High Performance Concrete vs High Performance Industrial Flooring

There is a lot of discussion among construction professionals on social media lately about the unique attributes of high performance concrete – particularly among those who work in the oil and gas industry, onshore and offshore marine management, marine studies or inspection, archaeology, marine inspection, diving, SAT diving, AUVs, ROV (remotely operated vehicles) or on a vessel. While high performance concrete –also known as HPC- shares many of the benefits to the construction industry as high performance industrial flooring, their definitions can be confusing. In general, HPC refers to a type of concrete used in construction and high performance industry flooring solutions refers to the type of coatings used to protect floors made from concrete. Let us explain.

High Performance Concrete (HPC)

According to the American Concrete Institute (ACI), a leading authority and worldwide resource for all things concrete:

“HPC is concrete that meets special combinations of performance and uniformity requirements that cannot always be achieved routinely using conventional constituents and normal mixing, placing and curing practices.”

HPC is specially designed for exceptional strength and durability. HPC mixtures are made from the same materials as conventional concrete mixtures; however, the formulas are engineered for the structural and environmental requirements of the job – such as bridges, columns for high rise buildings and parking garages, offshore oil rig platforms and other building projects where HPC’s high strength provides the most economical way to carry a vertical load to the building foundation. Within these buildings, HPC can be used for floors, too. For the marine industry in particular, extensive testing shows that HPC can withstand continued exposure to tidal zone seawater without serious deterioration.

The most common materials found in HPC mixtures are cement – Portland cement or blended cement – silica, water, sand, fly ash and superplasticizers, in addition to others.

Characteristics of HPC

HPC has high strength, workability, durability, density, toughness and visual appearance in addition to less and reduced maintenance. While all high-strength concrete is also high performance, not all high performance concrete is high-strength. High-strength concrete is defined as having a specified compressive strength of 8000 psi (55 MPa) or greater, where special care is required for production and testing, and special structural design requirements may be needed. HPC performs well under other standards as well:

• Ease of placement
• Compaction without segregation
• Early age strength
• Long-term mechanical properties
• Permeability
• Heat of hydration
• Volume stability
• Long life in severe environments

High Performance Industrial Flooring

High performance industrial flooring includes a system of components that work together to create a durable, long lasting surface that best suits the unique needs of a work environment, keeping employees and work product safe.

Typically, high performance industrial flooring starts with a concrete slab. Whether old or new concrete, ultimately the floor is protected by a polymer resinous coating designed with enhanced features and eco-friendly formulations that provide the very best in performance flooring technology. Coatings such as urethane concrete, epoxy, acrylic (MMA), polyurethane and others seal in performance with a seamless, hard wearing, durable and attractive surface for both commercial and industrial environments.

In addition, seamless resinous industrial flooring coatings offer a multitude of performance advantages including slip resistance, anti-static, antimicrobial and USDA-approved solutions, chemical and abrasion resistance, corrosion protection, moisture tolerance, moisture mitigating, thermal shock resistance, sustainability, hygiene protection, the ability to hold up under high traffic and stand up to harsh cleaning processes. Many high performance industrial flooring coatings offer fast cure, low odor and temperature installation as well as decorative appeal.

High performance industrial flooring is ideal for application in the following industries:

• Aviation
• Breweries and Wineries
• Chemical Processing
• Electronics
• Food & Beverage
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing and Automotive
• Pharmaceutical
• Retail and Commercial

In addition to serving many of these industries, Surface Solutions is a leading provider and specialist in high-performance industrial flooring for the Food & Beverage industry. Backed by years of experience, our industry-specific experts will guide you in the selection of the right flooring solution to meet your industry’s specific needs. We guarantee our concrete floor coatings will be installed efficiently and with the highest possible quality standards, regardless of size.

Free Quote

Get a free quote from Surface Solutions today to find out more about how our high-performance industrial flooring can help you meet the demanding requirements of the food and beverage industry and others, to get your facility up and running in no time.

About Surface Solutions

Recognized as a top UCRETE® Master Contractor since 2012, Surface Solutions is an independent industrial floor contractor specializing in seamless, polymer flooring systems utilizing the most trusted brands in the industry. From testing to consultation and complete installation services, Surface Solutions is your premier source of non-toxic, safe and environmentally friendly flooring systems, offering turnkey installations using only in-house personnel. All installations come with a complete single-source warranty.

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