The Safety of Epoxy Coatings for Floors Continue to Make Epoxy Popular
Epoxy floor coatings offer durability at a cost-efficient price. Epoxy expands the life of your floor while adding a sleek aesthetic and provides an added defense against slips and spills. But are epoxy floors safe?
The short answer is simple. YES. When used and applied properly, epoxy floor coatings are exceptionally safe. Epoxy resins are made up of epoxide resin and a polyamine hardener - just those two components.
When applied and combined, a chemical reaction triggers a hardening process referred to as curing. During curing, the liquid epoxy coating turns into a solid floor coating. Depending on the specific need, combinations of mixed compounds change. Different levels of hardener and resin provide varying degrees of strength and chemical and thermal resistance.
Once the curing process is complete, and the epoxy floor coating is dry, it is 100% safe for commercial and industrial flooring. Best of all, Epoxy Floors are safe for children, adults, and pets as well!
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, emit as gases from certain solids or liquids. Organic chemicals make up many everyday household products such as paint, cleaners, and makeup. And, you guessed it, epoxy floor coating. These products all release VOCs either while they are in use or stored.
Every epoxy has a VOC level. VOCs cause the odor in epoxy. However, there’s no reason for concern. Most epoxies sold today have little to no VOCs. This is partly due, in fact, to stricter government regulations.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Epoxies will give off an odor during the application process because of the VOCs it contains. Heightened odors occur when the application is a confined space with little ventilation (like a basement). With that said, professional installers like Creative Maintenance Solutions follow stringent safety procedures.
Protective work-wear safeguards against any irritation from oral (through the mouth), dermal (through the skin), and by inhalation. Wearing masks with vapor cartridges prevent inhalation of VOC vapors. Long-sleeves and pants are suitable protective wear for your skin. Disposable gloves worn should be worn and changed at any sign of damage.
Extreme workspace cleanliness is imperative for two reasons. First, removal of debris and dirt from the area prior to applying any floor coating ensures maximum adhesion and results. Second, keeping tools and containers clean and properly secured prevents VOC leakage (in addition to other safety issues like spills).
At Creative Maintenance Solutions, we specialize in epoxy floor coatings for a variety of industries, from commercial kitchens to industrial manufacturing plants, corporate offices, food processing facilities, and more. As one of the leading epoxy floor coating contractors in Wisconsin, our reputation as the leading epoxy flooring contractor precedes us, and we’re proud that we’ve served our customers with top quality flooring solutions since 1989.
During an epoxy floor installation safety is a top priority. Before we install an epoxy flooring system our team consults with the client to determine their exact needs. Laying the foundation for a clean, safe, and attractive work environment starts with a company you can trust.
Contact Creative Maintenance Solutions to start your project today!
