Crack The Code To Perfect Industrial Flooring: Your Ultimate Selection Guide
A safe, high quality industrial flooring system plays a key role in establishing an efficient and productive workspace. For manufacturing, industrial, and warehousing businesses, a flooring solution is not simply about aesthetics; it’s a decision that can significantly influence your business’s productivity, safety, and adherence to industry standards, as well as your long-term maintenance costs and ROI.
Investing in a customised resin floor, such as one of the epoxy, polyurethane, or polymer screeds we offer at Advanced Resin Technologies (International), can help you reduce hazards, increase your hygiene and sanitation levels, and mitigate the risk of accidents arising from slips and falls.
This e-book will guide you through the main considerations needed to select the perfect industrial resin flooring solution for your business, helping you make an informed choice tailored to your operational needs, safety requirements, and industry standards.
Key Considerations For Achieving The Perfect Resin Flooring Solution
Before we look at considerations specific to different sectors, there are several factors that any business owner should consider before purchasing an industrial flooring system. Every business and industry will have slightly different requirements, so please feel free to call one of our specialists to arrive at the perfect solution for you.
Environmental conditions:
Ambient temperature, humidity, and weather exposure can significantly impact the performance of industrial resin floors, and will subsequently affect your choice of material, as well as any treatments and additives. For example, if your facility is exposed to high temperatures, you’ll need a heat resistant flooring solution, such as epoxy resin.
Similarly, in areas that are prone to moisture or dampness – such as wash facilities or commercial kitchens – a water-resistant and hygienic flooring solution should be considered. Excessive moisture can compromise the integrity of resin flooring systems, leading to issues such as delamination – separation between layers of the flooring.
Polyurethane floors, for example, are known for their excellent resistance to both temperature fluctuations and moisture. We always recommend conducting a thorough moisture test before installation, and if high moisture or humidity levels are detected, you may require a moisture-tolerant primer on moisture barrier before installing your floor.
Layout and operating conditions:
the specific working conditions of your facility also play a crucial role in your choice of flooring. Pay special attention to factors such as the level of foot traffic and its regularity, the presence of vehicles, plant, or heavy machinery, and any potential exposure to chemicals and corrosive substances. Your flooring solution should be chosen based on its ability to withstand these conditions without impacting performance, and without excessive long-term maintenance requirements.
Installation and curing time:
many manufacturing and industrial organisations require quick installation to minimise downtime and disruption to operations, and to fit in with scheduled shutdowns or shift patterns. Once your floor surface is primed and prepared, most resin floors are relatively quick to install. However, the cure time of the flooring – i.e. the time it takes for your system to fully harden after installation – is a critical factor in your decision, as some types of resin flooring have faster cure times than others.
Specific requirements:
Different industrial sectors have unique requirements and compliance environments when it comes to flooring. For instance, food production facilities may require a flooring system that is easy to keep clean and naturally resistant to bacterial growth, while a manufacturing environment might require flooring that can withstand heavy machinery and high impacts without sustaining damage.
Contractor experience and skill level:
The success of an industrial flooring installation often rests on the skills and expertise of your contractor. We recommend working with a contractor with proven experience installing floors for businesses in your sector, and with the necessary skills to adequately prepare the substrate, correctly mix and apply your resin, and ensure a smooth and level finish. Factors such as competitive pricing, good customer service, case studies, and independent testimonials that verify the quality of work should also be considered when choosing a contractor.
Life-cycle factors:
A premium quality, well-maintained resin floor will last you between 10 and 20 years, or even longer. However, the lifespan of your particular flooring system will vary based on several factors, including the type of resin chosen, the quality of installation, and the conditions of use. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help extend the lifespan of a resin floor, including routine sweeping and mopping, visual inspections, and periodic deep cleaning and resealing.
Quality of your subbase:
Before installing any resin floor, the quality of your sub base must be carefully assessed, as this can influence the performance and maintenance needs of your resin floor throughout its life-cycle. The sub base is the layer of material (often concrete) that supports the resin floor screed. If the sub base is not in optimal condition, e.g. it is uneven or cracked, it may need to be repaired or levelled before your resin floor can be installed.
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Are you ready to transform your workspace into a haven of efficiency and safety? Your industrial flooring is more than just a surface – it’s a strategic decision that can revolutionise your business.
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Sector-Specific Considerations and Industry Standards
As well as a general assessment of your working environment and operating conditions, various sector-specific considerations and compliance requirements may play a factor in choosing the resin flooring system that is perfect for your business. In this section, we’ll look at each of our main operating sectors in turn, giving an overview of the considerations needed to optimise a resin flooring system to your working requirements.
1) PHARMACEUTICAL
Getting your choice of flooring right is essential for businesses in the pharmaceutical industry, as there are specific demands it will have to meet. Resin flooring gives you the versatility to create a perfect flooring solution for your business and its customers, with various types of resin to choose from depending on risk factors like chemical resistance, temperature range, and traffic levels. Our experienced resin flooring specialists can help you decide on the best type of resin for your organisation, e.g. polyurethane or epoxy. High-quality surface preparation and application is also crucial for meeting the standards of the pharmaceutical sector, so we recommend selecting an expert flooring installer with established experience working with similar businesses to your own.
Qualities to look for:
- Antimicrobial qualities and the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene
- Durability and resistance to heavy machinery and high foot traffic
- Safety – we recommend a flooring system with anti-slip properties and resistance to spills and leaks.
- Seamless surface – to avoid the buildup of dirt, bacteria, chemicals etc.
- Stain resistant and easy to clean
2) CAR GARAGE/VEHICLE WORKSHOPS
Automotive workshops and car garages are high traffic environments with frequent exposure to oil, petrol, cleaning products, diesel, paints, and other potentially corrosive petrochemicals. A good quality flooring system plays a key role in maintaining the overall upkeep and appearance of your business, while also improving fire safety and minimising hazards. Industrial epoxy resin flooring is the perfect choice for many garages due to its chemical resistance, strength, and the ability to add decorative flakes to create a unique brand identity and to establish discrete working areas and walkways. Polyurethane flooring is another good option, with superior chemical resistance and excellent long-term durability.
Qualities to look for:
- Chemical resistance to oils, coolants, and other automotive chemicals.
- Slip resistance for tyres and foot traffic.
- Hard wearing abrasion resistance – to protect your flooring from the constant movement of vehicles, and the impact of tools and equipment.
- Appearance – your car workshop is also the shop front of your business, so it’s essential to choose a resin floor system that presents a professional and clean-looking appearance.
- Brightness – a bright and reflective resin floor can increase the light levels in a workshop, making it easier for your mechanics to conduct their work.
- Easy to clean – a smooth and seamless resin floor is easy to sweep and mop, keeping the space free of dust and dirt.
3) FOOD PRODUCTION
Flooring systems used in food and beverage production and processing environments carry a strong responsibility towards food safety and hygiene. Any flooring system must be specifically designed for the food production industry, allowing you to sustain the highest standards of sanitation, and to demonstrate compliance with food safety legislation and best practices.
Epoxy resin flooring is the perfect choice for most food production businesses, as it is durable, easy to clean, resistant to chemical cleaning products, and stands up well under heavy wear and tear. Moreover, for businesses looking to pass a BRC audit, installing a flooring system with a high hygiene rating is a central factor in demonstrating compliance.
Qualities to look for:
- Resistant to bacterial growth
- Easy to clean
- Non-toxic/food safe
- Resistant to strong cleaning chemicals
- Resistant to oil and grease spills
- Good temperature resistance range (for freezers and cold storage areas you will need a resin that can be applied at low temperatures, such as MMA)
- Resistant to moisture and humidity
- Scratch and chip proof – so that there are no flaws in the flooring in which bacteria can develop
- Nonporous surface to avoid moisture and food particles becoming trapped.
- Resistant to high foot traffic and wear and tear
- Compatible with a food safe floor drainage system
4) SCHOOLS/EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
Although schools, colleges, universities, and other training facilities are not usually considered ‘industrial’ locations, it’s sensible to take an industrial approach to flooring selection, as many educational organisations have the same hard wearing and no-nonsense requirements for their flooring as businesses in the manufacturing sector.
With a continual flow of heavy foot traffic, spillages, and plenty of wear and tear, it is essential that any flooring solution you invest in is durable and easy to maintain, as well as slip resistant and hygienic. This makes an industrial-grade resin flooring system the perfect solution for many schools and educational bodies.
However, many schools have a wider range of demographic groups and accessibility needs to consider than manufacturing businesses do, so a straightforward industrial flooring system is not usually sufficient for a school. Your flooring system needs to be capable of extensive customisation to meet the needs of your service users, and we strongly recommend working with a contractor with established experience with schools and educational bodies, with the expertise to provide bespoke guidance on the type of resin you should use.
Qualities to look for:
- Decorative customisation options to meet your school branding
- Decent chemical resistance – e.g. to cleaning products
- Easy to keep clean and maintain
- Stain resistance
- Nonslip
- Strong and durable
- Abrasion/scratch resistance
- Resistance to vandalism and deliberate damage
- Acoustic soundproofing – to minimise noise and enhance learning conditions in classrooms, training rooms, lecture theatres etc
5) MANUFACTURING/WAREHOUSING
Manufacturing businesses vary considerably in their flooring requirements, and the flooring system that is perfect for you will largely depend on the way that the space is used, who uses the space, the presence of vehicles, plant, and manufacturing equipment, and any risk factors that could affect your choice of flooring. You may also find that you need a different type of flooring system for different areas of your premises, e.g. a heavy duty floor suitable for forklifts and vehicles in your warehouse, a chemical and abrasion resistant screed in your production area, and a hygienic, easy clean floor surface in your testing laboratory or cold storage area.
Qualities to look for:
- Strong resistance to manufacturing chemicals, fumes, etc.
- High durability to heavy foot traffic, industrial machinery, and vehicles
- Anti-slip coatings for increased safety in walkways and loading areas
- Ease of maintenance and repair
- Cost-effective for installation over extensive areas
- Self-levelling properties for safe manufacturing and production facilities
- Good impact and vibration resistance
- Fast curing time to minimise downtime
- Antistatic – essential for electronics manufacturers to reduce the risk of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
- Seamless surface to avoid the buildup of dust, bacteria, and dirt
Find Out More
In general, any industrial resin flooring system needs to be durable, strongly resistant to chemicals and abrasion, slip resistant, and hygienic, and you may also need antistatic protection to safeguard against electrical hazards.
Regulatory compliance and downtime will also affect your choice of flooring, so we recommend speaking to a resin flooring specialist, such as Advanced Resin Technologies (International), to determine the best choice of flooring system for your industry.
About ART(I)
Advanced Resin Technologies (International) are one of the UK’s leading providers of industrial flooring solutions and are proud to work with customers throughout the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, educational, and automotive sectors.
Our team of highly trained technicians adhere to the Resin Flooring Association Code of Practice, and all flooring contracts are covered by a cast-iron customer satisfaction guarantee including both materials and labour, as well as a manufacturer’s warranty covering the flooring materials themselves.
Our range of flooring services include:
- Commercial resin flooring
- Industrial resin flooring
- Antistatic floor screeds
- Epoxy floor screeds
- Polyurethane screeds
- Polymer screeds
- Surface preparation
- Joint sealant application
- Waterproofing for decks and balconies
- Decorative epoxy resin flooring
- Epoxy floor coatings
- MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) flooring
- Resin bound driveways
- Specialist wall finishes
- Safety surfaces and line markings
Information about our recent projects can be found in our case studies page. Feel free to get in touch directly if you’d like more details about a specific project or the work we carry out in your sector.