Beyond Slip Falls - How Does the Floor Impact the Work Environment? - Consider these 4 points.

Your commercial kitchen floor can have an impact on your employees that goes beyond slip resistance. If the floor is compromised, how will repairs affect the kitchen? How is the floor cleaned and how will the cleaners used affect the staff? How often will the floor covering need to be replaced or resurfaced? What effect does that process have on your employees?

Quarry Tile

Metropolitan Ceramics quarry tile is made from clay and shale and fired at high temperatures. After firing, the finished product is inert. No testing for harmful off-gassing is required. Metropolitan Ceramics quarry tile is considered an inherently non-emitting source by LEED V4 and is not required to be tested for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Metropolitan Ceramics® quarry tile can also be installed and sealed with low emission products. When installing care should always be taken to use a wet saw or tile score and snap tool to cut the tile.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

Claims are often made that epoxy floors are low or no VOC. While this may be true once the product is installed and completely cured, many epoxy-based floor coatings components are high in VOCs. High levels of VOCs make the mixing and installation of these epoxy compounds a toxic procedure. Precautions must be taken when installing, and the area should be vacated by everyone except trained and adequately protected installers. Fumes will likely remain throughout the curing process. Polyurethane top coats are often used with epoxy coatings. These too can off-gas harmful odors while curing.

Stained Concrete Floor

Acid based concrete stains contain VOCs, making worksites unhealthy for those exposed to the acid smell. The work area should be shut down to everyone except well-protected qualified installers until the acid etching process is completed, the acid is neutralized and the floor is well cleaned. Stained concrete used in commercial kitchens needs to be sealed. The sealers used may also contain VOCs, which are emitted when the sealer is applied and drying.
Repairs will be made and concrete sealers re-applied during the life of the floor. Take precautions at these times as well.

Vinyl Floor

Vinyl is made from petroleum. Basically, vinyl is PVC plastic. The manufacturing of vinyl can create harmful chemicals. Vinyl has the potential to off-gas toxic compounds (VOCs) well after installation. Many products used to glue down vinyl flooring and close seams can also off-gas VOCs during and after installation. Vinyl flooring is often sealed to protect the surface, aid in slip resistance, and keep dirt from entering seams. Floor sealants used may also contain VOCs. Vinyl floors should be installed using correct safety procedures in a well-ventilated area.

Quarry Tile

Installation can have a low to moderate impact on air quality. The tiles themselves are inert material and do not off-gas. Tiles should only be wet cut or scored and snapped when cuts are required. Care should be taken when mixing grout and setting material. The correct personal protective equipment should be used. Installing epoxy grout will also require the wearing of PPE. There are grout and setting materials available that are designed as low VOC. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. A proper installation should last the life of the building.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

When epoxy coatings are mixed, and applied, they can introduce numerous health risks that need to be managed with preventative measures. When liquid epoxy evaporates, its fumes become respirable. When epoxy fumes are inhaled, they can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Proper ventilation of fumes is essential, as is wearing the correct PPE during installation. A respirator is required and protective gear is necessary for most commercial product installations. Consult the epoxy coating manufacturer on installation requirements. Allow the epoxy floor to cure entirely before occupancy. An epoxy floor in a commercial kitchen setting will likely need repairs and will need to be re-coated every 2 – 5 years.

Stained Concrete Floor

Proper PPE must be worn (including a respirator) during the staining and sealing process. Adequate ventilation is also required. The process of acid staining includes the use of hydrochloric acid sprayed through the air onto the floor. The mix also includes metallic salts. Some combinations of ingredients used to create specific colors can be especially toxic. Installation should be done by a professional following the manufacturer’s guidelines for application. Solvent-based concrete sealers used to protect the floor will also require special care in applying. When applying this sealant, food products need to be removed from the entire area. A sealant will need to be re-applied once or twice a year to protect the stain.

Vinyl Floor

Vinyl floors are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and various other chemicals designed to tailor the vinyl’s characteristics, such as color and sheen. Vinyl will off-gas potentially toxic VOCs while being installed and for an extended period after installation. The fumes from a vinyl floor can contribute to poor indoor air quality both during and after installation. Care should be taken to wear the correct PPE when installing a vinyl floor, as much for the primer and adhesives used during installation as for the vinyl itself. A vinyl floor will need to be replaced about every 5-10 years.

Quarry Tile

A Metropolitan Ceramics’ quarry tile floor can be cleaned with neutral cleaners following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Cleaning the floor should have little impact on air quality. For areas that need extra attention, degreasers are available that are low VOC and eco-friendly. Unglazed quarry tile can be sealed with a water-based penetrating sealer after installation to help protect grout joints. Sealers are also available that are low and no VOC. Daily cleaning is recommended.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

Ammonia is often used in the cleaning of epoxy floors. Ammonia is a powerful irritant, and its fumes are hazardous, especially for asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory conditions. When using ammonia to clean epoxy floors, workers should keep the kitchen well-ventilated and use gloves, a mask and eye protection while cleaning. Care must also be taken not to mix ammonia with other cleaning agents.

Stained Concrete Floor

The daily maintenance of stained concrete floors consists of dry dusting and damp mop cleaning with a neutral cleaner. Cleaning problem areas may require removing the sealer – even down the concrete underneath.  Re-staining and applying a new layer of sealant can create conditions requiring proper safety equipment and plenty of ventilation.

Vinyl Floor

Vinyl floors vary considerably in their makeup and finishes. Some vinyl floors in light commercial applications can be kept clean with a routine of dust mopping and wet mopping with neutral cleaners. The vinyl floor in a commercial kitchen environment may require sealing to help protect the floor surface. Oil and grease stains – common to commercial kitchens – can penetrate the sealant requiring stripping, cleaning with more aggressive cleaners, and re-sealing.

Quarry Tile

The dust associated with mixing grout and thinset would be among the concerns. Proper care should be taken when mixing these materials. Contact with skin from grout and thinset can irritate as well. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and cautions when using any installation material. The tiles should not be dry sawn but instead should be wet sawn or scored and snapped. Once installed and with regular and proper maintenance/repairs, environmental concerns are minimal.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

When you grind or sand epoxy coatings before they are completely cured, severe health problems can occur. The inhaled dust particles can become trapped in the mucous lining of the lungs. Sanding uncured epoxy may happen when there is a problem with the installation.

Overexposure of unprotected skin when working with epoxy can also – in some cases – lead to skin inflammation, burns, and other skin problems. Hardeners used in epoxy are mildly corrosive and can cause burns if left on the skin. When a hot spill compromises an epoxy floor, mold and bacteria can develop in compromised areas. A melting epoxy floor can also off gas harmful odors.

Stained Concrete Floor

The correct PPE equipment should be worn when working with concrete stains. Staining with acid and sealing can irritate unprotected skin and respiratory systems. Repairs during the life of the floor will create exposure problems for the entirety of each repair. When the floor is compromised, mold and bacteria can develop in the compromised areas. The mold and bacteria can be covered up with rubber mats, but this doesn’t make the problem go away.

Vinyl Floor

The formulas for vinyl floors and the primary ingredient PVC may include several potentially toxic chemicals. With the advent of new flooring types and new flooring systems, the risk of exposure to chemicals like flame retardants continues to grow. Vinyl floors do not just off-gas a few days or weeks after installation; they continue to create exposure issues long after the installation crew has left. Also, if the floor is compromised due to heat  the probability of off-gassing is high. When the floor or floor seams are compromised, mold and bacteria can develop in the compromised areas.