The UK’s leading resin flooring specialist

Is Epoxy Flooring Safe?

Epoxy floors provide a high level of durability at a cost-effective price. An epoxy coating enhances a floor’s lifespan while simultaneously offering a sleek aesthetic. The coating, used for anti-slip stairs, also provides a good defence against slippages and spills.

So, are epoxy floors safe?

The simple answer to that question: Yes!

When properly applied and in the appropriate setting, this type of flooring is a very safe flooring alternative.

Epoxy resins are a combination of a polymer hardener and an epoxide resin. After application, there’s a chemical reaction that occurs. This chemical reaction is known as ‘curing’.

Throughout the curing process, which for an epoxy coating takes up to 48 hours, the epoxy becomes a solid coating.

Depending on what the specific need is, the combination of these mixed compounds – the polymer hardener and the epoxide resin – brings about change.

Varying degrees of strength, as well as thermal and chemical resistance, are obtained with differing amounts of resin and hardener.

After the curing process has finished, once the coating is dry, it’s then completely safe as commercial or industrial flooring. Epoxy floors are, likewise, entirely safe for children and animals.

Volatile Organic Compounds in Epoxy Floor Coatings

From some liquids and solids, volatile organic compounds, referred to as VOCs, are emitted as gases.

There are organic chemicals that are found in numerous everyday items – cleaning products, paints, varnishes, and many more. Similarly, there are organic chemicals in epoxy flooring.

All of these products emit VOCs either when in use or when stored.

All epoxies have a VOC level. It’s the VOCs that result in the strong odour found in epoxy.

There is, though, no cause for concern. Most epoxy floor coatings available today have low to no VOCs, making them an eco-friendly flooring option. This trend is a result of increasingly stringent government regulations.

The diminished VOC content in modern epoxy floor coatings not only designates them as environmentally considerate options but also underscores their safety. High levels of VOCs in indoor settings can be a cause of various health concerns, potentially leading to respiratory troubles, allergies, and more.

By selecting epoxy flooring with minimal to non-existent VOCs, one is indeed opting for a healthier indoor environment. Especially in areas with limited ventilation or where people spend significant amounts of time, the importance of such a choice cannot be overstated. Beyond the ecological benefits, then, epoxy flooring emerges as a choice mindful of the health and comfort of its occupants.

Epoxy and Safety Precautions

Because of the VOC content, many epoxies do emit an odour throughout the application process. If the application occurs in a confined space – a space that has little ventilation, then the odour is more extreme.

That said, professionals in the trade, such as Impact Flooring, adhere to stringent safety procedures.

Appropriate work gear provides protection against potential inhalation or oral or dermal (skin) contact with the epoxy. Inhalation of vapours given off from VOCs is prevented by wearing a mask with vapour cartridges. And, of course, protective gloves must be worn at all times when handling epoxy resins.

Specialist Epoxy Flooring Company

For every project we undertake at Impact Flooring Services Ltd, we stick to a four-step process.

Initially, it’s about the site survey and assessing client needs. Next, we create and make decisions about the appropriate course of action.

Then, the site is prepared, and we make sure that the products are ready so we can commence with the work.

Finally, work begins, and our team works tirelessly until the project is complete. At Impact Flooring, it is the requirements of our clients that come first every time.

epoxy floor coating - impact flooring

Is Epoxy Flooring Safe?

A question that often pops up when discussing flooring options is: “Is epoxy flooring safe?” Based on the detailed information we’ve explored, the clear answer is yes. Modern epoxy flooring, when made and applied correctly, is indeed safe.

The majority of today’s epoxies have low or even no VOCs, making them both eco-friendly and safe for use. Once it’s fully set after the curing process, the floor is safe for all, including households with children and pets. Of course, like many things, its safety depends on it being applied and used correctly. In the big world of flooring, epoxy stands out as a solid, durable, and, importantly, safe choice.

If you would like to learn more about epoxy flooring solutions, then please get in touch, and one of our friendly team members will be happy to help.

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