The U.S. flooring sector has grown. Recently, the industry reported 3.85% growth in dollars and a 3.2% volume expansion as compared to the previous years. Despite this growth, engineers, designers, and architects continue to experience challenges, especially when it comes to selecting industrial flooring solutions.
If you are wondering whether to choose chemical-resistant, anti-skid, or polyurethane, here are some key elements to consider.
1. Expected Traffic
The first thing that you need to identify before you select the best industrial flooring is the expected traffic volume. A warehouse floor, which is likely to accommodate forklifts throughout the day and sometimes at night, has different flooring needs when compared to an office building. The type of traffic will help you to identify the right flooring material from the available industrial flooring solutions. Because of the regular wear and tear, traffic affects repair costs, maintenance, and cleaning.
2. Purpose of the Floor
The purpose of the space under consideration is an important aspect when selecting the most appropriate industrial flooring solutions. In the food industry or dairy industry, it is important to consider an industrial construction that does not corrode due to lactic acid and other chemicals. Additionally, clean and health-sensitive rooms in hospitals and classrooms should choose a material that is hygienic and easy to clean.
3. Budget
The amount of money under consideration will always be an issue when it comes to industrial flooring solutions. While you should choose industrial flooring solution that is fit for your purpose rather than by cost, your available budget will play a part in the selection process. You need to make sure that your budget is not only sufficient for material but installation costs as well. You also need to factor in maintenance and replacement expenses.
4. Environment
Various surroundings can affect industrial flooring solutions They include exposure to moisture and temperature. For hot environments, you have to consider industrial flooring solutions that are resistant to high temperatures and ideal for hot environments. These flooring materials are very useful in bakeries and in front of ovens. In the food processing industry, the flooring solution used should not have direct or indirect impacts on food products and vice versa.
5. Floor Color
Many people will play down the fact that color is an important consideration when one is choosing flooring material. However, work environment, maintenance, lighting, comfortability, and cleaning make color an essential factor that needs to be considered. If your space gets very little natural light, you need to make sure that your floor has bright colors to compliment the little light you’re getting. You also need to avoid very bold and flashy colors because they can cause eye fatigue.
6. Floor Finish
Various industrial flooring materials provide a different finish to suit the intended purpose of the floor. In the food and beverage industry, it is important to use anti-skid coatings because they are essential for workplace safety, especially in wet conditions. There are industrial flooring materials that can be used to resist damage from heavy traffic while others can be used to prevent chemical damages. Floor finishing is dependent on the intended use of the floor. For example, pharmaceutical industries would prefer easy to clean floor finishes.
7. Floor Durability
Most of the factors discussed above have an impact on the durability of the floor under consideration. Different flooring materials last longer than others when exposed to the same environment. Therefore, you have to make sure that you select the best industrial flooring solution possible. However, you should be prepared to pay premium prices to get long-lasting material for industrial flooring.
These are some of the major factors that should help you to select industrial flooring solutions. With these key factors, you can select a floor that does not only meet your budget but a floor that services you for many years. For industrial floor consulting, contact professionals like The Project Group Consulting.
Pamela began her professional career in the broadcast industry while attending Tarleton State University. After graduating with a B.S. in Speech Communication in 1997, she worked at several radio stations in management roles focusing on continuity, music and production as well as serving as an on-air talent continuously for more than ten years. In 2010, Pamela accepted a position as the Assistant Marketing and Development Director for the Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX. Helping to promote, market and develop the City of Richardson’s performing arts center, she succeeded in implementing and managing all social media marketing as well as creating and directing a first-ever student art exhibit, further strengthening her marketing and organizational talents.
Jason Krueger is the Director of Ranch and Real Estate Development for The Project Group Consulting, LLC. Jason has been managing and developing ranches for greater than 14 years, and has extensive sales management experience in the construction industry dating back to the late 90s. He is also a Wildlife Biologist/Ecologist with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Texas A&M University in College Station.
Bryant began his career at Crepaco warehouse in parts distribution and pump assembly. Then he progressed to field installation for process and ammonia systems where he oversaw welding and fitting both sanitary tubing and ammonia piping systems.He then moved to San Antonio, spent a year as a contract fabricator with H-E-B Foods working for Sanitary Welding Services. At the end of his contract he returned to the DFW area with Alloy Equipment doing installation, crew management, and scheduling. There he remained through the buyout by Statco Fabrication and Engineering, which resulted in his 25 combined years with them moving into engineering and sales departments.
With more than 25 years in the food and beverage industry and extensive experience as a project manager, Tony has planned and led multi-million dollar projects relating to system upgrades, equipment installation, water quality, validations and process improvements. Some of his areas of expertise include project planning, quality assurance, process analysis, manufacturing systems, process design and problem resolution.
Tim is an electrical and control systems engineer with more than ten years of experience in a wide variety of industries. Project experience includes working with clients in the water/wastewater fields, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food and beverage industries. Prior to his engineering work, Tim was a licensed water treatment plant operator in Texas. Tim’s strengths are process engineering, control system design, conveyor system design, and project management. He received his B. S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. In his spare time, Tim enjoys working on cars, golfing, and billiards.
Michael has thirty-five years of diversified experience in project management and engineering, equipment and systems design, and manufacturing and production. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.