Building Safer, Longer‑Lasting Student Accommodation
Design Insights from Gradus & Gerflor
As demand for high‑quality student accommodation continues to rise, so too does the need for buildings that combine safety, durability and modern design. With constant footfall and the day‑to‑day pressures of communal living, interior finishes must do more than look good, they must perform, protect and last. Gradus and Gerflor have partnered to deliver a fully coordinated floor and wall protection package, giving specifiers a streamlined, reliable pathway to creating robust, compliant and visually cohesive student environments.
Smarter Protection from Entrance to Reception
A cleaner, safer student accommodation building starts right at the entrance. Gradus Barrier Matting Systems act as the first line of defence against slip risks and cleanliness, significantly reducing the amount of dirt and moisture brought inside by foot and wheeled traffic. This helps lower slip risks, reduces maintenance and extends the lifespan of surrounding interior floor finishes.
For the best results, primary, secondary and hybrid matting solutions can be combined to meet the specific demands of each location.
Beyond the entrance, Gradus floor trims and transition slips deliver a smooth, professional finish while protecting vulnerable floor edges from damage. They also help minimise trip hazards by ensuring safe, seamless transitions between different flooring surfaces, an important consideration in busy student environments.
Enhanced Safety & Durability in Circulation Spaces
Corridors, stairways and lift lobbies are among the highest‑traffic areas in any student building and is where slip and trip risks are most concentrated. Gradus provides market‑leading stair edgings engineered to increase safety, protect surfaces and maintain long‑term performance.
Gradus XT Stair Edgings set the standard for both new build and refurbishment projects, fully meeting the requirements of Approved Document M and BS 8300‑2:2018. Their extended slip‑resistant inserts wrap around the leading edge of the step and provide visual definition to provide safety in busy stairwells. Gradus stair edgings are available in a wide range of profiles to suit most step shapes, floorcovering types and are offered in a choice of colours and finishes to provide sufficient visual contrast.
Gradus also offers skirting, capping and cove formers to suit a range of resilient floorcovering scenarios, from wet rooms and toilets to corridors and kitchens.
To protect walls and corners from scuffs, scrapes and impact, Gradus’ range of wall protection products include corner guards, wall sheets, handrails and wall guards. Ideal for supporting intuitive wayfinding and reducing long-term maintenance costs.
Gerflor adds to this performance offering with Creation 70 Zen LVT, a heavy-duty, flexible and lightweight floorcovering that is designed to withstand heavy traffic, making it ideal for busy circulation areas. Beyond corridors, Creation 40 & 55 Zen withstand light to medium levels of traffic and offer design continuity with co-ordinating references across multiple wear layers.
Practical, Attractive Solutions for Apartments & Back‑of‑House
From kitchens and laundries to en‑suite bathrooms, durability and ease of cleaning are essential. Gradus skirtings, cove formers and capping strips help create hygienic floor‑to‑wall junctions that support resilient flooring systems, while the Clean Corner System provides a seamless, easy‑clean solution for internal and external corners. For wall surfaces, Gerflor Mural Revela Tiles and Panels are ideal for en-suites and their locking mechanism makes installation quick and easy. When combined with Gerflors’ LVT and vinyl flooring solutions, the result is a cohesive, attractive, and exceptionally durable finish, ideal for balancing durability, safety, and aesthetics throughout.
For service corridors, waste rooms, and other high‑traffic areas, Gradus’ robust rubber and stainless‑steel wall and corner protection systems deliver dependable, long‑term impact resistance from trolleys and bins, and help reduce the cost of long-term maintenance.
High‑Performance Solutions for Student Gyms & Active Areas
Modern student accommodation increasingly includes onsite fitness spaces that demand exceptional durability and visual appeal. Gradus SureProtect Artworx wall cladding offers a stylish, digitally‑printed protective finish that resists scuffs and knocks while delivering strong visual identity. To enhance safety and ambience further, Gradus LED Lighting Systems can be integrated into stairways, routes and feature walls within gym areas, improving illumination, reducing energy consumption and contributing to a premium fitness‑club feel.
Gerflor Powershock high performance sports flooring is engineered to absorb impact, reduce noise and withstand dropped weights, crucial for gym floors subject to intense daily use.
One Coordinated Solution for Modern Student Living
By integrating Gradus protection systems with Gerflor’s floorcovering ranges, specifiers can create cohesive, fully compliant and durable interior schemes throughout entire student accommodation buildings. This unified approach not only enhances safety and longevity but also reduces lifecycle costs, helping operators deliver a consistently high‑quality experience, a key differentiator in today’s competitive student accommodation market.