Self-cleaning floor

A self-cleaning floor is a surface that has the ability to clean itself without external action. This ability is usually performed through automated pods set to dispense water regularly. Such floors are designed for hygienic usage, especially in places that require constant maintenance and cleaning, like hospitals and washrooms. In Europe and a few African countries, many ceramic tiles and sanitary ware manufacturers have products on the market with self-cleaning features.

Hospitals
The Grabo Silver Knight resilient floor covering is the first photocatalytic self-disinfecting surface. Its self-disinfecting property is accomplished through the use of Nano-Silver and Nano-TiO2 particles. This product is targeted towards the health sector, aiding in preventing the spread of infection in hospitals.

Dairy
The Cozy Floor is a self-supported, self-cleaning hot water heated floor system, designed to eliminate the use of bedding under calves.

Food processing facilities
The SunWash self-cleaning floor coatings provide a washable finish and are developed to withstand high traffic and humid conditions in food processing facilities.

Food service
Mechline Developments’ Sani-Floor consists of a suction pump and automatic waste lifting. The system is intended for use in any food production area to take care of spills hygienically and safely.

Public restrooms
Many public toilets, such as the Sanisette, have utilized self-cleaning floor mechanisms.

Conceptual designs
The Smart-Floor is a concept designed by Svetozar Belogrozdev of Swansea Metropolitan University. It is a self-cleaning floor design that is intended to prevent dust and dirt from settling. Regulated vacuums cycle through the floor constantly while intelligent pressure sensors detect if there is anything in the room and automatically regulate the vacuum going through the tiles. The Smart-Floor is one of the six UK designs that won the top 100 designs in Electrolux Design Lab 2013.

Another approach to self-cleaning floors involves the use of central vacuum systems beneath micro-perforated raised floor tiles. These systems create a small negative pressure to automatically collect all dust and dirt.