Flooring Considerations for Malaysia’s Post-Flood Industrial Reconstruction

Current estimates indicate that the damage caused to Malaysia’s infrastructure during the torrential flooding of the past two months has exceeded USD200 million.  

While the flood condition has since improved, the eight states affected are now turning to the task of rebuilding after the high water levels ravaged homes and businesses.

The overall rebuilding costs could rise even higher, as vast civil, commercial and industrial areas were submerged under water for weeks. The Federal Minister suggested that the government’s infrastructure losses alone could be as high as USD560 million.

Business and industrial sites face a daunting task to recover from the flood, as facility managers and building owners have to ensure that the correct materials are specified and properly installed while factoring in vital safety and hygiene concerns and all the time managing tight turn-around schedules.

To assist those planning to refurbish their facilities, Flowcrete Asia has compiled the following important flooring considerations for buildings that have experienced flooding and heavy rainfall.

One of the principal concerns is that flooding and the resultant water ingress can significantly affect a building’s structural integrity. Be aware that large quantities of rainfall can cause water to seep through the joints and cracks of uncoated concrete, releasing lime and other corrosive contaminants.

Locations with high levels of salt in the atmosphere, such as beachside areas, need to be aware that salt and water can cause problematic structural issues, especially for bare concrete buildings. The steel reinforcements inside concrete slabs can rust and when this happens the steel can expand up to five times its previous size causing concrete spalling. If left untreated this can lead to the concrete disintegrating.

Slip hazards and ponding water left behind by the floods can become serious health and safety issues. Having floors with the correct drainage gradients, anti-slip aggregates and a seamless floor coating with easy-to-see navigational signage can help to reduce the potential for slip and trip hazards after a flood. 

Resin flooring solutions can be utilised to repair floors damaged by flooding and to also provide waterproof, impermeable surfaces to mitigate flood and heavy rainfall damage in the future.

Flowcrete Asia is available to provide flooring assistance for businesses recovering from the flood’s aftermath. The resin flooring manufacturer has built up a wealth of experience over decades in the flooring industry and is able to recommend refurbishment solutions that take into account the building’s current condition and the demands that will be placed on it in the future

The owners and managers of industrial spaces can get a thorough understanding of the options available to them by talking over the benefits, practicalities and capabilities of Flowcrete Asia’s range of industrial flooring products, which includes Flowcoat, Flowshield, Flowtex and the Flowfresh range of antimicrobial floors.

This variety of flooring options includes high quality epoxy, polyurethane and methyl methacrylate solutions. Many intensive industrial environments opt for thick, trowel applied epoxy mortars and the Deckshield range of car park coatings has been specifically designed to protect exposed car park structures.

Flowcrete Asia’s extensive product range and the customisable nature of its systems allows building operators to specify a solution that not only brings the floor area back up to a serviceable standard but which safeguards and optimises this crucial area of the facility.