Bounce Safety Flooring (Bounce), led by Oscar Filen and Cameron Filen, was commissioned to design a flooring solution for Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH).  

OVAH treats a diverse range of animals, including bovines, equines and rare wildlife such as wildebeest. The project required a flooring system that was waterproof, anti-bacterial and soft enough to prevent injuries to the animals treated at the clinic. 

Additionally, the flooring needed to ensure that water run-off from the cleaning and disinfecting areas was effectively directed towards full-bore drains throughout the facility. Sustainability, durability and eco-friendliness were also critical requirements.  

About OVAH 

OVAH is South Africa’s premier veterinary training facility, where all veterinary students from the University of Pretoria complete their residency. Like any large medical facility, OVAH faces daily challenges, including managing bacterial infections and animal injuries.  

Previously, the hospital used a rubber flooring system that had become outdated and poorly maintained, necessitating a comprehensive upgrade of their facilities, including drainage systems and concrete substrates in the stables, thoroughfares, isolation wards and specialised rooms. 

The brief 

Bounce was tasked with creating a durable, easy-to-clean system that would protect both the animals and the facility. 

The project required a composite flooring system capable of withstanding the specific demands of the environment, while also providing a strong return on investment. It also needed to include curbs on the walls of each stall and room to fully seal the system, preventing water and bacterial ingress during procedures and cleaning. 

The solution 

In collaboration with the main contractor, SMT Developments, Bounce designed an eight-layer composite rubber flooring system for OVAH. The process began with the pouring of new concrete slabs and the upgrading of the hospital’s extensive drainage network. 

• Layer 1: Acrylic primer to seal the concrete. 
• Layer 2: Membrane-based waterproofing compound to protect the concrete. 
• Layer 3: Additional waterproofing membrane and sealant. 
• Layer 4: Polyurethane key coat to ensure adhesion between the surface and the first rubber layer. 
• Layer 5: Proprietary rubber blend, durable enough to withstand the stress from equine and wildlife hooves. 
• Layer 6: Top-coat sealant, providing a non-slip, durable surface that spreads point loads and ensures safety. 
• Layers 7 and 8: Custom anti-microbial/anti-bacterial paint, enhancing the flooring system’s protective properties. 

The finished flooring system met all of OVAH’s requirements, including efficient drainage and robust impact dispersion. Notably, the system was made using 80% recycled materials, repurposing nearly 20 metric tons of waste tyres. 

OVAH’s flooring system is waterproof, anti-bacterial and soft enough to prevent injuries to the animals treated at the clinic

Installation process 

The installation at OVAH presented several challenges, including tight deadlines and a complex workspace. Bounce worked around other contractors and managed the extensive volume of flooring to be installed.  

The small animal stalls, in particular, required meticulous handwork due to their size. However, once the small animal areas were completed, the team was able to accelerate the installation, achieving a rate of 100m² per day. 

Custom tools were developed to shape the flooring system’s curbs up onto the walls, ensuring a complete seal. The team worked in two phases to minimise disruption to the hospital’s operations. 

Post-installation, Bounce has provided on-call support and will continue to do so for the next eight years, ensuring the seamless integration of new equipment with the flooring system. 

Impact and benefits 

The new flooring system enhanced the hospital’s aesthetics and significantly improved its functionality. It provides better water drainage, and it is easier to maintain and sterilise than the previous flooring.  

Equine patients experienced fewer injuries, thanks to the flooring’s impact absorption and non-slip properties. Sister Janet Smith, the acting head sister of OVAH, praised the installation process and the ongoing communication from Bounce. 

Sustainability 

The installation at OVAH utilised nearly 20 metric tons of recycled tyres, equivalent to 9 090 passenger tyres. This substantial use of recycled materials demonstrates Bounce’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in large-scale projects. 

The company extended its gratitude to the University of Pretoria and OVAH for their collaboration on this project and their commitment to using recycled materials.  

Issue: Designing a flooring system for a busy veterinary clinic. 

Solution: A durable, safe, eco-friendly and sterile flooring system was installed using recycled tyres. 

Full acknowledgement and thanks go to https://bouncesafetyflooring.com/ for the information in this article.