FEATURE
SO FRESH SO CLEAN
With safety and hygiene of paramount importance in food and beverage environments, Flowcrete discusses the benefits of specifying a seamless, antimicrobial, resin based flooring system.
Food safety is vital for consumer confidence and a hygienic floor design in food and beverage facilities is central to the safe production, processing and storage of produce.
A high level of cleanliness must be maintained in the face of a wide variety of challenges that flooring in large-scale industrial spaces inevitably experiences. This includes impacts from heavy equipment, hot water washes, exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, frequent foot and forklift traffic as well as contact with a long list of corrosive food by-products.
These substances and conditions can cause untold damage to an uncoated concrete floor – and what’s worse is that unwanted substances can infiltrate a concrete layer, resulting in microbial growth and the spread of bacteria. Should this occur then not only will the floor be degraded but the hygienic integrity of the produce could also be compromised.
THE FACTS ABOUT
FLOWFRESH To deal with these issues, seamless, impermeable and crack-free resin- based surfaces are increasingly being specified on account of the materials easy to clean nature, hardwearing performance characteristics and ability to include antimicrobial additives.
Polyurethane systems, such as Flowcrete UK’s Flowfresh range, are the most commonly used resin solutions in the food industry, especially in the most heavy-duty industrial areas. The high cross-linked density typical of polyurethane floors makes them exceptionally robust and able to withstand abusive environments.
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Chemical attack is a particular problem in the food and beverage industry, as it could break down the polymer structure of the floor, resulting in erosion of the surface, softening, embrittlement, blistering or delamination. The chemical resistance of a resin floor is affected by its thickness, resin/polymer basis and the reactivity of the chemical agent. The Flowfresh range offers a much more effective protection against chemical attack than epoxy or MMA floors.
ANTIMICROBIAL
ENHANCEMENT Flowcrete Group Ltd has an exclusive partnership with Polygiene, which is a manufacturer of natural silver ion-based antimicrobial agents. This additive has been incorporated into the polyurethane matrix of Flowfresh to offer an advanced surface protection against harmful bacteria, mould and yeasts. The effectiveness of this technique is exemplified by the fact that many world- class healthcare environments have embraced Flowfresh flooring.
Polygiene is highly effective at attacking bacteria including SARS, E-coli, MRSA, C. difficile and Salmonella typhi amongst others. In fact international studies have shown a 99.9% reduction in the bacterial population on the surface of a polyurethane floor containing Polygiene.
Unlike many antimicrobial alternatives, the Polygiene additive is homogenously distributed throughout the resin system. This formulation means that its antimicrobial properties will remain active over the lifetime of the floor, even if it becomes worn or damaged.
All Flowfresh systems are non-porous, preventing bacteria and mould spores
www.tomorrowsflooring.com
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