Protective coatings for concrete floors play a key role in maintaining high standards of safety in industrial workplaces and provide a vital shield against potentially damaging environmental hazards such as corrosion, oxidisation, high temperatures, UV, abrasion, acid attack and friction.
Caustic and corrosive materials are a common feature in many industrial environments, whether as a by-product of the processes or used for cleaning purposes, and these can do some serious damage to an unprotected floor.
Friction from moving equipment, impacts from heavy or sharp objects and sustained foot traffic can also cause considerable damage to an unprotected floor – all of which can increase the risk of injury to personnel, compromise the integrity of the floor and lead to costly repairs and downtime.
Protective coatings are essential in any industrial environment where health and safety are paramount and where preservation of assets is a business imperative.
Are all protective coatings the same?
There are a number of protective coatings available for industrial floors, each of which has unique properties.
It’s imperative to choose the coating which is best suited to a particular application. For example, one site may need a tough and durable coating to resist sustained hard impacts, another may need a surface which is impervious to moisture while another may need a floor coating which mitigates heavy foot and vehicular traffic. The key is to find the best protective coating which can withstand the challenges of that particular site.
Types of protective concrete coatings for industrial environments
Here’s a brief introduction to the different types of industrial protective coatings.
- Concrete floor polishing
Concrete floors can be mechanically polished using a chemical hardener to create durable, long-lasting floors that require minimal upkeep. Concrete floor polishing is a practical and cost-effective option for industrial facilities such as storage warehouses and factories.
- Epoxy floor coatings
Epoxy floor coatings are an excellent option for a wide variety of industrial and manufacturing environments including food and beverage operations, workshops and factories, medical, mining and education facilities, commercial kitchens and food processing plants.
The seamless epoxy surface is impermeable and highly durable and is resistant to chemicals, abrasives and impacts as well as being resistant to mould, rust, harmful bacteria and other contaminants. It is also non-slip and can be custom-designed to incorporate markings and designs into the floor as an added safety feature.
- Intumescent coatings
Some environments require intumescent coatings which increase considerably in volume when exposed to intense heat. These coatings are applied in areas where a protective, insulating layer is required in the event of a fire (eg around a door frame where it would prevent smoke or fire from escaping through the gaps).
- Static dissipative floor coatings
Some sensitive environments require floor coatings which don’t give off a static discharge. Examples include electronics manufacturing and chemical processing plants where high-performance high-precision electronic instruments or components are involved.
Specialised resin floor coatings are an excellent choice for such environments as they disperse static electricity as well as being seamless, hardwearing, resistant to chemicals and easy to clean.
- Slip-resistant coatings
Epoxy floors and heavy duty polyurethane resin offer superior slip resistance and traction which is why they are the preferred choices in many different industrial environments. A variety of non-slip and anti-skid elements can be added to the floor coatings to prevent accidents (for example from spilled materials such as oil, foodstuff, chemicals etc) and to reduce liability.
- Antimicrobial floor coatings
In many industrial sites such as laboratories, medical facilities, pharmaceutical plants and food processing and preparation environments, the hard surfaces such as flooring and coatings need to offer superior antimicrobial properties.
Epoxy floor coatings are an excellent option in such sites, but it is always recommended to discuss specific requirements and applicable industry standards with a flooring professional before making any final decision.
A last word on industrial protective concrete coatings
A high-quality coating will safeguard your industrial floor for years provided that the correct type of coating is specified and that it is installed by professionals who know what they are doing.
Panther Protective Coatings are market leaders in long-lasting concrete flooring coatings for industrial, commercial and retail clients and our extensive specialist knowledge and expertise will ensure that you get the best coating option for your flooring needs. Contact the team at Panther Protective on 0452 470 433 or get in touch via our website and let’s start our obligation-free conversation today.