A study by University Professor Dr. Rupert Wimmer, University for Floor Culture Vienna:
Coming to terms with Wood
On the question of whether wood would also be used in hospitals, Robert Stingl, a dedicated wood researcher at the University of Floor Culture Vienna (Boku), already fairly often got a slightly amused “NO” as an answer. For the hygiene departments in many Austrian hospitals, the use of wood is clearly still a taboo. This wood discrimination has a long tradition: until recently the use of wood in all conceivable areas of meat processing businesses was forbidden. That even went so far as to frown upon wooden windows “for hygienic reasons”. Wood researchers and Foodstuff hygienists from the Boku have since collected new facts and in cooperation with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, have achieved the removal of wood from the lists of forbidden products in the hygiene guidelines. An important partial success!
The healthy intestinal flora of an adult contains between 10 and 100 billion bacteria, distributed across some hundred types. But these harmless intestinal residents can, for example through a viral infection, become genetically altered and rather dangerous. If these bacteria should reach our intestines via vegetables or meat, the consequences can be serious illnesses.
Wood as perfect material for a healthy kitchen
A kitchen is often a playground for bacteria. Preferential breeding places are the kitchen sponge, the tea towel or the sink. Multiple bacteria also crowd on working surfaces. Wood is porous, whereas synthetic material, metal or ceramics are non-porous. Therefore, years ago it was thought that wood would be hard to clean and therefore represented an ideal breeding ground for bacteria after contact with perishable foods, like meat. If a salad is then prepared on a board on which raw meat was just cut, then bacteria can very easily be transferred. This fear of germ transfer led to wood as a material was always replaced by synthetic materials.
Long history of studies on wood as hygienic material
In 1993, a scientific study from the United States drew attention to the fact that wood has very good hygienic qualities in comparison with synthetic material. At first these results were viewed sceptically in the German speaking world. Subsequent German and British studies confirmed the American results. In particular, that pine heartwood showed good antibacterial qualities – far better than synthetic material.
The different studies explain the antibacterial effect of wood through two causes: a chemical one and a physical one. The chemical cause refers to the contents of the wood. Tannine or Polyphenols contribute to the germ killing effects of extract rich woods such as pine or oak. With larch, the antibacterial effect was derived from the component Arabinogalactan.
Open pores as benefit
However, the real surprise lies in the physical cause: the pore structure of the wood, which was and still is considered a disadvantage compared to the synthetic material, is actually an advantage. Due to its porous cell structure, wood has an enormously high inner surface area. With 1g of wood this is actually 200 m². This high porosity causes a strongly hygroscopic effect. This results in humidity being quickly absorbed into the wooden working surface, the conditions of life for bacteria deteriorate and the bacteria die rapidly. This physical effect can be proven in all types of wood.
Besides the humidity, the surface roughness is also of importance on cutting boards. Examinations of both new and second hand cutting boards made of wood produced astonishing results: regardless of whether freshly planed down and therefore smooth cutting boards or boards furrowed by knife cuts, only a minimal bacterial growth was observed in boards made from maple or beech wood. The reason for this is also the active pore structure. In comparison with wood, the synthetic cutting board made from white Polyethylene showed the largest bacterial increase. It was positive to note that after cleaning with a washing up liquid, practically no further bacteria were registered neither on synthetic material nor on the wood.
A further example from the transport industry: wooden pallets used for the transportation of foodstuffs showed a 15% lower bacteria count than synthetic material pallets. If wood is used in the production and preparation of foodstuffs, whether as a working surface, cutlery, crockery or as stock and transport containers, then this is a very hygienic process.
Hygiene getting more and more important
The topic of hygiene and wood shows that sensible application fields for wood must be won over again and again. This is particularly clear with this topic in that sound scientific results are required. The challenge of using wood is in its complexity when compared to other materials. The interplay of physical, chemical and biological qualities is with any material, nowhere as hard to understand as in the case of wood. We have only just begun to understand this material, and can be excited with how wood may still surprise us.
In times that are increasingly influenced by stress and hectic, one’s own bathroom soon becomes a personal spa oasis – a place to rest and relax. Quality materials are used in the bathroom not only as part of its exclusive furnishings but as an important element towards harmony and relaxation of the senses. The choice of floor plays a major role in this process. As manufacturer of natural wood floors from Upper Austria whose name is already established on the international lifestyle sector, mafi provides quality floors in various designs which can help to create an individual feel-good paradise.
Due to the oiled surface mafi floors are able to absorb the moisture that occurs in the bathroom and dispense this again during the drying process. This has a positive effect on the climate in the room. The water that drips onto the floor when people leave the shower or bathtub poses no problem at all for a mafi floor. Large pools of water on the floor should however be mopped up. To ensure that the mafi floor remains permanently natural and brilliant and flawless despite sporadic splashes of water, regular care with adequate products is a must.
The right choice of wood
Care must be taken in the selection of wood as not every type of wood is suitable for use in bathrooms. Beech, for example, is one of the types of wood that shrink and swell considerably in damp surroundings. This is what is also known as ‛the wood’s expansion and contraction’. An exception is heat-treated beech wood as this process changes the shrinkage properties of the wood and increases its resistance to moisture. Larch and oak both react ideally to moisture and are naturally suited for use in wet rooms. One more insider tip: floors in bathrooms should be glued with elastic adhesive. The joint with the wall is also very important. This should be made using parquet joint sealing compound to prevent the build-up of moisture behind the wood.
Fresco: creative appearance with massage effect Taking these aspects into consideration, mafi has developed a floor ideally suited for installation in indoor spa and bathroom areas. We are referring to the mafi Fresco line of floors. In order to really experience the quality and diversity of this floor, installation is recommended in rooms that are mainly entered barefoot. The elaborate finish of the plank surface using different mafi Fresco milling programs not only allows tired soles an invigorating massage break but at the same time provides an unusual look with waves (Fresco Duna), dots (Fresco Punkto) or diamonds (Fresco Rombo). The newest Fresco designs are Fresco Anaconda and Fresco Pista.
By visiting our channel you will find a selection of videos from introducing mafi and the idea behind natural wooden floors to accurate maintenance instructions for your personal piece of art.
mafi was the first company in the industry to decide for a lacquer-free, completely naturally oiled flooring surface. The Oils used are wholly based on natural raw materials. These natural properties support the wood by preserving and highlighting its natural qualities. To get a detailed overview about mafi as a trendsetter or as a company, mafi – the idea is the right choice for you.
It is our conviction that wood can only develop its positive features when used and treated as naturally as possible. To get the perfect achievement, it is very important that the flooring is treated in the right way. Once treaded, mafi natural wood floors are extremely robust, hard-wearing and, above all, easy care. In this video you can see the first oiling after the installation. Our basic requirement is that for mafi natural wooden floors only original mafi care products are used.
After the right installation the constant cleaning of mafi floors is very important. The right treatment makes our flooring more robust, healthier, warmer and anti-slip. Even difficult stains, heavy soiled floors or high traffic in commercial areas are no problem at all. Vulcano floors should never be cleaned with a single-disk machine and/or green pad and with mesh, otherwise scratch marks are noticeable.
“The conservation of natural resources is an essential part of the mafi philosophy“, means Florian Fillafer member of the board.
The natural colour of wood is influenced by the climatic environment of the tree. Seasons, altitude, weather conditions and the culture medium of the soil where the tree grows influences the appearance of the wood.
Depending on the type of wood, the age of the tree when harvested is 100 – 200 years. To ensure a sustainable use of natural resources, the wood is therefore always harvested in different growing regions.
mafi insists on colour diversity and not on uniformity. Colour differences are individual characteristics and distinguish an exclusive natural product to uniformed mass produced products. These characteristics are not separated out but are distinctly desired.
mafi explicitly uses no tropical woods. For European wood varieties to be darkened in colour, mafi has created a procedure for themselves, which has no chemical additives. This product line is called Vulcano. Vulcano products are thermal treated and are not only superficially, but fully darkened throughout the wood. The charming naturalness of the wood, which is expressed in colour differences, branches and small inclusions, is not concealed but preserved.
Special customers look for special surfaces. Designers and architects often design their projects with certain mood and colour concepts in mind. The natural colour of the wood is what is asked for. It may be that the expectations of the architect are not entirely consistent with those of nature. Should that be the case, we recommend to our partners the use of coloured oils because they disguise natural irregularities. As the dark oil is applied on a dark wooden Vulcano background, repairs can continue to be made, provided that the repair is reworked with the same coloured oil. Because of the original dark wooden surface the walkways on the floor will be almost, to completely invisible.
mafi was always working with natural product. Also our oils and soaps are naturally produced and certified to make you feel comfortable in your house.
The white pigments in mafi oil and soap are nanotechnical highlights. The TiO2 – Titanium Dioxide particals are a natural filter and cleaner in the surface of your mafi floor.
When TiO2 reacts with light and sunshine a photo catalytic mechanism is cleaning the surface and also the air. This is why mafi oiled floors makes you feel comfortable in rooms.
For detailed information please follow the links belox:
On the question of whether wood would also be used in hospitals, Robert Stingl, a dedicated wood researcher at the University of Floor Culture Vienna (Boku), already fairly often got a slightly amused “NO” as an answer. For the hygiene departments in many Austrian hospitals, the use of wood is clearly still a taboo. This wood discrimination has a long tradition: until recently the use of wood in all conceivable areas of meat processing businesses was forbidden. That even went so far as to frown upon wooden windows “for hygienic reasons”. Wood researchers and Foodstuff hygienists from the Boku have since collected new facts and in cooperation with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, have achieved the removal of wood from the lists of forbidden products in the hygiene guidelines. An important partial success!
The healthy intestinal flora of an adult contains between 10 and 100 billion bacteria, distributed across some hundred types. But these harmless intestinal residents can, for example through a viral infection, become genetically altered and rather dangerous. If these bacteria should reach our intestines via vegetables or meat, the consequences can be serious illnesses.
Besides the humidity, the surface roughness is also of importance on cutting boards. Examinations of both new and second hand cutting boards made of wood produced astonishing results: regardless of whether freshly planed down and therefore smooth cutting boards or boards furrowed by knife cuts, only a minimal bacterial growth was observed in boards made from maple or beech wood. The reason for this is also the active pore structure. In comparison with wood, the synthetic cutting board made from white Polyethylene showed the largest bacterial increase. It was positive to note that after cleaning with a washing up liquid, practically no further bacteria were registered neither on synthetic material nor on the wood.
