Healthcare environments place exceptional demands on surface finishes. Doors, joinery, and touchpoints are subject to constant use, strict hygiene requirements, and long-term durability expectations. For the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), these requirements were non-negotiable.
Superior Timber Coatings worked closely with project stakeholders to deliver a certified antibacterial coating system that met performance, compliance, and sustainability requirements — without compromising finish quality or service life.
The Royal Adelaide Hospital required a water-based coloured coating system for internal doors that could:
Provide hypoallergenic and verified antibacterial performance
Meet Green Star Low VOC requirements
Perform reliably in a high-traffic healthcare environment
Apply consistently across timber, MDF, and veneer
Deliver long-term durability with a clean, uniform appearance
The solution needed to be specified as a complete coating system — not an additive or after-treatment — and supported by recognised international testing standards.
Superior Timber Coatings specified and supplied the Ilva Antibacterial System, delivered as a standalone coating system in the appropriate format for the project.
For the Royal Adelaide Hospital, this was achieved using Ilva Aquatech 2K Water Based Finish, selected to align with indoor air quality targets and sustainability requirements. The same antibacterial technology is also available in Ilva Technofinish 2K Acrylic Urethane, supplied in clear or colour, depending on project needs.
Importantly, the antibacterial performance is inherent to the coating system itself — not marketed or supplied as an additive.
The Ilva Antibacterial System achieves a 99.99% or greater reduction in the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) within 24 hours.
Performance has been independently tested and verified in accordance with:
ISO 22196:2011
JIS Z 2801:2010
These international antimicrobial test methods are accepted in Australia and provide confidence that the system performs as specified in real-world environments.
In addition to antibacterial protection, the system also incorporates antifungal resistance, supporting long-term hygiene in enclosed and high-use spaces.
The coating system was applied across the hospital’s internal doors, delivering:
Consistent colour and finish quality
Commercial-grade durability suited to continuous use
Antibacterial and antifungal protection at the surface level
Compliance with low-VOC and indoor air quality expectations
The result is a hygienic, hard-wearing, and visually consistent finish designed to perform over time in one of Australia’s most demanding healthcare settings.
This project reflects more than product supply. Superior Timber Coatings provided system selection, technical guidance, and specification support to ensure the coating performed as required — both on site and over the life of the asset.
By sourcing, testing, and approving coating systems globally, then supporting them locally with real-world expertise, Superior Timber Coatings helps deliver dependable outcomes on complex projects.
If you’d like to discuss antibacterial coating systems for healthcare, education, or other high-hygiene environments, Superior Timber Coatings are here to help — with the products, knowledge, and support to specify with confidence.
📞 Call our technical sales team on 1300 887 853 or email us with your project requirements, and one of our technical specialists will help specify the right Ilva antibacterial system for your application.