Technical FAQs

No. We are able to work with both large and small areas.

After determining the moisture level or the relative humidity, if the area is too wet, we are able to use ‘hot torch’ to draw out the excessive moisture before applying our system.

Most of the heavy machineries are not fixed directly onto the flooring but on top of a concrete block called plinth. We do not provide any assistance to remove the machineries. We are able to apply on the area surrounding the machine. A flexible PU sealant would be applied surrounding the machine as well to accommodate to any vibration caused to prolong the life expectancy of the flooring.

There is no need for any additional steps to be taken to prevent water seeping through from the top as our systems are water tight.

Yes it can be fixed without the need to reapply the whole area again. The damaged areas need to be removed and our system can be applied onto the damaged area. However, the newly applied area will have a color differentiation compared to the existing area due to passing of time.

More alkaline based cleaning agents should be used and not acidic to ensure the floor is longer lasting.

Flowfresh has a higher cross link density that makes it resistant to chemicals.

Being a cementitious polyurethane system, Flowfresh antimicrobial flooring has a similar composition to the concrete substrate, meaning it will expand and contract at almost the same rate. By moving at a similar rate the amount of stress produced at the concrete-floor interface is greatly reduced. Therefore, Flowfresh systems are unaffected by cyclic freeze or thaw processing and can resist extreme thermal cycles during daily operations and cleaning regimes.

Flowcrete’s Flowfresh antimicrobial polyurethane flooring can be incorporated with graded anti-slip quartz to form varying degrees of slip resistance, which is especially beneficial in the wet processing areas. However, while considering texture for safety reasons, one must also consider how the finished surface is to be cleaned and maintained. This is a crucial aspect of specifying anti-slip floor. Please consult with the Flowcrete Specification Team for further details, or get in touch via [email protected].

Whilst the issue of tainting may not be a factor for new build projects, it does become important during renovation/refurbishment work. Flowcrete’s Flowfresh antimicrobial polyurethane flooring is virtually odourless. Therefore, tainting of food is not an issue during the flooring installation.

Flowcrete’s Flowfresh Antimicrobial PU system is extremely suitable for food and beverage facilities which are usually exposed to organic waste and microbial contamination while in operation. Flowcrete’s Flowfresh system is a seamless, cementitious polyurethane floor finish which incorporates Polygiene®, an antimicrobial additive that offers complete surface protection against harmful bacteria, mould and yeast. The performance proven Polygiene^® inhibits the growth of gram positive and gram negative bacteria including E-coli, MRSA, C. difficile and Salmonella typhi, amongst others. Additionally, international studies have proven that Flowfresh flooring systems show a reduction in the bacterial population by up to 99.9% as well as prevent microbial replication.

Other benefits include:

i) Excellent Chemical Resistant

Flowcrete’s Flowfresh system is a cementitious polyurethane mortar that exhibits a high cross-linked density, making it ideal for abusive environments subject to prolonged chemical attack from corrosive substances, organic waste, organic acids, solvents and by-products commonly found in food processing and production environments.

ii) Temperature resistance

Most often, thermal shock ocurrs during operation in food processing and production environments. Areas that usually remain at room temperature are steam cleaned to remove stubborn stains, grease and other chemical contaminants. Flowcrete’s Flowfresh system is a cementitious polyurethane system which has a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of concrete. Therefore, Flowfresh systems are much better equipped to deal with thermal shock and extreme temperature fluctuations when compared to epoxies or methyl methylacrylic (MMA) floor system.

iii) Low odour installation

Flowfresh systems can be installed without shutting down adjacent production areas. The production activities can continue to operate without concerns of tainting the food products.

iv) Fast return service

Flowfresh flooring systems require less application time than other common flooring systems including epoxies and tiles.  When installing Flowfresh the substrate dampness and high humidity, commonly found in food processing plants, are not a concern. Therefore, the installation is only a 2 step process. The system can withstand heavy traffic just 12 hours after installation of the second step. This can help to reduce the shut down period for the installation work and help to minimize any potential loss of revenue.

Yes, a resin floor finish can be applied to a metal surface. The metal surface must be prepared by mechanical means to remove any rust scales, loose particles or existing paint. Once prepared the application of Flowprime Steel Primer is required prior to the application of subsequent resin finishes.

Flowcrete has developed a number of flooring systems that are available in various thicknesses to suit just about any environment. The flooring type and required thickness will depend on the operating conditions of the area in which the flooring will be in use.

The actual thickness of the flooring can range from as thin as 0.25mm to as thick as 50mm.  Our high performance roller coat and high build finishes can be applied at a thickness of 0.25mm to 3.0mm, while our heavy duty troweled mortars can be applied as thick as 8mm.  Flowcrete Asia also offers a range of proprietary screed underlayments that can be applied as thick as 50mm.

It is important to understand all of the operating conditions of the environment, including the temperatures the floor will be exposed to, frequency and type of traffic as well as any levelling or flatness requirements, prior to specifying the thickness.

The only thing we would require is that the new substrate be in place prior to the arrival of our approved application team. All surface preparation is completed by a Flowcrete Asia approved applicator by captive shot blasting or scarifying, depending on the floor specification. Please consult with Flowcrete Asia’s Technical Department for further information.

All material is supplied by Flowcrete Asia in pre-weighed packs to ensure optimum performance. Therefore it is not necessary to split or proportion packs on site.

The pre-weighed resin is then mixed on site by a high speed drill or portable mixer before being applied to the prepared substrate. The exact application process and required tools will vary depending on the type of flooring being installed. The application process may involve the use of a hand or power trowel, spreading the material with a pin rake or notched squeegee, the use of nap or spiked rollers, etc.

All of Flowcrete Asia’s approved applicators have been fully trained in the application processes for the various flooring systems offered by Flowcrete Asia. If you would like to know more about the application process of one of our flooring systems please contact Flowcrete Asia’s technical department for further details.

Resin floor finishes can be installed onto a wide range of substrates including concrete, cementitious underlayments, marine grade plywood and metal as well as various types of tiles and pre-existing resin floor finishes. Prior to the application of a resin floor finish, the substrate must be determined to be structurally sound and free from dust, oil, grease and other surface contaminants. Tiles and pre-existing resin floor finishes must be well bonded to the original substrate.   

If a concrete substrate is on-grade an effective negative-side damp proof membrane (DMP) should be present to eliminate the risk of the resin floor debonding as a result of excessive moisture vapour pressure. In the event that an effective DMP does not exist, Flowcrete Asia offers a range of positive-side DMPs that can be installed prior to the application of the resin floor finish.

Working in wet environments can be unsafe for workers if the flooring surface is not slip resistance.  Most of the flooring products offered by Flowcrete can be installed with a positively textured surface.  The amount of slip resistance required will depend on the operating conditions of the environment in question and can be adjusted by using different sizes and/or shapes of aggregate to produce the desired texture.  It is important to note that slip resistance and cleanability are inversely proportional to one another so it is important to strike a good balance.

We can install a resin floor in almost any colour. We have a range of standard colours available for each of the products that we supply.

If the colour you would like is not available as standard we can have a colour specially blended to match as close as practicable any colour sample that you provide.

Non-standard and specially blended colours are more expensive than standard colours, but create a more individual floor.

The ideal flooring material for use in food & beverage facilities are cementitious polyurethanes. Cementitious polyurethanes are formulated to handle constant extreme temperatures and protect against cracks in areas subject to thermal shock and thermal cycles conditions. The polyurethane chemistry also provides excellent resistance to chemicals commonly found in F&B environments. Flowcrete's Flowfresh antimicrobial polyurethanes incorporates a silver ion based antimicrobial additive which offers the added benefit of excellent hygienic properties; reducing the bacterial population on the surface of the floor by up to 99.9%.

Surfaces are installed by well-trained personnel authorised by Flowcrete Asia, who have been trained and are experience with our products.

This guarantees a high level of quality and ensures selection of a preferred functional and aesthetic solution can be made with complete confidence.

For a full list of our approved Flooring Contractor Network please contact [email protected].

Normal Type 1 concrete should cure for at least 28 days before it is ready to receive a resinous floor topping.  During this period the concrete will achieve most of its strength and the moisture content will reduce to a suitable level.  The concrete substrate must have a minimum compressive strength 25 N/mm² prior to any overlayment.  The surface must also be dry, free from laitance and free from surface contaminants such as curing compounds, oils, grease, etc.