If you're managing an industrial facility, you know the importance of keeping everything safe and operating correctly. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, the flooring in these kinds of facilities gets neglected and ignored. Safety starts from the ground up, though, and you want to make sure your facility's floor is durable, safe, and the right type for the way your company uses the space.
Most industrial floors are concrete because it's a solid material that can hold up to many different experiences. But it's also possible to damage concrete through chipping and cracking, and even with chemicals and other substances. That's why coating the concrete is so important. Here's what you need to know about some of the different types of flooring for facilities, so you can get the one that will last the longest and be the safest for your employees as they do their work.
Manufacturing Plants
If you're operating a manufacturing plant, the kind of concrete coating you need will be somewhat dependent on the products you're making. Epoxy flooring is the most commonly used option for manufacturing facilities because it protects and seals concrete floors very well in most cases. It's used so much that it's considered to be the industry standard. However, there may be times when another type of coating would be a better choice.
For example, if you're manufacturing products that contain solvents or that might be abrasive, polyurethane flooring could be a better choice. This type of floor coating is abrasion-resistant and holds up well when exposed to solvents and other chemicals, too. Additionally, it's more flexible than epoxy flooring, so it will give you a more comfortable surface that could potentially last longer than the more standard epoxy coating options.
For a plant that's handling food processing or other specifics in the food and beverage industry, such as a dairy plant or wine production facility, urethane mortar flooring can be the best option.
It's specifically designed for food and beverage industry facilities, ensuring that cleanup and sanitation are possible.
Warehouses
Warehouses differ from manufacturing plants because they're primarily used only for storage. You'll likely have a lot of foot traffic in them, along with machinery like motorized carts and forklifts. Sealing and protecting the floors of your warehouse with an industry-standard epoxy coating is generally enough to keep these floors in good condition for a long time.
However, the flexible nature of polyurethane can provide more cushioning for employees who have to walk through the warehouse all day, and that could help improve their comfort and safety. If your warehouse is storing hazardous materials such as acids or corrosive chemicals, you may also want to consider Novolac flooring, as it offers additional protection and resistance to chemical compounds.
Distribution Centers
A distribution center is a busy place with a lot going on. Goods will be coming in from manufacturers and will be quickly sent out to their final destinations or picked up by shipping companies. That means your facility's floor will have a lot of traffic from employees and plenty of small vehicles and machinery moving around. You need your floor to hold up under the pressure of all that activity, and epoxy flooring is the way to go.
You'll have plenty of protection from epoxy flooring, along with a good sealant for your concrete floors. Because distribution centers aren't as detailed or industry-specific as manufacturing plants or some types of warehouses, they typically don't focus on flooring that protects against acids or is as flexible as other types of locations. That doesn't mean you can't use these kinds of floor coatings in your distribution center, though, if you're looking for additional levels of protection and safety.
The Bottom Line on Facility Flooring
The most important thing to remember about the flooring at any warehouse, manufacturing plant, distribution center, or other industrial facility, is that it should be the safest and most durable option for the way the space is used. That often means epoxy or polyurethane flooring, but can also include urethane mortar or Novolac. Understanding which flooring is the best choice can help you protect your facility and its employees for the long term.