Today, Behunin Industrial Flooring in Arvada presents part 1 of our 2-part series, Industrial Flooring Types for Food Processing: Coatings. Of course, if you need more information and guidance for your flooring project, our experts can also provide a free consultation to discuss your specific coating needs and the benefits of each option.
In food and beverage plants, concrete floors must be covered with an appropriate protective coating, which is often a seamless, hygienic floor coating system. Many substances in a food processing plant can cause serious damage to your concrete floor because of the substances’ corrosive nature. Sometimes contaminants can infiltrate uncoated concrete floors which results in the growth of bacteria which is dangerous in a food processing plant.
According to a Food Manufacturing article, the floor coating you choose needs to be durable and thick enough to maintain a protective barrier that stops contaminants from going into the concrete substrate to keep a hygienic surface.
Types of Coating
The challenges of food processing plants include the need for hygienic surfaces across a variety of plant areas having different corrosive conditions, like dry storage areas, cold storage rooms, and mixing, canning, and slaughtering areas. There are several food processing floor coating systems to choose from and it is important to get the right one.
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
These types of coatings can be put on the floors at relatively low temperatures. It cures quickly and is low in odor which reduces the chance of imparting the unpleasant taste or odor to your processed foods. MMA coatings are sometimes used in cold-storage areas like freezer rooms.
Polyureas
If you need tough, flexible and impact resistant floors, polyurea may be the right choice. They are often used for tanks holding potable water as well as floor coatings for food and beverage industry floors. This flooring provides a seamless and flexible surface that can withstand high and low temperatures, has no VOCs, has no odor and can dry tack free in under a minute. These coatings are especially useful in food processing areas since they provide a seamless and flexible surface that can withstand very hot and cold temperatures.
Epoxies
There is a broad range of epoxy flooring systems approved by the USDA and FDA, including high-solids or 100 percent solids epoxy flooring products. They can come in different textures, colors and offer non-slip and skid-resistant floors. High-solid epoxies offer protection from acids and alkalis, strong adhesion; the ability to withstand abrasive cleaning procedures and cleaning chemicals; fast curing properties; and are low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Solid epoxies require less downtime, have strong bonding characteristics, are resistance to thermal and mechanical shock, and have the ability to endure frequent cleaning with hot water at high pressure.
Urethanes
Polyurethane coatings come in slurry form and are more costly initially but often outlast other floor coating products. In fact, urethane cement slurry and mortar systems offer superior resistance to thermal cycling over epoxy and vinyl ester coatings and give a long-lasting performance. It also gives a very low odor when applying it and has a seamless, easy-to-clean surface when it is dry. This type of flooring is best known for its quick drying properties and your food processing plant can be returned to service in six hours or less.
We know that you want to make the right flooring decision for your business and hope you found help in our guide, Industrial Flooring Types for Food Processing: Coatings. Our experts at Behunin Industrial Flooring in Arvada can also provide you with experience, knowledge and a friendly attitude. Flooring is important for your business and your employees, so it’s vital to get it right. Contact us today and let help you select the best flooring for your needs.