Epoxy floors are renowned for their durability and wide array of aesthetic choices. They also offer an eco-friendly alternative that translates into less frequent replacements and minimal impact on the environment.
For example, epoxy flooring can be customized with company branding and area safety markings, further reducing maintenance costs. The material’s reflective coating also enhances natural lighting in commercial spaces, lowering energy consumption and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions
Many traditional flooring materials contain harmful chemicals that can impact the environment during production and installation. These materials may also emit VOCs into the air that can contribute to poor indoor air quality. On the other hand, eco-friendly epoxy flooring products are formulated with ingredients that minimize VOC emissions and meet stringent indoor air quality requirements.
In addition, the non-porous surface of an epoxy floor prevents the penetration of water, dirt, and cleaning chemicals into the underlying cement, which can cause damage and necessitate expensive repair work. VOCs are volatile organic chemical compounds that evaporate into the air and can affect indoor air quality, so reducing VOC emissions is important for sustainable business practices.
Epoxy floors are also easy to clean and require little maintenance, which reduces the need for harsh cleaning products and excessive water usage. This reduced need for intensive cleaning helps promote sustainability and adherence to green building practices.
Furthermore, commercial epoxy flooring Melbourne can be customized to match company branding and create a visually appealing space that enhances the brand experience for customers and employees alike. This personalized touch is especially beneficial for retail, hospitality, and entertainment spaces. For safety-critical environments, high-visibility floor colors like yellow, orange, and safety red can increase visibility and support a safe working environment. Additionally, epoxy can be applied with traction-enhancing elements to provide additional safety features.
Recycled Content
While epoxy, polyurethane and polyurea-polyaspartic coatings are most commonly used outdoors on driveways, patios and walkways, they’re gaining popularity in basements, living rooms and kitchens as well. This is because these coatings are incredibly durable, stunning to look at and can transform a room into something that’s functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.
They’re also a lot more cost-effective than carpet or tile and can be installed in less time. Furthermore, they are much easier to clean and can withstand the rigours of industrial environments. Epoxy is resistant to a wide range of substances including oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, bleach and cleaners. It is an especially great choice for floors where hygiene is essential because it is easy to sanitize and resists bacteria.
Lastly, epoxy is extremely tough and can easily take the impact of heavy equipment, cars or even airplanes that are dropped on the floor. It is also very difficult to scratch or chip and is easy to maintain with regular sweeping and mopping.
Finally, a beautiful and functional floor makes an excellent impression on customers and employees and is a key factor in the success of any business. In addition to the benefits of durability, ease of cleaning and resistance to chemicals, epoxy can help businesses achieve their sustainability goals by contributing towards LEED credits.
Low Carbon Footprint
A key factor in reducing carbon emissions is minimizing the amount of chemicals used in epoxy floor coatings. In addition to focusing on VOC emission reductions, many eco-friendly epoxy systems are made with recycled or renewable materials, further minimizing environmental impact.
Durability is another major consideration when it comes to choosing a sustainable flooring option for commercial settings. Epoxy floors are typically more durable than traditional concrete, meaning they hold up well to wear and tear over time. This durability reduces the need for frequent repairs or replacement, which minimizes waste and helps to sustain natural resources.
Depending on your needs, an eco-friendly floor coating can also be easily cleaned to maintain its appearance. For example, in a fire station bay, floors can be hosed down or pressure washed when needed for hygienic and safety reasons. This kind of durability and ease of maintenance is an important factor in ensuring that your sustainable flooring investment lasts as long as possible.
Finally, an eco-friendly epoxy system may offer improved moisture vapor transmission (MVT) performance, which can help to address sustainability concerns related to new or remodel construction. MVB1, MVB2, and MVB3 have been shown to provide high reaction conversion and excellent physical properties compared to conventional plasticizer-containing systems using CA1 and CA2. Additionally, they show no evidence of moisture vapor permeability at coating thicknesses up to 10 mil.
Slip-Resistant
Slippery floors can be dangerous for employees and customers alike. In addition, the downtime caused by an accident can lead to lost productivity and cost your company money. Choosing a floor coating with built-in slip resistance can help mitigate potential issues and avoid costly downtime, legal battles, and reputation damage.
Epoxy can be made even slip-resistant with additives, which provides a better traction for your workers on the floor surface. It is also highly resistant to chemical damage, which means it can withstand spillages of oil, cleaning solutions, and other damaging liquids.
Additionally, epoxy coatings can be created with anti-static properties to prevent static discharges and protect electronic equipment in an electrical manufacturing environment. These features can reduce the risk of injury to personnel and damage to machinery. There are also USDA-approved varieties for use in food processing facilities.
Another benefit of epoxy is its ability to be applied over existing concrete flooring, saving time and energy during the installation process. This can be beneficial for any commercial or industrial property looking to update its flooring with minimal disruption to their business operations. However, the substrate must be thoroughly prepared for adhesion to ensure a strong bond between the concrete and the resinous coating. Failure to properly dry out the existing concrete, clean contaminated areas, or fill/grout pits and voids can impact adhesion.
