The craft beer craze is still going strong with new breweries popping up on every corner. One thing is certain, American’s can’t get enough of that local beer flavor. So what goes into running or renovating a space to make it well suited not only for brewing that malted deliciousness, but also for showcasing to customers? One of the most important features of these spaces is below your feet.

The floor of a brewery sees it all from drastic shifts in temperatures related to thermal cycling, constant spills, daily wash downs and has to be durable enough to hold up to heavy equipment and brewing machinery.

Let’s break that down to the 3 Requirements of a Brewery Floor.

Durability – Breweries are subject to constant wear and tear. The brewing process often includes steam and boiling water, creating a large swing in temperatures the flooring needs to withstand. During and after production, forklifts or pallet trucks are often used to transport ingredients and finished brews around the floor brewery, requiring a floor treatment that will hold up to abrasion and heavy point loads. Cracks and peeling of the floor provide snag points for equipment, trip hazards for employees and provide a perfect ecosystem for bacteria growth once a bit of brew yeast is spilled. A seamless, thick polyurethane floor system will hold up to the heavy-duty usage of a Brewery without degrading like polished concrete, floor paint or epoxy systems.

Cleanability – Great beer will ultimately be consumed by brew lovers everywhere therefore, cleanliness in the facility is of the utmost importance. Using a seamless, nonporous, polyurethane floor coating goes a long way to inhibiting the growth of bacteria, while also being easy to clean. A scrub-down with a deck brush loaded with soap and water followed by a rinse is all that’s needed to maintain these floors. For added ease, slopping towards floor drains prevents water from accumulating, reducing the instances of standing water, another cause of contamination and bacteria development.

Slip-Resistance – There’s a lot of liquid in a brewery, spills during transport and from wet-downs during cleaning are common occurrences. With many breweries are open to public tours, employees aren’t the only foot traffic that needs to be accounted for. With so many people walking around the brewery floor, having a surface that’s slip resistant even when wet is of the utmost importance. Bare concrete or tile can become slippery when wet, the best option is to add an anti-slip additive to your polyurethane floor coating to provide extra grip for workers and guests.

Now that your brewery floor is ready to combat these issues, sit back, relax, and appreciate a cold one.