Styling its rooms towards the design conscious traveller, Ibis Styles hotel group has specified the Flight Safe shower tray developed by Mira Showers – the UK’s market-leading manufacturer of showers and showering accessories – to provide anti-slip security for its guests that matches the contemporary appearances of its bathrooms.
Aiming to be popular yet distinct, the Ibis Styles brand is the Accor hotel group’s designer and lifestyle economy brand. It has specified the Mira Flight Safe shower tray for its hotels in Glasgow, Liverpool, Thurrock, Knutsford and, most recently, Edinburgh where 180 shower trays of four different shapes and sizes were fitted to suit varying room designs.
Combining the utmost in bathroom safety with easy maintenance, the Mira Flight Safe shower tray incorporates two elements – Mira Safe and BioCote® – that are actually part of the tray itself rather than a finish that can wear out or peel away so the tray will retain its anti-slip and anti-bacterial properties for its whole life.
Unlike other anti-slip finishes Mira Safe has nothing to show that the tray is intended for the vulnerable user – there are no raised areas or stick-on roundels, for instance. Despite this, the Flight Safe exceeds the most stringent anti-slip test – Class C DIN 51097 – when independently certified.
This test consists of making the tray slippery with a soapy solution and then inclining the tray until the barefoot subject slips off. To gain Class C, the subject must remain standing when the tray is at an angle of 24o but, with Flight Safe, the subject was still standing when the tray was tilting at 30o. This test not only shows how well the tray performs but also provides third party certification that will deter any potential litigation.
Developed for anywhere that might cater for the infirm – care homes, social housing or the hospitality industry – the tray shares the same contemporary aesthetic as the Flight range so there is no element of styling that is ‘discriminatory’. And, at just 40mm as opposed to the standard 90mm height, it is ideal for creating the ‘minimalist ‘wet room’ look.
Durable and easy to maintain, the Mira Flight Safe is made from acrylic resin stone so it resists chipping and scratches to retain its integrity throughout its life while being also very light – it is 20% lighter than equivalent products made from acrylic capped resin stone. The BioCote® finish stops discolouration, reduces bacteria and mould by up to 99.9% while the tray’s high flow waste ensures that that the waste water is efficiently and effectively dealt with.
To simplify installation Mira provides an optional riser kit, where the tray is to be installed on a solid floor, that has strong ‘push-fit’ legs and concealing panels. In addition, there are variants with integral upstands that will give greater reassurance against leaks at the tiling-tray interface.
Like the rest of the Flight range, this tray also has strong environmental credentials because of the technology it employs and the large proportion of recycled material it incorporates. Recycled content accounts for over 35% (by weight) of the Mira Flight Safe tray’s composition, making use of recycled plastics as well as calcite – a by-product of the water treatment industry.
“I have no hesitation in recommending them”, comments the hotel’s maintenance manager, Ross Aitchison. “The trays provide an environment that is both clean and safe in the long-term and also complements the decor. They look as good as the day they were installed and we’ve had no problems in the 10 months since.”