Laying the right floor for your warehouse loading docks and logistics centers doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. There are, however, several aspects any conscientious facilities manager should take into account when approaching a project like this to ensure an optimal working facility:
Choose The Right Floor
Before anything else, a thorough analysis of the floor space must be carried out before leaping in and choosing the least expensive option. This means assessing what the area will be used for, what type of loads it will be subjected to and what types of machinery may be operated on the floor.
Loading docks and logistic center floors are likely to be subjected to heavy loads. That's also harsh conditions, including external weather variations, moisture, humidity, high traffic flow from people and loads, fluids that leak, and heavy equipment damage from trolleys, dollies, forklifts, and so on.
Remember, any loading dock and logistic center floor have to be safe, durable, and of sufficient quality to withstand long-term use across multiple situations. A poorly laid floor with low-quality materials can bring operations to a grinding halt, and consequently, break the logistics chain of your loading bay.
Safety and Durability
Building on the above point, loading docks, and logistic center floors must boast a long lifespan to be effective. Unsuitable floor materials and conditions can potentially lead to loading dock floors cracking, splitting, becoming worn and damaged from exterior elements such as dirt, snow, dust, and soil. This increases the likelihood of them developing holes and weakening in areas that endure repeated heavy loads. That’s why you must take into account the following safety aspects when planning your warehouse floor:
• The type of floor coating needed to prevent abrasions
• The volume of machines and people traffic the floor will experience
• The types of materials the floor may be exposed to such as fuel, corrosives, oil, and so on, including potential leakages and spillages
• Whether the loading dock and warehouse floor is exposed to outside elements that could potentially damage the floor, such as snow, dust, heat, and rain
Turning a blind eye to any of the above can potentially result in workplace injuries, damage to equipment, and greater costs unless an initial investment in appropriate flooring is made.
The Quality of The Flooring
Finding and using the right type of floor surfaces such as Epoxy or Polyurethane goes a long way to ensure the floor's durability and safety. Both types of flooring are high quality and offer other advantages.
When planning your floor, it’s essential to understand each type’s benefits. This is the only way to guarantee you'll get the floor your loading dock or logistics warehouse needs. By planning a warehouse loading dock and logistic center floor carefully, facilities managers guarantee better lifetime value.
Epoxy flooring, in particular, is standout quality because it offers:
• Wear resistance and longevity
• Resistance to acid and UV rays
• A high gloss shine
• It comes in a wide range of colors and styles
• Increased brightness
• Fire resistance
• Added protection from slips
• Easy installation
Epoxy flooring’s life and quality can also be extended by adding in a Urethane flooring topcoat. This adds to the floor’s shock and heat resistance properties. The same goes for its resistance to damage from solvents as well as organic and inorganic acids.
Likewise, polyurethane flooring boasts standout quality because it offers:
• Greater flexibility because it absorbs impact better
• Resistance to chemicals and solvents, including paint remover
• UV stability - unlike Epoxy, which eventually yellows, this type of floor does not
• Scratch and abrasion resistance
• Tolerance against fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels
Understanding which type of flooring is the most suitable for different industries means that costly repairs can be avoided the first time around.
Choose the Right Floor for Your Loading Dock and Logistics Facility
When choosing the right flooring, you have to take safety, durability, and quality into consideration. All of these can influence the performance and life expectancy of your floor.
At Concrete Coating of the Carolinas, we have decades of experience in flooring installation across multiple industries, including warehouse, storage, and manufacturing facilities. Get in touch for a free consultation and advice about the right flooring for your business.