Technology & Services
a report by
DuPont d e Nemours I n t . SA
In the late 1960s a new material was invented by
DuPont de Nemours that changed the face of
surfacing materials forever. DuPont, based in
Wilmington in the US, is one of the world’s largest
chemical and research companies. Produced
exclusively by DuPont, Corian® combines natural
minerals, state-of-the-art polymers – some of which
are already used in other fields of medicine – and
pigments to produce a solid, dense, non-absorbent
material available in more than 100 stunning colours
and aesthetics.
Corian® is already recognised for its combination of
durability and inherent hygienic properties, and is
becoming well established within the healthcare
field. It can be used wherever clinical cleanliness and
long-term cost-effectiveness are important. Corian®
is consistently specified for hard-working critical
areas – such as ward kitchens, surgery scrub rooms
and laboratories – and is the natural choice for all
healthcare applications.
The Features and Benefits of Corian
Corian® is an inert, non-toxic and hypoallergenic
material. It is non-porous and does not absorb liquids
or chemicals, nor will it harbour bacteria or fungal
growth, thereby reducing the risk of cross-infection.
Completely solid and homogeneous, Corian® can be
inconspicuously joined to create large areas of
continuous horizontal and vertical surfaces. Sinks and
bowls also made from Corian® can be integrated into
the surface without visible seams and, additionally,
coved backsplashes and waterfall edge treatments can
be formed in Corian®, thus providing a completely
contained hygienic area. As work surfaces made with
Corian® have no visible joints or inset sinks, it is easy
to ensure that they stay clinically clean.
In most hospital environments, furniture installations
have traditionally been made of laminated
board materials, such as chipboard and plywood.
Laminate is a very tough material while intact.
However, once it is damaged in any way (chipped or
scratched, for instance), it is impossible to be sure
that it is properly clean.Damaged worktops, doors and drawer fronts made
from laminated board harbour bacteria and greatly
increase the risk of cross-infection. Corian® provides
an effective solution to this problem, making it the
perfect work surface for clinical environments,
particularly in high-risk areas such as pathology,
endoscopy and sterilisation areas. Even when new,
conventional work surfaces have areas such as mitre
joints and end-caps that are difficult, or impossible,
to clean. Corian® does not have this problem, being
completely seamless when finished.
From a design point of view, Corian® is highly
versatile. It can be moulded or thermoformed, creating
almost limitless design opportunities and ensuring that
manufacturing costs are kept at a minimum.
The greatest issue facing ‘infection control’ managers
and ward staff of today’s hospitals is the control of the
spread of cross-infection. The implementation and
maintenance of cleaning regimes become much
easier with Corian®.
DuPont™ Corian® – The Original Solid Surface
Figure 1: Corian® sheets can be inconspicuously joined to create wall cladding
in one piece for an operating theatre
Nowhere in a hospital is the risk of cross-infection
more important than in an operating theatre.
Corian® meets the healthcare industry requirement
of having airtight and seamless internal wall surfaces.
Corian® can provide hygienic, clean, one-piece
seamless wall surfaces in a wide range of colours,
providing improved asepsis and hygiene control.
Corian® AB™, with its active antibacterial agents, is
designed to help combat the risk of cross-infection
and cross-contamination. The highly effective builtin
antibacterial agents, evenly dispersed throughout
the material, will not lose effectiveness with use, age
or repeated cleaning. In fact, periodical use of mildly
abrasive cleaners and abrasive pads will actually
renew the surface and keep antibacterial activity at its
peak. This added protection provides the all
important ‘safety net’ support to existing active
cleaning and hygiene regimes.
Corian® AB™ has been rigorously tested by the
Centre for Applied Microbiology & Research
(CAMR) in the UK and the world-famous Pasteur
Institute and has proved to be most effective at
combating the most common bacteria, including
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),
Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Salmonella. It is estimated that crossinfection
cost the National Health Service (NHS) £1
bullion a year – MRSA outbreaks have increased 12-
fold in the past 10 years.
Corian® is at work in many hospitals throughout the
UK and Europe. For over 10 years, the Birmingham
Heartlands Hospital has specified and used Corian® for
its laboratories, nurses’ stations and reception areas, and
the material is also being specified for the hospital’s ongoing
refurbishment programme. Stephen Hinckes,
Estates Manager, feels that it has been a worthwhile
investment in a climate of tight hospital budgets, saying
that: “It offers peace of mind. We’ve been very happy with
the guarantee and excellent aftersales service.”
Corian® has also been installed at Ninewells
Hospital at the University of Dundee, the
Endoscopy Units at both Basildon Hospital and
James Paget Hospital (see Figure 2) and London’s
Guys Hospital, among many others.
“Infection control was the biggest issue in our choice of
materials,” says Brian Tate of the James Paget
Healthcare NHS Trust. “You cannot achieve that level
of control with laminates or timber. there were other
factors too, such as ease of use and they way it can be
shaped and repaired.”
Malva-Rosa Hospital in Valencia, Spain, has recently
completed a refurbishment of four operating theatres
clad in Corian® and, in Italy, the WAND SYSTEM,
which uses Corian® as an integral part of its unique
gas-tight system, has been used in many hospitals.
Today’s modern hospitals demand three main factors
from their working surfaces: they must be effective
and hygienic; durable and repairable; and offer
excellent long-term investment.
The fact that healthcare environments are among the
most testing and demanding of commercial
environments explains why Corian® is consistently
specified for the following areas:
• operating theatres
• nurses’ stations
• surgical trays
• reception desks
• endoscopy units
• public washrooms
• crash trolleys
• showers
• mobile units
• cafeterias/restaurants
• maternity wards
• ward kitchens
• special baby care units
• dentistry
• pharmacies and dispensaries
• internal and external signs
• pathology
• dentistry
• laboratories
• shelving
C o r i a n ® – T e c h n i c a l Support
Hospital users have found Corian® to be an extremely
Technology & Services
Figure 2” Corian® is thermoformed to create an attractive semicircular
reception desk at the James Paget Hospital
DuPont™ Corian® – The Original Solid Surface
durable material. Even if it does become accidentally
damaged, it can be repaired in situ, at a convenient
time, to minimise loss of use of the facility – a vital
benefit for a busy hospital. The material’s design
flexibility also means that, if necessary, it can be
reshaped, extended and even relocated with
minimum cost and inconvenience. Not only does this
extend the useful life of the material, it also makes it
an excellent long-term investment.
Corian® is acknowledged as the world leader in solid
surfacing with over 30 years of experience. A team of
professionals is available to offer design assistance and
technical support for the most demanding of projects.
A worldwide team of international and local DuPonttrained
Quality Network-approved Fabricators and
Service Centres are also available to ensure that all
aspects of your design and installation are carried out
under the strict guidelines set out and monitored by
DuPont Corian®. DuPont warrants all installations
for a full 10 years, providing additional peace of mind.
Corian® is a trademark of E I du Pont de Nemours &
Company. Only DuPont makes Corian®.
Contact Information
For further information about Corian® please visit
http://www.corian.com or http://www.corian.co.uk
Telephone 0800 962 116 in the UK or 1800 553
252 (Ireland) for design assistance, technical
support, certification, samples and the new
healthcare brochure.