TURNING FACTORY FLOORS INTO
SHOWROOM SURFACES
Flowcrete UK identifies some of the key aspects to consider when specifying a floor system that can endure the high demands of a manufacturing site.
An industrial facility will inevitably subject its floor to a long list of damaging factors - with heavy impacts, intense cleaning, forklift truck movement, thermal shock and exposure to chemicals being just a few of the challenges that the finish will need to withstand.
lot of pressure through small wheels, such as a hand pallet truck, which could weigh in excess of 1 metric tonne when fully loaded - easily enough to cause an insufficiently robust finish to crack, dust and disintegrate.
As a general rule, the thicker the system the longer its service life and the better it will be at avoiding damage. Thick polyurethane systems are especially applicable for demanding production areas, thanks to the fact that they can maintain a functional finish for an extended period of time despite the most intensive industrial conditions.
On top of being purely functional, many industrial facilities are now also looking for building materials that will also be visually appealing so that the building can be used as a showroom to impress customers. The floor is central to this, as an unsightly, unclean or unsafe surface will inevitably leave a bad impression on visitors.
“Street Crane turned
If the specified system is not up to the task at hand then it can have serious consequences on the productivity and standards of the site as well as the health of employees, aesthetics, cleanliness, downtime and in some scenarios a poor floor can even affect the equipment!
This makes it vital to have a detailed knowledge of the site’s operational activity in order to avoid specifying a thin finish that will crack when faced with the reality of the building’s daily use. For example, the volume and type of traffic on-site needs to be carefully accounted for in order to avoid a failure. This includes equipment that places a
44 | INDUSTRIAL FLOORING
to durable resin flooring solutions to create a showroom-standard production facility
where potential clients could inspect the
company’s products.”
This combination of form and function was exemplified recently at the electronics manufacturer Pektron, which installed a selection of high performance resin flooring systems in order to create a finish that would maintain its aesthetics despite the heavy equipment, frequent foot
www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
traffic, regular cleaning and industrial chemicals that it would be exposed to.
During a two-day installation, 500m2 of the chemical resistant, epoxy resin coating Flowcoat SF41 was laid down, with 500m2
of the clear sealer Flowseal
PU Satin applied on top to create a glossy, light grey finish. Prior to the application of the floor coating, the solvent and water free, epoxy resin, damp proof membrane Hydraseal DPM was laid onto the underlying substrate to protect the floor against the damaging effects of rising moisture vapour.
Street Crane, a world leading crane manufacturer, also turned to durable resin flooring solutions to create a showroom-standard production facility where potential clients could inspect the company’s products. The key challenge here was to be able to retain a seamless and unblemished finish in the face of exceptionally heavy equipment, dropped tools as well as the substantial loads that would be hoisted by the cranes and set down on the floor.
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