How checking twice can save you sleep

How checking twice can save you sleep

By Jeremy Waterhouse, Flooring Product Manager, Sherwin-Williams

Check twice, build once. It’s the one key piece of advice that is drilled into all architects. From a small bakery all the way through to a giant food and beverage warehouse, the golden rule of double checking a design is fit-for-purpose is crucial.

Having to suspend construction, miss deadlines and retrofit solutions is more than just a nightmare; for some, it really means losing sleep. While uncommon, stories of failing flooring do exist. When the experts at Sherwin-Williams were called to a warehouse in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year, they saw an epoxy resin floor unsuitable for the owners’ needs.

The original acrylic-based resin flooring was too brittle and had cracked under the pressure of the constant hot water temperatures that it was subjected to in the facility.

Reversing this widespread failure caused major headaches for the customer, as not only would a new solution need to be sought but retrofitting the new flooring could have involved significant downtime and a temporary closure of the factory.

For the specialists at Sherwin-Williams however, no challenge is too complex. The FasTop™ RS69 product is non-taint and odourless and offers resistance to hot water, chemicals and oil spillages up to 120°C, while providing hygienic anti-microbial protection and slip resistance. This was selected as a potential solution and after a six-month localised trial, the customer decided to fully refurbish the entire facility with the product.

Working to tight deadlines, a new substrate screed was installed and FasTop RS69 applied to the 2,500m² building for a long-term solution providing the thermal shock resistance required.

Horror stories such as this one can mean loss of earnings, in addition to the cost of repair and potential health and safety risks. However, they serve as important reminders to all building designers of the value of checking and double checking.

At Sherwin-Williams, we believe in getting it right first time. From spec to protect, we can fully assess the more precise needs of the industrial flooring installation you need. We have been advising architects around the world for over 150 years and are experts in creating the perfect purpose-designed flooring for any building, from commercial to industrial and government facilities.

From ISO 22196 compliant, hygienic systems for food and drink, to ultra-heavy-duty commercial kitchen flooring, our long-lasting systems are installed and trusted around the world.

Want UV stability? Fast cure and fast turnaround? Low temperature cure? Solvent-free and non-odour? We’ve got you covered.

Talk to us today about how we can help you through every stage of your flooring journey. We’d be happy to help. Whatever the resin flooring system you choose, you’ll have peace of mind that you’ve got support from Sherwin-Williams.