Flooring Solutions for the Beverage Industry by Zone

Are you looking to build a new beverage processing plant, or need help to remediate flooring issues in an existing building?

Whether you’re running a small craft brewery, a coffee roasting operation, or a large-scale production plant for bottled drinks, the process you use likely has many stages. It’s possible you’ll need more than a one-size-fits-all flooring solution.

Professional beverage flooring services, including new installation and restoration of existing floors, can help address the unique demands of production, sanitation, packaging, and shipping areas.

Here’s a quick overview of different types of flooring to consider for different parts of your facility.

Flooring for Beverage Production Areas

For areas that deal with food products (particularly organic substances such as fruit, milk, and yeasts), it’s imperative that your floors help you prevent product contamination. You’ll need flooring that is not only easy to clean and sanitize but also helps prevent moisture and contaminants from penetrating the underlying concrete.

A floor coating expert can help you find a durable coating system suited to applicable food safety and sanitation requirements. Epoxy and urethane cement flooring systems can provide seamless, moisture-resistant surfaces that withstand frequent cleaning and facility conditions.

For more information on flooring requirements in food and beverage facilities, explore our specialty coating page on USDA-approved flooring.

Occasionally the ingredients used in certain food products can actually react with an existing floor coating, causing the coating bond to fail. If you notice areas of peeling or other failures, contact a flooring specialist to determine the cause. Depending on the exact problem and the location of the trouble spot, a specialist may recommend a chemical-resistant coating or, for dry areas removed from direct food production, polished concrete.

Flooring for Beverage Washdown Areas

Washdown areas in beverage manufacturing facilities face frequent exposure to water, cleaning, chemicals, and temperature changes. These conditions can wear down unsuitable flooring systems and create slip hazards for employees.

Urethane cement flooring can be an effective solution for washdown areas because it can offer resistance to moisture, cleaning chemicals, and thermal shock. Slip-resistant textures can also be incorporated to improve traction in wet environments.

For areas exposed to frequent high-pressure cleaning or aggressive sanitation procedures, the flooring system should be selected based on the specific chemicals, temperatures, and cleaning methods used.

Flooring for Bottling and Packaging Areas

The flooring required for an area chiefly involved in packaging may vary depending on your industry, the possibility of leaks or spills, and whether contamination is possible at this stage.

If this part of production relies mostly on automated processes, your facility may only require a simple polished floor to reduce dusting in dry, low-exposure areas. Where spills, frequent cleaning, or slip hazards are a concern, a properly specified epoxy or slip-resistant floor coating may be called for.

Note that facilities that handle processes that can create dust (such as tea leaf blending) should carefully evaluate a floor coating system or other alternative over polished concrete, as fine powders can reduce traction and increase slip risks.

From dairy products to soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, different products create different flooring demands. Explore Industrial Flooring for Beverage Bottling and Packaging Plants to learn more. 

Flooring for Beverage Warehouses and Shipping Areas

For warehouse areas, consider floor striping to streamline traffic flow and to communicate important safety information. Durable epoxy floor coatings may also be appropriate for spaces that handle large containers, drums, or products that could spill, particularly where frequent cleaning or chemical resistance is needed.

If you have a delivery fleet, you may also want to pay attention to outdoor loading ramps and parking areas to protect them from oil drips and weathering. These areas may benefit from specialty protective coatings selected for outdoor exposure, vehicle traffic, and slip resistance.

Find the Right Flooring Solution for Your Beverage Facility

Not sure exactly what your facility does and doesn’t need? Schedule an appointment with a flooring expert to determine exactly which solutions will work best for your facility.

If you’re in the Southeastern US, someone from CPC Floor Coatings will be happy to tour your building in person and provide a free estimate tailored to your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions