Purposes Of Industrial Flooring
Purposes Of Industrial Flooring
Choosing epoxy resins for industrial flooring is widely regarded as one of the most efficient options for protecting floorspace in industrial facilities, although tiles are also sometimes used. Each resin is defined by different qualities, but all should provide a basic minimum of characteristics designed to cope with specific criteria.
These criteria include the chemical resistance of the floor, its resistance to abrasions, a safe, non-slip finish and a good standard of decorative finish. For light production areas, the substance is usually applied in the form of a liquid or paint, with heavier facilities often requiring surfaces to be laid by trowel, and are often known as screeds.
These latter varieties provide a greater durability if heavy loads are in use and also ensure a greater level of slip resistance for workers. This is especially important if the floor is likely to be wet for long periods or is subject to frequent cleaning.
The resistance of a floor to chemicals and corrosion is especially important in industrial environments in order to protect buildings from extreme processes. The flooring used in such cases usually consists of chemically resistant screeds or coatings, as well as anti-corrosion barrier coatings, often applied as paints. Some of these methods can also be applied retrospectively to floors to repair damage already sustained.
Hygiene is another consideration for the type of surface installed. Many facilities, particularly those involved in food production, need to keep facilities as clean as possible. Stain resistance and slip resistance are also important considerations; if hygiene is important that the floor will need to be cleaned frequently and may therefore be often wet.
Floor tiles are another way of making floor surfaces fit for industrial purposes. Tiles have the advantage of being easy to transport, move and, if necessary, re-use. They are also much easier to install than a full liquid-applied resin or a screed.
However, liquid screeds are increasing in popularity, especially in Europe, as they present a number of benefits. Screeds allow for the installation of a more uniformly flat floor, and they also can be installed efficiently by small teams of workers, making them much less labour intensive than traditional trowel-laid screeds. Quality control is also much easier as it is premixed and its viscosity checked prior to installation.