Effects Of Flooring Research Articles

Effects of Concrete Block Flooring on Greenhouse Microclimate and Floor Surface Heat Balance

Greenhouse floor management is essential for effectively utilizing solar energy in horticultural production. Covering soil floors with concrete is one method of greenhouse floor management. This paper assesses the effects of this method on greenhouse microclimate and floor surface heat balance by comparing two adjacent single-span greenhouses, namely, an “interlocking concrete block floor” greenhouse (ICFG) and an “uncovered soil floor” greenhouse (SFG). During days with high solar radiation in 2019 winter, the maximum air temperature was 10.0°C lower, and the average vapor pressure was 0.5 kPa lower in the ICFG than in the SFG. On clear nights, the average air temperature was 1.6°C higher in the ICFG than in the SFG. The concrete floor had a higher albedo than the soil floor. This contributed to the lower daytime temperatures in the ICFG. The lower heat absorption by the concrete during the day was more than compensated for by a larger total transmission of heat from the ground to the greenhouse air at night due to the greater thermal conductivity of concrete. These results indicate that replacing soil floors with concrete floors could help farmers avoid temperature extremes and high daytime humidity without requiring external energy derived from fossil fuels or other sources.

Kinetic effect of different ground conditions on the sole of the claws of standing and walking dairy cows

For the first time, we analyzed the direct kinetic effects of concrete and rubber flooring on the soles of live dairy cows' claws while standing and walking. Ten adult dairy cows were equipped with foil-based pressure sensors (HoofSystem, Tekscan Inc., Boston, MA) under their left hind leg using a leather claw shoe. These sensors captured parameters of pressure distribution and vertical ground reaction forces while the cows walked on the 2 tested flooring types. The mean pressure was 15.1 to 21.1% lower on rubber flooring compared with concrete; mean pressure values (± standard deviation) were 36.32 ± 7.77 N/cm2 for static measures and 57.33 ± 11.77 N/cm2 for dynamic measures. We observed an even more obvious relief on rubber flooring in the maximum pressure loads, which were 30.1 to 32.7% lower on rubber flooring compared with concrete; mean pressure values (± standard deviation) were 98.79 ± 14.49 N/cm2 for static measures and 150.45 ± 20.87 N/cm2 for dynamic measures). The force-time curves of the dynamic measures essentially showed biphasic curve progression, with local peaks at 29 and 79% of the stance phase. However, we found considerable differences in curve progression between individuals and between the lateral and medial claws, which may be verified in further investigations with more animals. The study showed a noticeable reduction in mechanical load during standing and walking on rubber flooring compared with concrete.

Effects of Compliant Flooring on Dynamic Balance and Gait Characteristics of Community-dwelling Older Persons.

Compliant flooring while providing the impact force attenuation in the event of falls, its low stiffness characteristic might impair balance and gait which consequently resulted in an increase in the risk of falling. To investigate the effects of compliant flooring on dynamic balance and gait performance of older adults under challenging conditions. A cross-sectional designed with repeated measured. Thirty five community-dwelling older adults (mean age 74.91 ± 6.51 yrs) participated in this study. Modified Dynamic Gait Index (mDGI) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) were used to assess dynamic balance. Spatio-temporal gait parameters were measured under comfortable and maximal speed. All tests were administered on the vinyl and compliant flooring in random order. The time taken to complete TUG and the mDGI scores were similar between the two flooring types (p ≥ 0.05). Overall, gait characteristics were comparable when walking on the compliant and vinyl flooring for both speeds except for swing time, step time, and cadence. The present study demonstrated that compliant flooring did not significantly affect dynamic balance and had minimal effects on gait characteristics. The compliant flooring appears to be safe for installing in self-ambulating older adult's home.

Effects of Roof Ceiling and Flooring on Microclimate of Shed and Physiological Indices of Crossbred Jersey Cows

Effects of Roof Ceiling and Flooring on Microclimate of Shed and Physiological Indices of Crossbred Jersey Cows

The utility of infrared thermography for evaluating lameness attributable to bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a leading cause of lameness in broilers. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a noninvasive technique for measuring infrared radiation from an object and can be used to evaluate clinical health. Two replicated studies compared the effect of light intensity on broilers grown on a wire flooring model that experimentally increased their susceptibility to and incidence of BCO lameness. Day-of-hatch male broiler chickens were placed into 6 pens on wood shavings litter, and at 1 wk one of 3 light intensity treatments (2, 5, or 10 lux) was allotted. At 4 wk half of the population from each pen was moved to a pen with wire flooring and the same light intensity. At 1, 4, 5, and 8 wk, an IRT image of the legs of 5 clinically healthy broilers from each pen was taken. The right and left proximal femora and tibiae of sound and lame broilers were scored for femoral head necrosis (FHN) and tibial head necrosis (THN) lesion severity. There were minimal effects of light intensity and flooring. In Study 1, but not Study 2, broilers on wire flooring weighed less on day 38 (P = 0.007) and days 57 to 58 (P = 0.003) compared to those on litter. The proportion of broilers that became lame on wire flooring was 52% in Study 1 and 14% in Study 2. The proportion of sound broilers from litter and wire flooring pens with subclinical signs of BCO in their right or left proximal growth plates was over 45% for FHN and 92% for THN, and lame broilers had more severe (P < 0.0001) FHN and THN compared to sound broilers. IRT surface temperatures of the hock joint, shank, and foot were consistently lower (P < 0.0001) in broilers that became lame when compared to sound. Therefore, IRT surface temperatures of broiler leg regions may be useful for detecting lesions attributed to BCO.

Effects of Roof Ceiling and Sand Flooring on Microclimate of Shed and Physiological Indices of Crossbred Jersey Cows

Effects of Roof Ceiling and Sand Flooring on Microclimate of Shed and Physiological Indices of Crossbred Jersey Cows

Effects of Impact-Absorbing Flooring in Residential Care from the Perspectives of Enrolled Nurses

ABSTRACTFalls are a daily occurrence in nursing homes and few interventions for reducing fall-related injuries have proven to be effective. Impact absorbing flooring (IAF) in residential care has shown promising results in reducing fall-injuries and in the process of developing and implementing IAF all aspects are valuable to explore. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study is to describe the enrolled nurses (ENs) experiences of IAF. We carried out focus group interviews with ENs and used content analysis to process the data. The ENs experienced both negative and positive aspects with the IAF. Importantly, the ENs perceived the IAF as effective in preventing fall-injuries. They also appreciated the improvements in acoustics. Negative aspects were that the flooring initially was challenging to walk on and that it made it harder to maneuver heavy equipment. A significant and transferable finding in this study was the importance of the ENs' perceived difficulty in preventing fall-injuries amongst elderly people living in nursing homes. This seemed to be a driving force to accept the intervention. Although IAF affects the working conditions in a nursing home, ENs are willing to accept these issues given the perceived effectiveness of the intervention.

Study protocol for the Flooring for Injury Prevention (FLIP) Study: a randomised controlled trial in long-term care

BackgroundA promising strategy for reducing the incidence and severity of fall-related injuries in long-term care (LTC) is to decrease the ground surface stiffness, and the subsequent forces applied to the...

Effects of flooring and rearing system on hoof health of dairy cows in some selected areas of Bangladesh

A survey was conducted to explore prevalence and risk factors of diverse hoof disorders on dairy cows at Chittagong and Patuakhali, Bangladesh from June 2012 to February 2013. About 2103 cows were examined from where 497 cases identified having fissure (37%), crack (19%), partially broken (19%), swollen hoof (16%) and multiple disorders (9%) in backyard dairy cows whereas 37%, 17%, 20%, 20% and 6% in commercial cows, respectively. Significantly higher prevalence (p&lt;0.05) was recorded in cows reared under concrete floor (68.4%) compared to brick (13.27%) and concrete with rubber bedding (18.3%). Other major conventional risk factors were season, age, milk yield and washing practiced on floor though the results were not significant (p&gt;0.05). The study has remarked frequency of hoof diseases in the survey areas along with factors causing risk to dairy cows.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v43i2.20714 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (2): 132-137

Effects of Flooring and Hemi Body on Ground Reaction Forces and Coefficient of Friction in Stroke Gait

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of flooring and affected hemi body on the ground reaction forces and on the required coefficient of friction (RCOF) in stroke barefoot gait. Twenty-four volunteers participated in this study, being 12 stroke patients and 12 age-matched healthy subjects as control group. The participant was oriented to walk barefoot, on its own preferred speed, over two force plates on the following flooring: 1) homogeneous vinyl (HOV); 2) carpet; 3) heterogeneous vinyl (HTV); 4) mixed (the first half part of the pathway were covered by HOV and the second by HTV). All the four surfaces presented safe coefficient of friction (ranging from 0.44-0.55) and they are widely used in residences and public facilities. The flooring effect was found on RCOF during the toe off for the affected and unaffected side. Moreover, differences among hemi bodies for RCOF in heel contact and toe off phases were also observed. The control group presented higher RCOF than the stroke unaffected and affected side, and the unaffected showed higher friction than the affected side. In conclusion, the gait of stroke patient was altered due to the four flooring tested in the toe off phase.

Effects of flooring, topping, and underlayment on impact sound insulation of wood-joisted floor-ceiling assemblies

Footstep impact noise transmission through floor-ceiling assemblies is a major source of complaints in wood-framed multi-family buildings. Experience shows that adding a finishing-topping-underlayment sandwich on a base floor-ceiling assembly significantly affects the noise transmission. So far, no reliable tool has been developed for designing the proper sandwich and most proposed solutions rely basically on trial and error. FPInnovations has launched a major research project to develop such tools. First phase of the project is focused on understanding the effects of flooring, topping and underlayment on the impact sound insulation. A mock-up assembly simulating a pair of typical stacked rooms was built. Standard field impact sound transmission tests were conducted on floors topped with a 1.2m by 1.2m four-layer sandwich patch. By varying the combination of flooring, topping and underlayment, over 50 patches were tested to better understand the effects of the type of materials in each layer on the assembly's overall impact sound insulation. Based on a large number of tests conducted so far, it is evident that proper combination of flooring, topping and underlayment produces satisfactory impact sound insulation on wood-joisted floor-ceiling assembly. Verification testing on the assembly fully covered by the 4-layer samples is under way.

Effects of rubber flooring during the first 2 lactations on production, locomotion, hoof health, immune functions, and stress

Some housing systems on dairy farms can result in long-term chronic pain. The effects of acute pain on immunity have been explored, but chronic pain’s influence on immune responses is still poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine chronic effects of flooring on immune responses and production in freestall housing for dairy cows. Thirty heifers were studied from before calving as first-calf heifers until d 180 of their second lactation. Treatments were rubber (Kraiburg; Agromatic Inc., Fond du Lac, WI) flooring or concrete with diamond grooves in a freestall barn, each in 2 quadrants of the barn. Heifers entered the treatments after calving, so the system was dynamic and each cow was considered an experimental unit. At the end of the first lactation, cows were housed in a bedded pack barn with pasture access until calving was imminent. At that time, they returned to their assigned treatment, but not necessarily into the same quadrant. Production, reproduction, cortisol, acute-phase proteins, and health data were recorded throughout lactation 1, locomotion was scored weekly, and hoof scoring and care was conducted on d 60 and 180 of lactations 1 and 2, and quantitative real-time-PCR of blood leukocytes was analyzed in mid lactation of lactation 1. Mature-equivalent milk fat, milk protein, and protein percentages during the first lactation were greater for cows on the rubber flooring. Hoof and leg therapy treatments per cow were fewer for rubber floor-housed cows. Locomotion scores were less for cows housed on rubber during the second lactation. White blood cell counts were less for cows housed on rubber, and caused by greater lymphocyte counts for cows housed on concrete. The possibility of chronic inflammation was substantiated by less IL-1β and more IL-1 receptor antagonists for cows housed on rubber at d 150 in the second lactation. Cortisol and acute-phase proteins did not differ between the treatments. Interferon-γ, IL-12, the modulator of tissue reconstruction (B-cell-transforming growth factor 1), and pain-modulating neurokinin (tachykinin 1) were not different at d 105. These data show indicators of chronic inflammation for cows housed on the concrete flooring compared with those housed on rubber. Implications for the use of rubber flooring in freestall barns are broader than just lameness and may affect many aspects of cow physiology and production.

Evidence based design for hospital corridor noise control—Center for Health Design

Armstrong participated as a member of a joint research group including the Center for Health Design and Palomar Pomerado Health in San Diego, California. The goal of this research was to evaluate the effects of flooring and ceiling choices on Corridor Activity Noise, and its perception by both patients and healthcare professionals for 2 material choices: 1. corridors with carpet and standard acoustical ceilings, and 2. corridors with hard flooring and high performance acoustical ceilings. This work was managed jointly by the PPH and CHD, the acoustic measurements were taken by CMSalter Associates, and materials and some data analyses were provided by Armstrong. Test results showed that substitution of a hard surface flooring material for carpeting resulted in a net increase in corridor noise levels with the expected patient and medical professional perceptions of increased annoyance and distraction. However, if the hard surface flooring is combined with a high performance acoustical ceiling, then the rise in noise due to the floor surface is negated with the added absorption of the improved ceiling, such that the result is equivalent in level and perception by both patients and staff.

Effects of flooring and restricted freestall access on behavior and claw health of dairy heifers

Claw health, locomotion, feed intake, milk yield, body weight, activity, and lying and standing behavior of dairy heifers were monitored in a single dairy herd during the first 3 mo after calving. During the first 8 wk after calving, 2 treatments were applied: restricted freestall access by closing the stalls between 2300h and 0500h (yes or no) and alley flooring (concrete or rubber topped slatted floors). Apart from treatments, housing was identical. The animals were kept in small groups (n=4 to 6) in adjacent barn pens. Thereafter, the animals were kept in 1 group in a freestall section with concrete slatted floor and unrestricted access to the stalls for 5 wk. All animals were fed the same partial mixed ration. We hypothesized that (1) hard flooring causes high mechanical load of the claws and (2) restricted freestall access causes prolonged standing bouts and reinforced effects of hard flooring on claws. The heifers had only minor claw lesions before first calving, and the prevalence and severity of sole hemorrhages increased during the first 3 mo after calving (from 0.24±0.08 to 1.18±0.14 and from 0.04±0.01 to 0.24±0.02, respectively), particularly in the outer hind claws. Animals kept on rubber alley flooring had lower average hemorrhage scores in wk 9 (0.13±0.03 vs. 0.21±0.03) and wk 14 (0.20±0.03 vs. 0.27±0.03) after calving, had a slower feed intake (3.05±0.14 vs. 3.46±0.14 g/s) and spent more time feeding (7.3±0.3 vs. 6.6±0.3 min/h) than animals kept on hard concrete alley floors. Restricted freestall access resulted in fewer standing bouts per day (14.4±1.0 vs. 17.9±1.0) and more strides per hour (99.8±5.4 vs. 87.2±5.4) without changing overall standing time (15.0±0.3 vs. 14.7±0.3 h/d) and did not affect the occurrence of sole hemorrhages. The animals with no overnight freestall access spent more time standing (55.9±0.9 vs. 35.8±0.9 min/h) and feeding (7.8±0.3 vs. 4.3±0.3 min/h) between 2300 and 0500h and less during the rest of the 24-h period (31.3±0.8 vs. 37.0±0.8 min/h and 6.8±0.3 vs. 7.6±0.3 min/h). Thus, the animals adapted to restricted freestall access, that caused increased overnight standing, by additional lying down during the day and used part of the extra standing time at night for feeding. The restrictions probably had only a minor effect on the mechanical load of their claws. Therefore, the first part of the hypothesis was confirmed and the second part was rejected.

Chemical Hazards Analysis of Resilient Flooring for Healthcare

This article addresses resilient flooring, evaluating the potential health effects of vinyl flooring and the leading alternatives-synthetic rubber, polyolefin, and linoleum-currently used in the healthcare marketplace. The study inventories chemicals incorporated as components of each of the four material types or involved in their life cycle as feedstocks, intermediary chemicals, or emissions. It then characterizes those chemicals using a chemical hazard-based framework that addresses persistence and bioaccumulation, human toxicity, and human exposures.

The effect of floor surface on dairy cow immune function and locomotion score

This study evaluated the effect of 2 dairy cow housing systems on cow locomotion, immune status, and expression of genes associated with lameness during the dry and periparturient periods. Cows were assigned to freestall housing with either rubber (RUB; n=13) or concrete (CON; n=14) at the feed-bunk and alley immediately after their first calving, and managed on this system during all subsequent lactations. At dry off, cows were moved to a straw bedded-pack dry cow pen, and remained there until about 2 d before subsequent calving. To investigate whether greater exposure to RUB or CON increased the differences between cows on each treatment, cows at the end of either their first (n=16) or second (n=11) lactations were included in the experiment. Locomotion scores and blood samples were obtained at −60 (beginning of the dry period), −30, 0 (after calving), +10 and +18 d relative to calving. Leukocyte counts were obtained by using an automated cell counter. Phagocytic activity, and cells positive for CD14 and CD18 expression were measured by flow cytometry using labeled microbeads and antibodies. Expression of tachikinin 1(TAC1), histamine receptor 1 (H1), and metalloproteinase (MMP)13 in blood leukocytes was estimated using quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment effects were determined using a repeated measures model. Provision of rubber flooring did not improve dairy cow locomotion during the subsequent study period. However, time relative to calving had an effect on locomotion score and speed, which were worst on d 0, probably because of the discomfort associated with calving. An interaction occurred between treatment and time for neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. The RUB cows had greater neutrophil and lesser lymphocyte numbers postpartum than CON. These cows also had more cells positive for CD14 postpartum compared with prepartum. Moreover, RUB cows showed upregulation of MMP13 and TAC1 compared with CON. These genes are associated with lameness and pain detection respectively. Greater neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios and CD14 expression are associated with physiological stress or with activated immunity. Rubber flooring is associated with an increase in activity and standing. This may have resulted in indications of physiological stress and upregulation of genes associated with lameness and pain for RUB cows. However, this study did not take into account the long-term effects of concrete or rubber flooring; for instance, occurrence of lameness or survivability within the herd.

Effects of rubberized flooring on Asian elephant behavior in captivity

Six Asian elephants at the Oregon Zoo were observed to determine the effects of a poured rubber flooring substrate on captive Asian elephant behavior. Room utilization also was evaluated in seven rooms used for indoor housing, including Front and Back observation areas. Data were collected in three phases. Phase I (Baseline Phase) examined elephant behavior on old concrete floors. In Phase II (Choice Phase), elephant behavior was observed in the Back observation area where room sizes were comparable and when a choice of flooring substrates was available. Phase III (Final Phase) examined elephant behavior when all rooms in both observation areas, Front and Back, were converted to rubberized flooring. Room use in both observation areas remained stable throughout the study, suggesting that flooring substrate did not affect room use choice. However, there was a clear pattern of decreased discomfort behaviors on the new rubber flooring. Normal locomotion as well as stereotypic locomotion increased on the new rubber flooring. In addition, resting behavior changed to more closely reflect the resting behavior of wild elephants, which typically sleep standing up, and spend very little time in lateral recumbence. Overall, these findings suggest that the rubber flooring may have provided a more comfortable surface for locomotion as well as standing resting behavior. It is suggested that poured rubber flooring may be a beneficial addition to similar animal facilities. Zoo Biol 0:1-11, 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effects of False Floors on Vibration Serviceability of Building Floors. II: Response to Pedestrian Excitation

This is the second of two papers that present the results of a comprehensive and systematic study into the effects of false flooring on the vibration serviceability of long-span concrete floors. In this paper, controlled pedestrian response measurements were utilized to determine the effects of the installation of false flooring on the vibration serviceability of long-span concrete floors. It was found that, in most cases, the installation of false flooring tended to reduce the measured vibration response of the floor under controlled pedestrian excitation. This was more significant for false floors with a relatively high finished floor height (FFH) than for floors with a lower finished floor height. It is tentatively proposed that the effects of false flooring be incorporated into existing design procedures by multiplying calculated responses by a vibration response reduction factor. This factor would be 0.9 for false flooring with FFH less than 500 mm or 0.8 for false flooring with FFH of 500 mm or greater.

Assessing cow comfort: effects of two floor types and two tie stall designs on the behaviour of lactating dairy cows

Our objective was to test the effects of two types of stall flooring and two tie stall designs on the behaviour of dairy cows. Using two cross-over designs, 16 lactating Holstein cows were housed for 3-week periods in each of four tie stalls to compare the effects of concrete versus mattress flooring, and a narrow versus a wide stall front opening. When cows were housed on a mattress flooring they increased their total lying time by 1.8 h per day (51.0 versus 43.4% time per day). The duration of individual lying bouts was longer on concrete flooring (78 versus 62 min) and the same was true for the duration of individual bouts of standing (80 versus 48 min). On mattress flooring cows stood up and lay down more often than on concrete (28 versus 20 per day, respectively). On concrete cows spent more time standing without eating (35.2 versus 28.1% of sampling observations). Cows consistently made use of the additional space provided with the wide stall front opening, placing their head in the manger area during 70.6% of lying observations compared to only 43.4% of observations in the narrow stall front. However, measures of general activity were not significantly different for the two stall designs. Cows spent similar amounts of time eating and consumed similar quantities of feed in all four tie stalls. Our results suggest a lack of comfort may be apparent in reduced time spent lying and a subsequent increase in time spent standing without eating. A lower frequency of standing and lying and an increase in the bout duration of lying suggests that cows on concrete flooring have difficulty standing up and lying down.

Effects of slatted flooring on claw shape in intensively housed fattening beef cattle

Intensivism in the Irish beef industry is a recent and fast-developing process involving the concentration of cattle into large slatted floor houses where they are confined for a six-month winter period. Surveys carried out to assess any alterations in the disease pattern as a result of changing to slatted floors from traditional straw yard housing indicated that twice as much disease (10% incidence) was encountered on slatted floors as on straw yard (5% of cattle).&#x0D; Lameness with an incidence of five percent of cattle affected was the most serious disease problem on slats and the major lesion causing lameness was septic traumatic pododermatitis which accounted for 43 percent of all lameness cases. Surveys of defects of claws post-mortem indicated that abrasion of the white line was the primary inciting cause of bruising and penetration at the white line though ungulysis or chronic foot rot was an important secondary cause.&#x0D; Abrasion of hoof horn was considered a function of two factors—floor construction and horn quality. Accordingly to assess the influence of floor construction on claw shape through abrasion the rates of horn growth and wear were measured in beef cattle housed either on slats or on straw over a six-month winter period.