was completed.

To maintain air quality during the installation process, high-efficiency HEPA vacuums were used while grinding. As a result, virtually no dust was released into the building, preventing any contamination of the medical equipment manufactured at the Medrad facilities as well as keeping the work environment healthy and dust free.

To ensure ongoing air quality, the concrete was treated with liquid chemical densifiers, which also enhanced hardness and the floor’s ability to resist absorption of liquids. The resultant floor surface has an increased mass and compression strength and has elevated pH levels that reduce acid activity and penetration. With 1,200 employees in its Pittsburgh facility alone, having a dust-free hardened floor surface has proved invaluable according to Bob Thimons, Medrad facility manager. Would he recommend this floor for other manufacturers’ facilities? “Absolutely. In fact, we have standardized DiamondQuest as the specification for future flooring.”

Despite the floor’s shine, it’s very safe to walk on. Thimons noted, “When people first saw the floor they were concerned that because it is so shiny it might also be slippery when wet, but actually it isn’t. In fact, the coefficient of friction improves when wet.” This is backed up by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), which has certified DiamondQuest to meet the slip co-efficient of friction (SCOF) for safety.

Maintenance can also be as environmentally friendly and cost effective as the floor itself. DiamondQuest doesn’t require harsh chemical detergents for cleaning. And long-term maintenance costs are quite reasonable. “Unlike carpet or VCT, there is no material replacement for DiamondQuest. It doesn’t wear out, so there is no need for anything to be replaced like for other products. QuestMark polished it one time and we were done,” Thimons said.

Medrad is a key player in the U.S. Medical and Dental Equipment Industry, an industry whose annual production has exceeded $70 billion since 2002. Naturally, a company as innovative as Medrad — as early as 1964, its founder developed the X-ray technology that made it possible to visualize blood vessels inside the body — would be one of the first to choose a novel green flooring system. Hopefully, Medrad has set a trend for others to follow.