In the realm of industrial flooring, durability is paramount

Industrial facilities are expensive to build and maintain. Investing in quality materials that can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use and taking care to maintain them will help keep your business operating at peak productivity. 

When it comes to flooring, perhaps the hardest-working surface in any facility, there is no substitute for having the floor professionally installed by a reputable installer; the best product in the world will fail if it is poorly installed. Flooring is not the place to cut corners or make do. Replacing a floor often means moving equipment and taking an area out of production, something most manufacturing facilities can ill-afford. 

Understanding what will be happening on the floor is the first step in determining the most appropriate floor covering. If there is pedestrian traffic, some degree of slip resistance will be necessary. For supporting equipment, a thick floor with low abrasion will suffice, but if the traffic traversing the floor includes materials handling equipment, or if items are regularly slid or dragged across the floor, an abrasion-resistant floor is a must. If there is a likelihood of damage due to impact chip and crack resistance should be an important consideration.

Consider the environment

Not all flooring solutions are equally well suited to withstanding variations in temperature. While some hard floors lack the resiliency to handle extreme cold other coatings will soften in high temperatures. Thresholds can be particularly tricky, when opening the door to a blast/walk-in freezer the blast of icy air that is released could cause damage to the floor directly outside the freezer. 

Most industrial businesses use chemical agents in their operations, and it is inevitable that the chemicals will eventually end up on the floor. The composition of the media, i.e., the ratio of the chemicals relative to the water participation should be a key consideration in the floor specification. In wet processing areas and areas that experience heavy or frequent water exposure, the absorption rate of the coating will directly impact the durability of the floor. 

Protect your investment

Flooring suitable for an industrial environment is a costly investment; establishing a suitable cleaning routine will enhance the durability of the floor. While a weekly scrub might suffice for some facilities, for others a more vigorous cleaning regime may be necessary. Either way, removing dirt, discharge, or overflow as soon as possible is always considered best practice.

Trust the manufacturers' recommendations and adhere to their guidelines – this is true both for the installed floor and the cleaning solutions. Having your chosen product perform at its best is in the manufacturer’s best interest and their guidelines will help you get the most out of their product.