Flooring with continuous floor-to-wall coving minimizes 90-degree angles, which helps to reduce microbial dispersion in the space. Custodial workers may also clean and sanitize more quickly and thoroughly with a rounded (radial) integrated cove base.
FREMONT, CA: It has never been more critical to protect the health and well-being of staff and customers at grocery stores, supermarkets, and other retail facilities than it is now. However, as cleanliness requirements rise, so do customer expectations, making it an even more difficult chore. Not only is limiting contamination events and spread a priority for gaining shoppers' trust, but local governments are increasingly expecting shops to assist in epidemic prevention.
Here are four properties of hygienic floors:
Antibacterial Properties:
Compared to other types of flooring, industrial flooring systems like epoxies allow you to add antimicrobial chemicals to the floor material, which can help prevent the spread of hazardous mold and other bacteria.
Floor Pitch and Drainage:
Properly pitched flooring and drainage systems are essential in areas where floors are constantly cleaned down, such as butcher shops, prep kitchens, walk-in coolers, and produce storage.
Puddles of water can promote microbial growth while also posing a serious slipping hazard. USDA-compliant flooring, such as highly moisture-tolerant urethane mortar systems, can be used to level the floor, allowing for proper effluent drainage without puddling.
Virtually Seamless Surfaces:
Typical grocery store flooring frequently falls into the tile or vinyl flooring categories. While these can be advantageous in some situations, they increase the risk of infection in food operations because pathogenic microorganisms, mold, and other pollutants can easily lurk in gaps and crevices. A flooring solution that reduces surface breaches is preferable. Poured flooring, such as a commercial-grade epoxy floor, is an excellent choice for reducing pathogen spread.
Improving Cleanability:
It's important to pay attention to the 90-degree angles where the wall and floor meet. It's practically impossible to clean these difficult-to-reach angles and joints. Plastic or rubber glue-on coves can exacerbate the problem by allowing mold and pathogenic bacteria to develop entrapped beneath them. In contrast, flooring with continuous floor-to-wall coving minimizes 90-degree angles, which helps to reduce microbial dispersion in the space. Custodial workers may also clean and sanitize more quickly and thoroughly with a rounded (radial) integrated cove base.