Servery areas are as important as the kitchen - with the added problem of being open to public view. 

Commercial kitchens are busy environements with high use and often lots of staff.

• Longevity
• Bin or Tray Wash Areas
• Freezers
• Slip Resistance
• Cleanability
• Drainage
• Waterproofing
• Coves, Kerbs and Upstands
• Aesthetic
• Combustion Risk
• Maintenance
• Termination to other floors
• Down Time
• UV Resistance

Longevity

Most conventional floor systems rely upon a mechanical bond to the substrate surface, ultimately risking bond failure and resulting in delamination. The result can be constant and expensive repair work Acrylicon has an unbreakable chemical bond to the special primers that have penetrated the substrate. This results in a seamless surface without holes, voids or cold joints. The whole topping is truly monolithic and it is impossible to separate the individual layers that make up the system. To remove Acrylicon from a concrete surface you will break into the top zone of the concrete not delaminate it at the Bond Line.

Bin or Tray Wash Areas

These areas can be extremely aggressive not only from the hot water and detergents used but also from the impact caused by falling trays. In addition manual wash areas can be even more aggressive due to the handling of the trays. Slip resistance for operatives can also be a consideration. Acrylicon systems have proved they can withstand these areas, and in cases of extreme impact damage can be easily, quickly and cost effectively repaired due to the chemical bond and short cure time without disrupting production.

Freezers

Acrylicon has excellent freeze/thaw resistance. Acrylicon can still be installed at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius (slab or air temperature). When cured, after only two hours, Acrylicon can cope with temperature variations between minus 30 degrees and plus 70 degrees Celsius.

Slip Resistance

Slips and trips are the most common cause of major accidents at work. The costs to industry are substantial, not counting the incalculable human cost and suffering to those injured. Legal actions brought as a result of an injury can be extremely damaging to business, especially where customers are involved. Insurance only covers a small proportion of the cost, and only if the floor is deemed as suitable in the first place. Acrylicon has various surface textures available for use on its systems. The roughest Décor Plus, meets all the Health and Safety slip resistance requirements, even when contaminated with margarine and fats. Because of Acrylicon's unique chemical bond, any texture added to the surface becomes monolithic with the floor, and provides excellent abrasion resistance. We are also able to change areas from high grip texture to smooth texture and back again, by cleaning the surface and applying the texture. This can of course be carried out in short shutdown periods or overnight, and with the 2 hour cure, can be used again straight afterwards. There will always be a trade off between slip resistance and cleanability, therefore you can choose a system that is right for your environment. Under equipment can be smooth for ease of cleaning, and where contamination and traffic is likely, we can lay heavy texture for high slip resistance. Of course if these areas change in use, Acrylicon can always change the floor surface – giving you complete flexibility.

Cleanability

The Floor must be non-porous and free of pinholes, and be capable of withstanding the chemical abuse caused by spillages and cleaning. If the surface breaks down, delaminates or becomes porous the outcome can be slippery or uneven areas, with added hygiene hazards. The floor system must retain its cleanability for life, not just for the first year or two. Acrylicon is 100% solid, resin saturated acrylic. The non-porous, monolithic, impervious Acrylicon surface does not allow penetration by liquids and dirt, or the proliferation of fungi or bacteria. Acrylicon Systems are highly resistant to chemical attack, cleaning agents, liquids and foodstuffs. Chemical bonding ensures that the wearing surface remains locked into place for the life of the floor.

Drainage

Acrylicon carry a full range of special flexible resins for the creation of joints at abutments to drains, gullies and channels etc. By the use of special primers, the bond to the drain edge can be assured, creating a hygienic interface.

Waterproofing

All Acrylicon systems are non-porous will not allow the passage of water, and in this regard, can be considered waterproof. If further assurance is required against ingress of water to lower floors then the use of an additional flexible membrane can be included.

Coves, Kerbs and Upstands

For a floor to be fully hygienic it must be easy to clean with no dirt traps. To this end most floors are laid with coving. Acrylicon can lay a variety of coves, kerbs and upstands dependant on the clients needs. Because Acrylicon chemically bonds, the coves fuse to the floor giving a totally sealed joint (as opposed to "cold joints" with other resin systems) ensuring no dirt traps.

Aesthetic

Creating an environment that is conducive to high productivity and which reflect corporate values and quality standards is always important. Acrylicon provides a dynamic range of colours that can be blended to meet any requirement of the designer or architect.

Combustion Risk

When cured, Acrylicon resins have very little combustion risk. Even when burnt they have little risk with the by-product being carbon and water, as opposed to Epoxy and PU which have an extremely high risk and can prove lethal if the fumes are inhaled.

Maintenance

When a conventional resin system becomes ready for overhauling it is necessary to completely remove it from the substrate before starting again, creating disruption, noise and dust. Alternatively the existing system is abraded to create a mechanical key for the new coating, a practice that generally fails and on some systems can be highly dangerous to health. Acrylicon is a special thermo-elastic resin that ensures each layer chemically fuses to the previous one, no matter how old. It is not possible to separate the individual layers that make up the system. Allied to a cure time of just 2 hours, this ensures that maintenance work is both more economic and less disruptive than is the case with other systems.

Termination to other floors

Acrylicon is nominally laid at 4mm thick and "toe-ins" are created at junctions to other finishes to ensure there are no steps or abrupt changes in level to disturb passing traffic. There are some occasions when Acrylicon need to be thickened at these abutments and again this is done in a manner which will not cause problems.

Down Time

Most resins must be applied in moderate temperatures and traditional resin systems can take days to fully cure. Often other commercial pressures mean that the floor is used too soon after installation, jeopardising the system, resulting in premature damage, bacterial growth and other complications. Acrylicon fully cures, even at temperatures below zero, and can be put into use within two hours of installation. This avoids costly down time and eliminates the pressures to start using the floor too soon with the resulting damage that all too often accompanies the installation of conventional systems with long cure times. Let alone the saving to the company of shutting down production for a shorter time.

UV Resistance

Most new floors look good in terms of colour, but many flooring systems show the ageing effect of UV light very quickly, both fading and discolouration. Acrylicon Systems are highly resistant to the ageing and discolouration effects of UV attack, ensuring that the aesthetic qualities of the floor are guaranteed for the long term.