The FGI Guidelines for Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities go into considerable detail on requirements to prevent falls:
- To prevent falls flooring should have no pattern or a small pattern less than 1” wide or a large pattern wider than 6.” Flooring should have low-contrast patterns.
- Use of flooring material that is flexible and “gives” should be reviewed to reduce injury to residents who fall.
- Use of non-glare finished floors should be considered to avoid compromising vision and potentially disrupting balance of residents.
- Flooring surfaces shall provide smooth transitions between different flooring materials.
- Slip resistant flooring required in bathing areas, ramps, and entries.
- Slip resistant flooring required in kitchens with all joints sealed.