As healthcare design continues to evolve, we’re seeing a rise in the use of steel within furniture specifications. It's easy to understand why: steel is strong, durable, non-porous, and cost-effective. Its surface is naturally easy to clean and disinfect, offering an advantage in clinical environments where hygiene is paramount. In addition, steel is widely available and considered a sustainable material due to its recyclability, all factors that could make it an attractive choice for healthcare furniture projects.
However, as with any material, it’s important not to be swayed by surface benefits alone. When it comes to healthcare, where infection control is critical, deeper consideration is needed.
Knightsbridge Furniture’s Director of Design and Development, Jason Brown, has a unique insights into why steel, although valuable, must be carefully assessed before being included within healthcare spaces.
A cave for germs
While the exterior of steel furniture is easy to clean, the framing underneath often tells a different story. Healthcare furniture such as chairs, sofas and recliners frequently feature hollow steel frames. Within these tricky to see areas and within mechanical components there lies a hidden risk, an environment where bacteria and germs can quietly build up, out of reach of routine cleaning practices.
"Steel itself isn't the issue," Brown explains. "It’s what you can't see that can cause problems. Hollow spaces can trap moisture and bacteria, especially if frames aren't fully sealed or properly treated internally. In a setting where infection prevention is critical, overlooking these unseen areas can be dangerous."
A good example of this is with steel-framed waiting room chairs. On the surface, they might look spotless. Yet, if the frame design includes ingress points such as the bottom of legs, bacteria can colonise inside the tubing. This risk is amplified in high-traffic areas like hospitals, where furniture faces constant exposure to contaminants.
Budget is not just the upfront cost
There’s no denying that steel offers practical advantages, particularly when budgets are tight. It’s more affordable than many alternatives like solid timber or specialist composite materials, and its robust properties mean products can often last longer before needing replacement.
However, initial cost alone shouldn't dictate decisions, it's about understanding the full lifecycle and risk profile of the product. An item that costs less upfront might lead to higher maintenance or infection control costs down the line if it’s not designed with full decontamination in mind.
This is why it's crucial to work with manufacturers who understand healthcare environments deeply and can advise on the best ways to treat and finish steel frames to reduce risks, or suggest where other materials may be a better fit.
Hollow steel tubing in chairs can harbour bacteria
New manufacturing techniques
Fortunately, manufacturing techniques have advanced to help mitigate the risks associated with hollow frames. At Knightsbridge Furniture, for example, we use a combination of methods to ensure their steel-framed products are as safe as possible for healthcare settings. Techniques include fully sealing joints during manufacture to eliminate entry points for bacteria, powder coating steel surfaces with antimicrobial finishes, designing frames with as few enclosed spaces as possible and offering optional upholstery and coverings that further reduce moisture ingress.
Where a higher level of infection control is needed, non-hollow materials like solid wood (properly treated) or healthcare-grade polymers may offer safer alternatives. Specialist healthcare furniture often uses moulded bases, where there are no gaps, joints or hollows at all, making them easier to clean comprehensively.
The important thing is recognising that each material has pros and cons - and the choice should be dictated by the setting and the demands placed on the furniture. Steel is a material Knightsbridge also utilises, but with consideration for the environment at the forefront to ensure it’s safe, durable and hygienic for the setting.
Don’t fear steel
The takeaway message isn’t to avoid steel altogether. Far from it. When designed and manufactured correctly, steel furniture can offer excellent longevity, strength and easy cleaning - all major wins in a healthcare setting.
However, the rise in steel’s popularity shouldn’t mean specifiers overlook the hidden challenges. Hollow frames, internal moisture traps, and low-spec manufacturing can all introduce risks that are easily forgotten during the excitement of sourcing cost-effective furniture.
Steel has a valuable role to play. It’s just essential that when specifying it for healthcare, we’re looking beyond price and appearance. We have to consider construction, cleaning protocols, and long-term safety, because in healthcare, it’s never just about what you can see on the surface.
