Walk in coolers, freezers, and cold storage areas are integral parts to your facility’s productivity. Just like the processing area, these areas of sub-freezing temperatures are also subject to floor damage from normal wear and tear. If these cracks, spalls, or chipped floors go unfixed, it could lead to delays in production or even create a tripping hazard. Most repair materials cannot be applied in ambient temperatures and tend to lose their shore hardness. Selecting the correct application is just as important as the actual repair. Below are a few simple rules to follow when selecting a cold storage repair material:

4 Things to Consider When Selecting the Correct Materials for Repairing Floor Joints in Cold Storage Areas

1. Materials that can be applied in ambient temperatures

Let’s face it, nearly every installation of process equipment is time sensitive these days. Ultra-competitive markets and slim profit margins force most companies to limit even planned down-time to the bare minimum. Saving the cure time for conventional grouts could mean getting back 8, 12 even 24 hours of production time. Cement and epoxy chemistry have made great strides in the ability to get fast strength gains while still providing the properties needed for most industrial applications. 

But it’s important that you choose the right material for your application. You’ll want to consider some key factors before you decide.

What properties do you need for the installation?

Not, what material has the highest strengths in every category. If you need fast turn-around,

Concrete is widely available, customizable to each application and affordable. These traits make it ideal for equipment foundations. It is also the most widely used method for adding mass to a critical piece of equipment or process skid. But, for all its positive traits, there are a few characteristics it’s lacking that would make it better. The truth is there are alternatives to concrete with most of the traits already discussed and other very desirable ones.

Below are five unique benefits to fast-setting concrete:

1. Set Time

There are products and additives that can produce a concrete or concrete-like material that can attain an initial set much faster than convention mixes. Some as fast as just minutes. This is to allow for other work on the foundation to begin much faster.