A hygienic floor design in a food and beverage facility is vital for consumer confidence as food safety is central to the safe production, processing and storage of produce.

In the face of the numerous challenges that flooring in large-scale industrial environments inevitably encounter, a high level of cleanliness must be maintained at all times. This can be especially difficult when experiencing regular 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.

To deal with these occupational hazards, seamless, impermeable and crack-free resin-based surfaces, such as Flowcrete UK’s Flowfresh range, are increasingly being specified across the F&B industry.

Here are our Five Fabulous Flowfresh Facts for Contractors:

1- 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.

2- 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.

3- Flowfresh systems have a coefficient of expansion similar to that of concrete. This means that the material expands, contracts and moves with the substrate to prevent any lasting damage during thermal shock scenarios such as hot water washes and steam cleaning. A thick polyurethane system is especially advisable for cold stores, blast freezers and the space underneath hot ovens, due to the inevitable long periods of exposure to extreme temperatures.

4- Many industrial plants take advantage of the fact that signage can be incorporated into a Flowfresh finish to enhance on-site safety. The bright and colourful systems available in the range allow walkways to be clearly marked out, helping staff and visitors avoid getting unnecessarily close to machinery and produce.

5- All Flowfresh systems are non-porous, preventing bacteria and mould spores from surviving in the joints and cracks that are typical of alternative flooring systems such as tiles or acid bricks.