As the USDA becomes more specific with instructions for professional food preparation, manufacturing and processing, it is important to know exactly what kinds of floor coatings are approved and appropriate for your particular business. Although there are number of manufacturing floor coverings that can meet all the rigorous requirements the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have, knowing the needs of your own business is the key to choosing the best floor coatings for food processing.
Epoxy Flooring for Food and Beverage Plants
Both the USDA and FDA have approved many epoxy food and beverage flooring systems. Most of these, such as the highly durable Novolac Prime Cast 2111, the epoxy mortar and topcoat Prime Armor 3110 flooring system and the Prime Guard 1201 fiber-reinfoced wall system provide excellent heat and cold resistance, scratch resistance and aesthetic freedom.
Epoxy floor coatings are a great choice for food and beverage production companies that deal with chemical products, alkalis and intense heating and cleaning processes. These floor coatings for food processing are also quick-drying and a good choice if it is imperative to have as little downtime as possible in your manufacturing plant.
Urethane Food and Beverage Flooring Systems
Urethane food and beverage flooring systems are a popular choice for many plants because of their longevity and extreme heat resistance. In comparison with epoxy floor coatings and vinyl ester floor paints, they have the longest life and the most durable, cleanable surfaces.
Many meat and poultry plants have begun to favor urethane flooring as it is easy and quick to install, and is virtually odorless. In addition, urethane food and beverage floor systems are scratch resistant and quick drying. After a urethane food and beverage floor coating is installed, it is completely cured and ready to be used within 6 hours.
Methyl Methacrylatate (MMA) Food and Beverage Floor Coatings
he best part of using MMA floor coatings for food processing is that it is highly durable under cold temperatures and is virtually odorless. This is one of the main reasons that MMA coatings are chosen by many beverage production facilities and bottling plants. Beverage plants specializing in lagers are attracted to the ability of MMA to handle the temperatures required of the drink’s chilling process. They are also pleased with the lack of unpleasant odors that might affect the beverage’s overall flavor. Other food and beverage production companies choose MMA coatings for cold-storage areas and walk-in freezers.
Polyurea Food and Beverage Floor Coverings
Impact-resistance is the most valuable aspect of polyurea food and beverage floor coverings. Food and beverage plants, specifically meat packaging and heavy-duty food preparation companies, are attracted to the anti-bacterial properties and flexibility over an array of substrates. In addition, there are many 100% pure polyurea food and beverage floor coatings that meet the USDA and the ANSI-NSF 61 standards of food production.
For many food and beverage manufacturing plants, a polyurea floor coating is also one of the easiest to install. As there are no VOCs in these floor coverings, they have no odor and will not affect the purity of the final product. They also dry very quickly, sometimes within just minutes. They are also an excellent choice because they are both physically flexible and adapt easily to wide temperature changes: from -20° F to 250° F.
