Introduction
Architects and interior designers pour their hearts into creating beautiful spaces. Facility owners and managers want their new buildings to look good long after the ribbon is cut. How can durability be built into the initial design?
This paper offers an in-depth examination of the materials and systems used for all levels of wall and door protection in interior applications. It also presents placement strategies for effective protection based on damage potential, and argues that first-cost value engineering ends up costing building owners more in the long run.
Through this white paper, we'll help you:
- Explore how proper installation of wall protection materials determines their effectiveness in interior applications.
- Recognize when to specify wall cladding vs. targeted wall protection.
- Examine best-practice options for achieving effective and aesthetically pleasing interior protection.
- Discover strategies to design for the long term by avoiding the trap of first-cost value engineering.
Developing a long-term mindset
Investing in wall protection at the time of construction avoids far higher retrofit costs down the road.
Decisions made every day about interior protection elements have a lasting impact on how a facility will look after it's occupied. Unless the real costs of those elements are factored into decision-making, facility owners will continue to trade long-term performance for short-term savings.
A common practice in new construction and renovation projects is to focus on first costs. Every project has a budget, and keeping within that budget is important — but a first-cost focus is harmful in the long run.
Real-life example: A major retail chain did not dial interior protection into their construction standards for new stores. About six months after grand openings, store managers would inevitably call complaining of battered checkout lanes, scratched walls and halls in fitting rooms. The story always ended the same way: “I need some corner guards, wall guards and cart bumpers.”
The application of life-cycle costing vs. first-time costs enhances user satisfaction while reducing costs over the long term.
Walls take impact — what's behind counts, too
It's important to think “behind the pretty” — what's behind the paint or wall covering plays a vital role in overall resistance to impact. The four common interior sub-wall products are:
- Drywall — baseline wall construction.
- Cement Board — increased resistance to higher abuse; can be used in moisture applications.
- Fire-rated Plywood — increased resistance to heavy abuse and more secure fastening of mechanical systems like handrails.
- CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) — two-hour fire-rated walls common in school gymnasiums and mechanical rooms. Must be sanded to a matte finish before applying wall protection.
Elements of targeted wall protection
Targeted wall protection is a set of specific products designed to absorb impact and protect the underlying wall. These products cover only part of the wall but provide a higher level of impact resistance — for example: corner guards, wall guards, and handrails.
Wall cladding, by contrast, applies protective materials across the entire face of the wall. Both approaches can be combined in higher-abuse environments.
When starting a new construction or renovation project, identify the potential causes and levels of abuse, then match the targeted wall protection based on size, impact absorption, weight-bearing capacity, and the aesthetic desired. Also consider the product's protrusion from the wall (from flush to 3"+) and traffic flows — both pedestrian and equipment.
Wall guards
Wall guards — sometimes called crash rails — are designed to take impact directly on the face of the guard. They come in two common forms: multi-component systems (aluminum retainer, high-impact nose bumper, extruded plastic cover, and replaceable end caps) and single-material systems made from one continuous high-impact extrusion.
Cover materials include all extruded plastics, and some may contribute to LEED® credits. The retainer mechanically fastens to the wall and is available in 12-foot lengths. An alternative fastening method uses 2” retainer clips that eliminate cutting aluminum on site. Some wall guard systems can be factory-formed to create a radius.
Corner guards
Corners in corridors are some of the most vulnerable places in a building — they protrude and are highly susceptible to damage from carts, equipment, and foot traffic. Corner guards are the unsung heroes of interior protection.
The common surface-mounted form can have an aluminum or extruded plastic retainer, with covers available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and woodgrains. Single-material systems come in extruded plastic, stainless steel (304 and 430 grades conform to NSF standards for food contact areas), and heavy-duty rubber for loading docks and service corridors.
Stainless steel corner guards are more expensive on a first-cost basis, but they deliver years of durable service and can also serve as a striking design element that fits the designer's aesthetic vision.
Flush mount corner guards are typically reserved for new construction or major renovation. The metal bead wings rest along the drywall so the guard sits flush with the wall surface, providing floor-to-ceiling high-impact protection with optional one- or two-hour fire ratings.
Conclusion
No matter what type of building, which area within the building, or the type of wall construction — there's a good chance it will need some type of protection from wear and tear.
If you want your interiors to make an impact, it matters how well your walls can take one. The right targeted wall protection, specified from the start, preserves the look of your space and reduces long-term maintenance costs significantly.