May 1, 2024
Industrial Flooring

Industrial Flooring Enhancing Productivity and Safety in Workspaces

Epoxy Flooring

Epoxy flooring is a popular choice for industrial facilities due to its durability and chemical resistance. Epoxy resins form a hard, seamless and non-porous surface when fully cured. Common applications of epoxy flooring include food processing plants, automotive repair shops, chemical plants and more. Epoxy is available in various formulations for specific requirements. For example, 100% solid epoxy has no volatile organic compounds for environments with strict emission standards.

Some advantages of epoxy flooring include:

– Resistance to impacts, abrasion, oil, grease and many chemicals used in industrial settings.

– Seamless installation prevents dirt and chemical accumulation in joints for easy cleaning.

– High-gloss finish is aesthetically pleasing and easy to sanitize or disinfect frequently touched areas.

– UV resistance allows usage in exterior areas or facilities with significant light exposure.

Concrete Flooring

Concrete is one of the most ubiquitous flooring materials due to its durability, affordability and versatility. It can be used in both interior and exterior areas. However, bare concrete often lacks strength, finish quality and comfort for foot traffic. Proper coatings and toppings are applied over concrete subfloors for industrial use.

Popular concrete coating options include:

– Epoxy coatings – Durable, chemical and impact resistant for heavy industrial use.

– Polyaspartic coatings – Fast-curing alternative to epoxy ideal for minimising downtime during installation.

– Concrete sealers – Enhance concrete’s natural beauty and protection against liquids.

– Overlays – Decorative chip or quartz blends increase traction, beauty and longevity.

Proper concrete preparation and coating/topping selection ensures it meets requirements for various industrial facilities like manufacturing plants, warehouses and garages.

Slip-Resistant Flooring

Floor safety is crucial in industrial settings due to risks of slips and falls during regular operations or spill incidents. Slip-resistant flooring utilizes optimized surface textures and profiles to provide the requisite coefficient of friction. Some common slip-resistant options include:

– Stamped concrete – Integral colorants and impressions enhance visual appeal while improving traction.

– Epoxy flooring with aluminum oxide or sand broadcast – Non-slip aggregates embedded into finishes.

– Terrazzo – Marble or granite chip Industrial Flooring  polished smooth for aesthetic and functional solutions.

– Vinyl flooring – Textured slip-resistant sheet goods suit food processing and other light industrial applications.

Proper testing and certification like ASTM D2047 verification should be obtained for any critical areas like work zones, loading docks or environments handling liquids.

Industrial Grating and Access Panels

Grating and access panels provide openings in solid concrete or epoxy floors to allow cable/pipe runs or servicing of below-grade equipment while maintaining a durable walking surface. Materials commonly used include:

– Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) grating – Lightweight and corrosion resistant for harsh environments.

– Steel bar grating – Economical and suitable for heavy-duty regular foot or equipment traffic.

– Aluminum planking – Maintains floor aesthetics and finishes; suitable for exterior applications too.

– Steel access panels – Allow entry into voids below floor with security locking and labelling options.

Grating and access panel types are selected based on weight loads, chemicals present, aesthetics and maintenance needs of a specific application for long-lasting performance.

Floor Coatings for Maintenance

Regular recoating protects the investment in industrial flooring and extends its useful life. Some common reapplication coatings include:

– Epoxy slurry – Economical recoat/resurfacing solution for concrete floors exhibiting wear from erosive conditions.

– 100% solids epoxy broadcast floor coating – Quick-turnaround abrasion and chemical resistant recoat system.

– Polyurea – Fast-setting elastomeric spray coat system forms monolithic membrane impervious to items.

– Athletic line paint – For clear demarcation of safety regions, walkways and specific processes.

Proactive maintenance coating both extends floor lifecycles through protection and improves housekeeping through defined workspace limits.

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it