Global resin flooring manufacturer Flowcrete Group has secured HACCP International certification for its Flowfresh range of antimicrobial enhanced polyurethane floors.
The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point or HACCP International certification is a globally recognised benchmark of food safety, and represents an important set of criteria for businesses eager to gain access to lucrative export markets.
This international certification for Flowcrete means that food and beverage producers operating an HACCP-based food safety programme can safely specify Flowfresh flooring materials, with the assurance that the range meets the relevant regulatory standards for safe procurement, production and processing as well as the requirements of the world’s leading quality and food safety standards.
Flowcrete Group’s Technical Director, Grant Adamson commented that their polyurethane range has achieved the HACCP International certification thanks to its ability to meet a long list of strict food industry flooring requirements.
He explained that the Flowfresh range was created through an exclusive global partnership with antimicrobials manufacturer Polygiene to provide food manufacturers with a floor that went above and beyond the highest food safety standards. The Flowfresh antibacterial formulation incorporates a silver-ion based bactericidal additive, enabling the polyurethane floor finishes to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria in contact with the coating.
Flowfresh is also proven to comply with the ISO 22196 standard, which measures a surface’s antibacterial effectiveness.
Since the Polygiene agent is homogenously distributed throughout the Flowfresh formulation, any chipping in the coating will continue to deliver protection with contaminants still exposed to the bacteria-killing flooring ingredient.
Floors can become a source of contamination especially in food facilities, with inadequately-finished flooring surfaces creating the right conditions for bacteria build-up. The floor is not only expected to provide a hygienic surface, but also withstand corrosive cleaning chemicals, moisture, impacts and thermal shock. Inability to do so will lead to failure, resulting in cracks that become susceptible to infiltration by germs and pathogens.
HACCP guidelines require a seamless and impervious flooring finish to be maintained at all times, even when subjected to a large-scale food processing facility’s intense working environment. Flowfresh has been specifically formulated to provide a surface that complies with food industry regulations for an extended period of time and also stands up to the sector’s inherently challenging conditions.
The HACCP International standard specifies that floors need to allow for adequate drainage and cleaning. A Flowfresh coating can incorporate stainless steel drainage to effectively channel contaminants and excess liquid out of the area. Coving can also be incorporated to create a seamless, easily cleanable transition to the wall while the floor’s texture can be tailored to best suit the on-site cleaning regime.
HACCP management systems help safeguard facilities from contamination caused by spoiled produce and tainted equipment, protecting consumers from outbreaks of food borne illness that can otherwise have serious financial and reputational repercussions for the manufacturer. Floors with a seamless, high performance polyurethane finish will also prevent seepage of common food industry by-products such as fats, acids, blood and oils into the underlying concrete.
Contact your local Flowcrete representative to find out how Flowfresh can help food and beverage facilities meet regulatory requirements and protect against the threat of bacterial contamination.
