8 replies to this topic

[srose]

Hello all.

 

Can anyone suggest a flooring option for an ice cream factory in a tropical country, that is durable and can withstand use without damage or rough areas?

 

I would prefer to hear from those who have the suggested flooring and can confirm it is durable.

 

The ice cream factory already has an epoxy coating recommended by a supplier, but it is not holding up well - they need something more durable.

 

I am open to looking at another type of epoxy flooring so feel free to share the one you may use that works well.

 

The company is trying to avoid tiles because all the equipment is already in place and to lay down tiles would be very challenging.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[MDaleDDF]

I assume concrete is under the epoxy?   Grind and polish the concrete.   Slippery when wet a bit, but beautiful, durable, and easy to clean.  It also looks great, kind of like terrazzo depending what the aggregate is.   Here's a photo of my basement where I just had it done:

 

Pic won't show up for some reason, I guess google it, lol.   Sorry....

Edited by MDaleDDF, 26 February 2025 - 05:38 PM.

[G M]

...

The ice cream factory already has an epoxy coating recommended by a supplier, but it is not holding up well - they need something more durable.

...

 

What kind of time frame did it fail in, and how much of it is failing?  The nature of the production environment is harsh, and movement of heavy PIV will wear anything down.

[MDaleDDF]

What kind of time frame did it fail in, and how much of it is failing?  The nature of the production environment is harsh, and movement of heavy PIV will wear anything down.

I think epoxy floors are often touted as durable, but they're really not for heavy use.   The scratch and chip up like crazy.   As I said I just had the concrete in my house ground and polished, and my buddy did epoxy on his about the same time.   Mine still look brand new, and his are already scratched up and chipping in spots, and it's just a domicile.   In a building with any kind of equipment and real use, I personally think epoxy is a bad choice.   I'd do some sort of non-slip vinyl before epoxy.   I actually have non-slip vinyl in my lab, and it's been in there around 12 years and still looks great, so that's not a bad choice either, as long as you're not using fork lifts, etc.   If you're using equipment that heavy duty, definitely concrete obviously.

[Clawcast]

I had similar issues and what helped was getting a proper sweep and inspection through Fort Worth chimney cleaning, which caught a couple of problems I would’ve missed on my own. The techs were straightforward about what needed fixing, and the pricing didn’t make my eyes water. It made the fireplace way safer and stopped the weird smells, so it might be worth a shot.

Edited by Clawcast, Yesterday, 11:46 AM.

[SHQuality]

Do you know what caused your flooring to get damaged in the first place? If, for example, a lot of metal containers have fallen down due to the way they're being handled by staff, no flooring will stand up to that on a regular basis. I think no matter what floor you end up choosing, you should probably do some risk management to make it last.

[GMO]

Resin flooring every time for me. You do need to repair and replace it but if you are in an ice cream factory there is no way you should have a polished floor. You'll have people slipping all over the place. The resin floors we tend to have in high care and high risk factory have a good mix of grip and cleanability.

 

I don't think epoxy stands up in the long term and if there's even the smallest damage, concrete will absorb water (and let it back out later so be a Listeria nightmare).

[Tony-C]

Hi srose,

 

The most durable flooring I have ever seen is tiled. See this example here: Hygienic Industrial Tiles

 

Note that the grouting will need to be of a good durable quality and I would choose a darker colour as in the pictures.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[GMO]

 

The most durable flooring I have ever seen is tiled. See this example here: Hygienic Industrial Tiles

 

 

 

I've seen that exact type in dairies and been told that they're absolutely the most durable then found damage. It all comes down to maintenance whatever floor you choose. While I've worked in dairies, I've not worked in them with high care / high risk tiled areas so I'd worry that you could actually see if there was a grout failure (and so many points to fail). But I've also been in many high care and high risk areas where there have been visible cracks or the surface of the resin is so old it's worn back and is a risk but both had been missed.

 

So my thoughts are, both can work, both can be a risk, both need maintenance and expect to replace both over a 10 year max period as patching is a nightmare. Even with tiles, digging them out in high care is not anybody's idea of a low risk activity.

 

Either way though, while it's been common knowledge in the UK for some time that ice cream can have Listeria presence (e.g. "Mr Whippy" is recommended to be avoided by those who are pregnant), it was new news for some when the Blue Bell issue hit. You need to be all over creating as hygienic an area as you would if you were making ready to eat cream cakes.