For any hardworking industrial space, choosing the right flooring system is critical.
Whether you’re looking to floor a veterinary clinic, a hair salon or an abattoir, you’ll need a flooring system that can meet the unique requirements of the particular working environment.
Fosroc ANZ’s Product Segment Specialist Flooring and Coatings, Andrew Nelson says that a number of factors should be considered when choosing a flooring system.
“You need to take a range of environmental and performance factors into account,” he explains. “Are there particular hygiene requirements? Does it need to stand up to constant heavy-vehicle traffic? Will it be exposed to UV radiation or harsh chemicals? Does it need to be slip proof?”
The cost of poor flooring decisions
Over his many years as a floorings and coatings specialist, Andrew has seen first-hand the consequences of poor flooring decisions.
“Flooring is one of those things you definitely want to get right the first time,” he says.
“I’ve seen warehouse floors that have disintegrated because they’ve been unable to stand up to constant heavy traffic; I’ve seen car parks that become slip hazards for users as soon as there’s a hint of moisture and food waste areas where the flooring has literally turned to gravel because the surface couldn’t stand up to the acidity of the waste.”
“All of these situations could have been avoided with a more informed decision on the chosen flooring solution.”
Andrew acknowledges that navigating the range of flooring products on the market can be confusing and time consuming.
“Architects and specifiers can often be overwhelmed by the wide selection of products available. You’ve got densifiers, sealers, cementitious systems, resin-based systems and more. It can be hard to know where to start,” he says.
Andrew recommends speaking to an expert for advice before committing to a particular flooring system.
Fosroc’s industrial flooring offering
Dominated by the Nitoflor and Cemtop ranges, Fosroc’s flooring products are formulated with advanced compounds and additives ensuring they can satisfy even the most demanding performance requirements.
Hardeners and densifiers
- Nitoflor HD – a hardener and densifier in one, Nitoflor HD can be used on new or existing internal floors to improve dust, wear and abrasion resistance while maintaining the concrete appearance. Nitoflor HD can also be used to harden concrete surfaces before grinding or polishing.
- Nitoflor HD-S – used in conjunction with Nitoflor HD to improve stain resistance and provide higher sheen level finish, Nitoflor HD-S is ideal for polished concrete.
- Nitoflor Sicaltop – a hardener only, Nitoflor Sicaltop is a shake-on powder that provides a non-rusting, extremely hard wearing abrasion and slip resistant surface.
Thin film coatings
- Nitoflor FC100 – a UV-stable, solvent-based acrylic sealer that assists with dustproofing and provides a more easily cleaned surface that is resistant to penetration of oils and other liquids.
- Nitoflor FC130 – a water-based, low odour, two-part epoxy coating that produces an easily cleaned, dustproof surface with good resistance to most oils and liquids.
- Nitoflor PA – a two-part, solvent-free polyaspartic coating, Nitoflor PA is abrasion resistant, UV resistant and chemical resistant. Ideal for hospitals, schools and commercial kitchens.
High build coatings
- Nitoflor FC150 HP – an HACCP-certified, solvent-free, high-build epoxy floor coating that is highly resistant to chemical attack and abrasion from forklift or commercial type traffic.
- Nitoflor FC150 HP FC – a rapid-cure version of Nitoflor FC150 HP.
- Nitoflor N – a two-part solvent-free novolac epoxy floor coating that is highly resistant to wear and aggressive chemicals. Ideal for use in mining facilities and chemical plant floors.
- Nitoflor SL – a solvent-free, self-smoothing, epoxy floor topping. Non-taint, Nitoflor SL produces an impervious, chemical resistant finish which is hygienic and easy to clean. Ideal for hospitals, laboratories and food processing plants.
- Nitoflor SLX – a cold weather application version of Nitoflor SL, specifically formulated to resist “epoxy bloom”.
- Nitoflor PU200 – designed as a sealer coating for Nitoflor PU600 polyurethane cement floor topping, it can also be used as a standalone coating for concrete. Colour floor finishes are achieved by using Nitoflor PU200 in conjunction with a colour from the Nitoflor PU Colour range.
Floor toppings
- Nitoflor PU600 – designed for applications that require resistance to high temperatures, mechanical stress, and chemical attack. Nitoflor PU600 must be top-coated with Nitoflor PU200.
- Cemtop GP Advanced – a self smoothing, cementitious floor topping that can be used as an underlay for carpet and tiles, or can be over-coated for a non-trafficable surface.
- Cemtop XD – a self smoothing cementitious floor topping that produces a smooth, durable surface for internal areas subjected to foot and forklift traffic. It can be used either as a standalone system or in conjunction with Nitoflor floor coatings.
- Cemtop HD30 – an internal and external, cementitious floor topping, Cemtop HD30 produces a durable surface with improved chemical resistance.
Patch repair mortars
- Nitomortar 903 – used with Nitomortar F4 fillers, Nitomortar 903 is a solvent-free epoxy resin binder system which, when combined with selected fillers and aggregates, produces epoxy mortars and screeds of various consistencies. It is also used as a priming system with some Nitoflor epoxy flooring products.
- Nitomortar F4 Fillers – graded silica sand which has been cleaned and dried for use with Nitomortar 903.
- Patchroc GP – a fast setting patch repair mortar for the emergency reinstatement of localised patches between 15mm and 75mm deep. Ideal for concrete pavements, airport aprons, access ramps, roadways and industrial situations such as gangways and warehouse floors.
- Patchroc C – similar to Patchroc GP, but more suited to the reinstatement of localised patches between 25mm and 200mm deep. Ideal for concrete pavements, airport aprons, access ramps, roadways and industrial situations such as gangways and warehouse floors.
- Paveroc – used for the reinstatement of internal or external concrete floors between 15mm and 50mm thick and up to 18m2 in area. Paveroc’s rapid strength gain ensures reduces down-time.
Slip resistance solutions
- Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 01 – typically sprinkled on at the time of application, Nitoflor Anti-slip Grains 01 are 0.5mm to 1.0mm in size and are used in the application of epoxy roll coats on floors to make the surface slip resistant. Suitable for public areas such as stairways, fire escapes, entrances, loading ramps and machine surrounds in factories where slip resistance may be necessary.
- Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 02 – with a grain size of 0.25 to 0.5, Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 02 is finer version of Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 01.
- Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 11 – sprinkled on at the time of application, Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 11 are a #16 Aluminium Oxide aggregate, with an angular profile to provide positive traction on resinous floor finishes such as Nitoflor PU600 / PU200. Ideal for wet zones and for floors that require hot water or steam cleaning.
- Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 21 – Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 21 are #16/30 Calcined Bauxite aggregate, with an angular profile to provide positive traction on resinous floor finishes such as Nitoflor PU600 / PU200.
- Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 31 – Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grain 31 are high purity, chemically treated, silicon carbide grains which have been ground and milled to give a specific shape and screen grading to ensure thorough bonding with the Portland Cement concrete surface mix.
- Nitoflor Anti-Slip Grains 41 – finely graded high density polyethylene granules, with a particle distribution of approximately 55% between 212 to 355 microns. Used to increase surface slip resistance by mixing into thin film coatings such as Nitoflor PA prior to application. Can also be used in the application of resinous roll coats on floors to make the surface slip resistant.
Colour pots
- Nitoflor Colour Pots – available in 13 colours, including 11 Australian Standard AS2700 colours, with specialty colours are available on request, Nitoflor Colour Pots are used with Nitoflor FC150 HP, FC150 HP-FC, SL and SLX epoxy resin flooring products.
- Nitoflor PU Colour Pots – for use with Nitoflor PU200 and PU600, Nitoflor PU Colour pots come in a variety of Australian Standard AS2700-2011 colours, with specialty colours available on request. Made-to-Order (MTO) colours are also available.
For the best flooring solution for your project, speak to your local Specification Manager.
For more information:
- Download our Industrial Flooring Solutions brochure.
- Download our Food and Beverage Industry Solutions brochure.
- Review the full list of Fosroc Flooring Products.
To get in touch with Andrew Nelson or request advice about flooring products, complete the form at the bottom of this page.