Flooring is an important part of an industrial building, demanding significant attention during the selection and installation. A damaged floor can cost your business deeply. It can reduce efficiency and workplace hazards and may even wear out other assets faster, such as forklifts and other transportation units.
Soon, you will be looking at increased maintenance and upkeep costs. Let’s find out the top three factors that affect facility floors and the steps you can take to keep your floors last longer.
Your industry may involve heavy machinery or inventory that weighs tons. In addition to this, there will be various vehicles and personnel adding to the traffic. It is imperative then to design the flooring in such a way that it can handle the rough use without giving in to the damage.
Floors have a breaking point, and anything beyond that point will show visible signs of damage. Usually, you’ll observe the first signs of damage in the form of surface cracks and scratch marks on the floor. Eventually, the surface flatness of the floors will experience wear due to weight concentration.
When it comes to withstanding heavy loads – such as heavy machinery – the flooring type is determined based on the compressive stress it has to handle.
In addition to the weight of the machines, there are several other factors you should consider, such as:
• The floors resistance to chemical/oil spills
• Whether the flooring can handle tools being dropped on it
• Sufficient strength to handle frequent vehicle movements, both unloaded and loaded
Most industrial settings use concrete flooring due to the hardness it offers. These concrete floors are covered using epoxy coatings that consist of a hardener and a resin to create a strong, chemically-resistant surface – capable of withstanding most of the demands.
The pressure is a force acting on a certain area. In flooring, pressure can result from different sources ranging from machinery and vehicle movements to heavy foot traffic.
As discussed, pressure is a force. When you apply force to something, it will fail structurally if it isn’t strong enough to withstand the force.
The same is true for flooring. Without the right flooring, pressure can lead to surface cracks or even develop dents on the surface.
When it comes to handling both high and low-pressure levels, epoxy flooring is hard to beat. The epoxy coating creates a thin film above the concrete that is hard and durable. It has a sheen to it and is easy to clean and maintain.
Another advantage of epoxy is that it is resistant to most chemicals as well as heat and fire. The material is capable of handling constant and varying pressures with ease. As a result, vehicle movement or footsteps won't phase the flooring quality or finish.
Temperature is another factor that needs to be factored in while choosing a flooring type as it can have noticeable effects on the flooring performance.
Industrial flooring often has to deal with fluctuating temperatures and humidity changes. For example, industries may have machines working on the floor that may transfer heat to the floor, while the rest of the space might be at room temperature.
Floors in a food manufacturing facility also have to undergo frequent washdown procedures involving hot water or steam sprays to remove chemical contaminants. These temperature swings can cause a thermal shock on flooring, leading to cracks or epoxy delamination.
Polyurethane coating is ideal for places experiencing temperature variations and humidity fluctuations since the material is flexible enough to resist deformation. This type of flooring also remains resistant to mild abrasion and chemical reactions.
Another alternative is Novolac flooring, which has a high resistance to extreme heat. Another important advantage of Novolac is that it offers exceptional resistance to chemicals, acids, and many types of solvents.
For low heat environments, epoxy flooring is the most effective and cost-efficient.
When selecting flooring for your facility, it is important to consider all the factors that can influence the performance and life of the floors. At Concrete Coating of the Carolinas, we bring decades of experience in flooring expertise and installation service across various industrial environments. Reach out to us for a free consultation and make an informed choice today!