Walk-In Freezer/Cooler Flooring & Coatings

To protect consumers, the food and beverage industry is one of the most highly regulated. Restaurants have regular inspections to ensure their facilities are clean and as contaminant free as possible, as well as safe for employees.

Many factors are considered, and the checklist for inspectors is long. Some areas most subject to scrutiny are freezers and walk-in coolers. Deviations from optimal temperatures and the potential for the growth of microbes and other pathogens, as well as cross contamination from dropped or spilled perishable items, make them high-risk locations.

Additionally, with margins typically low, fines or an out-and-out shutdown until a violation is remedied could put the business at risk. Far better to prevent these occurrences, and the proper flooring can help.

Back-of-the-House Flooring

The flooring in virtually any area in the back of the house should have certain features and properties: These can include:

• Skid resistance to minimize slip-and-fall accidents

• Seamless flooring to help reduce the growth of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other health threats

• Cove base which offers a continuous surface from the floor and up the wall 4-6 inches, which helps eliminate crevices where microbes can hide and proliferate

• Resistance to harsh cleaning solutions

• Resistance to oils, solvents, and other fluids or ingredients that can penetrate the porous concrete substrate and cause deterioration

• Proper slope for drainage

• Scratch, puncture and abrasion resistance to withstand traffic from pedestrians and the movement of pallets and carts, as well as kitchen equipment being dropped on it

• Heat resistance to withstand both the temperature of the room itself, as well as steam or power washing
  

The Special Flooring Requirements of Freezers and Walk-in Coolers

With the potential for steam cleaning in a freezer or cooler, thermal shock can occur. Thermal shock occurs when the differential temperature between two areas changes drastically and quickly. And if a flooring isn’t properly built to withstand those temperature changes, it can result in delamination or failure of the coating.

Tennant Flooring Solutions for Freezer and Walk-in Coolers

We offer a range of USDA-compliant flooring systems to meet all of your back-of-house requirements, including products that can mitigate the effects of thermal shock and frost heave. Call us for a consultation.​​​ We can help you select the optimal flooring for your needs and budget, as well as the aesthetics for your space.