08 Sep Is Epoxy Flooring Safe?
Is Epoxy Flooring Safe?
How to make School Floors Safe & Sustainable
How slippery are epoxy floors?
When asking, Is epoxy flooring safe? The usual answer is yes, with a customizable level of safety. One of the first aspects of a floor that is considered when looking for an option that promotes safety, is the floor’s slip resistance . When comparing epoxy floors safety to other flooring options, one should consider the wide variety of non-skid options that an epoxy floors can provide. Epoxy flooring is easily customized for the unique needs of the facility, meaning that an epoxy floor can be custom made with non-skid materials or coarse grit additives to vastly improve safety and slip resistance .
Some floor locations such as kitchens, showers or pool decks require a coarse grit additive that will maintain a high level of slip resistance when the floor is wet. Other floors such as lobby flooring, common areas, retail, or commercial spaces may only need a fine powder added to the resins that are completely encapsulated, yet still provide enough traction to prevent slipping.
Epoxy flooring systems are often compared to tile flooring. When it comes to preventing slip and falls, epoxy flooring is safer than tile and has more customizability for the unique locations that it is installed.
How does epoxy flooring safety hold up long term?
One of the benefits of epoxy flooring is that the maintenance regimen required to uphold safety of the system is significantly less than what’s needed to maintain safety of other flooring types. With epoxy flooring, regular cleaning is required to ensure the safety and performance of the non-skid properties. Fortunately, cleaning is easy and does not involve any buffing or waxing, something that is time consuming and becomes expensive over time. Regular sweeping, mopping, and using auto floor scrubbing machines are all that’s needed to keep an epoxy floor safe and looking like new for years. Compared to tile, the longevity of the floor is similar. They both may show long term wear and abuse depending on use. With an epoxy system, its very easy to patch and repair only a specific area if it has excessive wear or damage.
If the epoxy system has been in use for many years and the facility is looking to freshen up the look of the floor, the floor can be easily prepped , and the final topcoat can be reapplied to make it look new. This option is always available, but usually not needed as an older epoxy floor is just as functional as a new one as long as it has been maintained properly.
Can epoxy floor develop cracks and chips that make it less safe?
Since epoxy flooring systems are so versatile, they can be customized to hold up to any type of facility and use case. For example, an auto shop or airplane hangar may need an epoxy floor that is chip resistant to protect it from tools or parts that may fall and damage the floor. Other epoxy systems can be flexible with the movements of concrete expansion and contraction. The key is working with a knowledgeable contractor and a reputable manufacturer to find the custom solution tailored to your facilities’ needs.
Are epoxy floors safe if chemicals or hazardous materials are spilled on them?
Epoxy has great chemical resistance, but caustic spills should always be wiped clean as soon as possible. Epoxy systems are seamless which means that it is resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew buildup. Tile, on the other hand, has dirt catching grout lines that make it easy for foreign materials to collect. It is also possible to install a seamless integrated cove up the wall that makes it even easier to keep your epoxy floor safe and clean. Overall, if you’ve ever asked: Is epoxy flooring safe? The answer is yes, as epoxy flooring can always be made to fit the safety needs of the facility in which it is installed.