Factory floors stand up to a lot of stressors. Compressors cycle, conveyors run, pumps hum, and production equipment sends vibrations through the concrete slab continuously. So much vibration raises an important question: Can epoxy flooring hold up around industrial machinery?
Floors Designed for Challenging Environments
Epoxy flooring systems are not a one-size-fits-all. A packaging line creates different challenges than a metal fabrication shop. A compressor room has different needs than a bottling facility, warehouse, production plant, or maintenance bay. The right flooring plan starts with a consideration of the operating conditions. The epoxy coatings industry has developed a variety of materials designed to face all sorts of industrial and environmental conditions. The right coating exists for your industrial floors, but it takes a proper consultation to identify it. The primary question is whether your coating should be rigid or flexible.
Rigid epoxy systems are excellent at resisting chemical wear and tear, but they do not withstand repetitive, rhythmic vibrations. Repetitive movements at specific frequencies causes stress on the adhesive properties of the epoxy coating. Over time, that stress concentrates in areas around equipment bases and anchor bolts. Slab cracks, expansion joints, and changes in floor elevation can amplify the issue and create problems for a stiff surface coating. Rigid epoxies may therefore experience hairline cracks, chipping, loosening, and surface delamination in high vibration environments. Nevada Custom Coatings does not use rigid epoxies where vibration is expected to be a constant factor.
Flexible epoxy systems, on the other hand, address areas with vibration, deflection, or minor slab movement more effectively than a rigid coating. Instead of every small movement transferring directly through the epoxy coating, much of it is absorbed by the flexible epoxy surface. This reduces the likelihood of cracks forming near susceptible areas of the floor. These flexible epoxies are generally in the polyurethane class of materials.
When a certain amount of rigidity is still needed, we can add a flexible stress-relief layer to absorb vibrations. That layer sits between the prepared concrete and the rigid epoxy surface, dispersing vibrations that would otherwise cause damage. The flexibility allows for slight floor movement, reducing stress to the top epoxy layer, preventing cracks and delamination.
The Right Epoxy System for the Job
A thorough consultation in advance of installation is critical when preparing for installation of epoxy floors for industrial facilities. Afterwards, regular inspection of epoxy-coated concrete slabs at critical junctions allows facility owners to maintain a clean and safe environment. The need for repairs is kept to a minimum or completely avoided when protective measures and regular maintenance are included in the initial design.
Nevada Custom Coatings offers assistance to commercial and industrial facilities that are considering an epoxy flooring system. We help you design your floors with actual working conditions in mind. Contact us with any questions that you have, and schedule a free site evaluation.
