Food Grade Flooring in Food Factories: Chemical Resistant Flooring Solutions

Food grade flooring is the ideal choice for facilities in the food and beverage industry, including processing facilities, warehouses, distribution centres, commercial kitchens and restaurants. These environments require flooring systems that are hygienic, slip resistant, easy to clean, antimicrobial and durable enough to withstand rigorous cleaning routines and frequent forklift traffic.

Another important consideration for flooring in food factories is chemical resistance. To handle the harsh food production and manufacturing environment, flooring must be designed with excellent resistance to chemicals, acids and other harsh elements that go hand in hand with the food and beverage industry.

What Are Chemical Resistant Floor Finishes and Screeds?

Chemical resistant floor finishes and screeds are ideal for spaces like food factories where aggressive compounds and chemicals are present. When concrete is coated in a chemical resistant finish, it ensures that the structural integrity of the flooring will not be compromised after accidental exposure to chemicals.

The Importance of Chemical and Acid Resistant Flooring in the Food Industry

Organic and inorganic byproducts and chemicals—such as acids, alkalis, salts, oils, blood, fat, sugars, cleaning agents, solvents and more—are commonly present in food and beverage processing and manufacturing factories. As these chemicals fall or are spilled on the ground, they can severely weaken and damage the floor over time, leading to unsightly surfaces and exposing areas where bacteria and microbes can thrive.

Additionally, since hygiene is essential in food and beverage factories, facility floors undergo constant sanitization and cleaning routines using harsh chemicals, disinfectants and cleaning agents, as well as hot water or steam. These practices, while necessary, can take a toll on flooring systems that are not adequately protected.

To ensure that food factory floors are long-lasting, hygienic and safe, it’s essential to apply floor finishes that have superior resistance to chemicals.

The Best Chemical Resistant Floor Finishes and Screeds for Food Factories

Heavy duty polyurethane floor finishes and screeds provide high resistance to many chemicals, making them an excellent choice for protecting concrete floors in food and beverage facilities. Chemical resistant polyurethane floor finishes not only prevent damage from chemicals commonly used in food processing but also can withstand the strong agents preferred for sanitising and sterilising surfaces.

Chemical resistant floor finishes made from resin materials, including polyurethane, provide a wide range of other beneficial qualities required by food grade flooring systems. These floor finishes and screeds provide a hard, durable surface that is built to withstand impacts and abrasions, and they are installed seamlessly, so they are easy to clean.

For additional hygienic properties, resin finishes can be formulated with antimicrobial properties, further supporting a hygienic food production environment. When spills happen, the seamless and chemical resistant floor surface is easy to clean, and these polyurethane floor finishes help prevent accidents by having non-slip surfaces, even in wet conditions. They cure quickly and are built to last, extending the lifespan of a food or beverage factory.

Food and beverage industry facilities require seamless, durable flooring that is easy to clean, hygienic, anti-sip and resistant to chemicals and bacterial growth. Resin floor finishes, including polyurethane finishes, are a proven way to protect food factory floors, limit downtime and ensure the environment is prepared for spills and leaks.

Shop Food Grade Chemical Resistant Floor Finishes and Screeds at Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams is the leading provider of floor finishes for the food and beverage industry. Our line of high performance resin flooring offers superior resistance to moisture, chemicals, acids, impacts and abrasions. With our durable, easy-to-clean and long-lasting food and beverage flooring solutions, you can extend the lifespan of your food manufacturing or processing plant floors and experience cost savings for years to come.

Contact a Sherwin-Williams representative today to learn more about our food-safe polyurethane flooring solutions for the food and beverage industry.