Altro Walkway 20 Safety Vinyl Flooring

Altro Walkway 20 stands as a benchmark in safety flooring, offering a robust and reliable surface engineered for areas subjected to significant foot traffic. This 2mm thick sheet vinyl is specifically designed to minimise the risk of slips, achieving a PTV (Pendulum Test Value) of ≥36 and an R10 slip resistance rating. This level of performance provides sustained safety for the lifetime of the floor, crucial in environments like healthcare facilities, educational institutions, retail spaces, and busy commercial offices.

One of the key features contributing to its longevity and ease of care is the integrated Altro Easyclean™ technology. This PUR (Polyurethane Reinforcement) surface treatment significantly enhances cleanability, reducing the need for harsh chemicals and intensive maintenance regimes. It provides superior resistance to staining and scuffing, ensuring the floor retains its appearance and hygienic properties with simple cleaning routines. This makes it an ideal choice for environments where hygiene standards are paramount, such as hospital corridors, school classrooms, and commercial kitchens or canteens (though specific Altro ranges may be preferred for dedicated kitchen areas).

Durability is at the core of Altro Walkway 20’s design. It’s built to withstand constant use, resisting abrasion and impacts commonly encountered in busy public spaces. Backed by a 20-year guarantee and an expected lifespan of 25 years, it represents a cost-effective solution over the long term, minimising disruption and replacement costs. Its resilience makes it suitable for circulation areas, corridors, receptions, hospital wards, classrooms, shops, cafes, and various public sector buildings throughout the North West and the UK.

Aesthetically, Altro Walkway 20 offers versatility with a broad palette of 30 colours. The range includes practical, contemporary, and vibrant options, allowing designers and specifiers to create safe yet visually appealing environments. The colours can be used to define specific zones, aid wayfinding, or simply complement the overall interior design scheme. The non-sparkle finish provides a consistent and subtle appearance suitable for numerous applications.

Sustainability is also considered in the production of Altro Walkway 20. It is recyclable and contributes towards building assessment schemes like BREEAM. Choosing Altro Walkway 20 means selecting a floor covering manufactured with consideration for environmental impact, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable building materials. Grosvenor Flooring, as experienced suppliers and fitters of Altro products, can provide expert advice and professional installation services across Altrincham, Manchester, Wilmslow, Chester, Nantwich, and the wider Cheshire region, ensuring your safety flooring performs optimally.

Altro Walkway 20 Buying Guide

Choosing the right safety flooring is crucial for commercial and public environments. This guide helps you determine if Altro Walkway 20 is the ideal solution for your specific needs:

• Room usage / Location: Altro Walkway 20 excels in high-traffic commercial and public areas where safety underfoot is paramount. Think corridors, circulation routes, receptions, hospital wards, classrooms, shops, leisure facilities, and communal areas. While technically usable anywhere, its primary design focus is not typically residential settings unless specific, heavy-duty safety requirements exist.
• Lifestyle: This flooring is designed for busy public and commercial life, handling constant footfall, potential spills, wheeled traffic (trolleys, wheelchairs), and stringent cleaning regimes. If your space demands high levels of safety, durability, and hygiene, Altro Walkway 20 is a strong contender.
• Budget: As a high-performance commercial safety flooring, Altro Walkway 20 represents a long-term investment. While the initial cost per square metre might be higher than standard domestic vinyl or some basic commercial options, its 20-year guarantee, 25-year life expectancy, and low maintenance requirements offer excellent value over its lifespan. Factor in professional installation costs for an accurate budget.
• Durability & Maintenance: Exceptionally durable thanks to its 2mm thickness and robust construction. It withstands heavy wear and tear. The integrated Altro Easyclean™ PUR technology makes maintenance straightforward, reducing cleaning time and costs while ensuring optimal hygiene and stain resistance.
• Material Type Pros & Cons:
  • Pros: Excellent sustained slip resistance (PTV ≥36, R10), highly durable and wear-resistant, easy to clean and maintain (PUR technology), hygienic surface, wide range of colours, long guarantee (20 years), recyclable.
  • Cons: Primarily commercial aesthetic may not suit all tastes for residential use, requires professional installation using specific techniques (e.g., hot welding), higher initial cost compared to non-safety or lower-spec vinyl.
• Aesthetics & Style: Offers a broad palette of 30 practical, decorative, and vibrant colours with a consistent, non-sparkle finish. Allows for functional design (zoning, wayfinding) or coordination with interior schemes. While functional, the aesthetic is geared towards commercial and public spaces rather than luxury domestic interiors.
• Comfort & Sound: Provides standard underfoot comfort typical of resilient sheet vinyl. It offers some degree of impact sound reduction, contributing to a quieter environment compared to hard tile or wood, although specific acoustic performance data should be checked if critical.
• Underfloor Heating: Altro Walkway 20 is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems, provided the surface temperature does not exceed 27°C.
• Installation: Requires professional installation by experienced fitters familiar with commercial sheet vinyl. Correct subfloor preparation is essential. Seams are typically hot welded to create an impermeable, hygienic surface. Grosvenor Flooring provides expert supply and fit services for Altro products.
• Sustainability: Altro Walkway 20 is recyclable and contributes towards sustainable building certifications like BREEAM. Altro as a manufacturer has ongoing sustainability initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions about Altro Walkway 20

What is Altro Walkway 20 primarily used for?

Altro Walkway 20 is a heavy-duty safety vinyl flooring designed for busy commercial and public areas where slip resistance and durability are essential. Common applications include corridors, circulation areas, receptions, hospital wards, classrooms, shops, cafes, and other high-traffic zones.

Is Altro Walkway 20 slip-resistant?

Yes, Altro Walkway 20 offers excellent slip resistance. It achieves a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of ≥36 in wet and dry conditions and meets the R10 rating according to DIN 51130. This provides sustained slip resistance for the lifetime of the product, significantly reducing the risk of slips and falls.

How do I clean Altro Walkway 20 flooring?

Thanks to the integrated Altro Easyclean™ PUR technology, cleaning is straightforward. Regular sweeping or vacuuming to remove loose dirt, followed by damp mopping with a neutral cleaner, is usually sufficient. Its enhanced surface treatment resists stains and scuffs, reducing the need for intensive polishing or harsh chemicals.

Can Altro Walkway 20 be used with underfloor heating?

Yes, Altro Walkway 20 is compatible with underfloor heating systems. However, it’s important to ensure that the surface temperature of the flooring does not exceed 27°C (80°F) to maintain its integrity and performance.