Unlike residential buildings, flooring in commercial businesses, including the restaurant kitchen, must meet certain state and federal criteria. Commercial kitchens usually serve food to hundreds of customers every single day, and care is essential to protect not only the staff but also the customers.
Besides slips and falls, the flooring must be hygienic and resistant to the growth of mold and other bacteria. All commercial businesses, including restaurants, have to comply with county, state, and federal health laws when selecting flooring.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) licenses and inspects restaurants. You will need to know what the restaurant kitchen flooring requirements are in Florida before making a final flooring decision.
Factors to Consider for Commercial Kitchen Floors
Flooring for commercial kitchens must be tough and durable. Factors to consider when thinking of requirements for restaurant floors include the need for the continuous flow of water throughout the kitchen, regular potentially harsh cleaning on the flooring to remove oil, grease, and grime, the constant foot and roller traffic, and the heat and humidity that is naturally abundant in a kitchen.
In addition, the material you select should be resistant to chemicals, while being safe for the preparation of food, and be relatively easy to clean without the use of exotic and harmful substances.
Strict Requirements and Guidance Must Be Followed
The commercial restaurant kitchen flooring requirements are obviously strict because they are designed not only to protect people walking on the floor but also the people who consume food in the establishment.
In general, most state and local municipal laws have clear guidelines and requirements for restaurant floors in commercial kitchens. These requirements state that the flooring material has to be smooth, easy to clean, hygienic, non-porous, non-absorbent, and non-slip.
Flooring Materials Criteria
For most bars, bakeries, restaurants, delis, and sculleries today, there are several flooring options from which to choose. The flooring material essentially must be able to withstand anything that a commercial food environment can throw at it (or drop on it).
To handle the intense pressure of the environment within a commercial kitchen, the flooring materials must be able to meet some well-defined criteria, which include the following:
Moisture Resistant:
One of the key features of flooring in a kitchen is that it must be moisture resistant. In the kitchen, there is constant exposure to heat, humidity, steam, and vapor, as well as food and liquid spills and moisture from the clean-up.
This moisture cannot only penetrate the flooring but can be a breeding environment for bacteria and mold. Once water enters the subfloor, it can cause extensive damage that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
To counter the moisture in the kitchen, you will need non-porous flooring so that it will not allow water or moisture to seep through.
Heat Resistant:
Because the temperature in the kitchens can be very high, you need flooring that is heat or thermal-resistant. The intense heat of cookers, hot sprays, dishwashing stations, and steam cleaning can also cause the flooring to expand and contract. At the same time, you need flooring that is also cold-resistant because kitchens usually have a walk-in freezer.
Thermal Shock Resistant:
The flooring material needs to be thermal shock resistant and be able to expand and contract without cracking or splitting. More importantly, the installation must be perfect. The flooring should be completely bonded to the subfloor so that separation of the two layers does not occur when exposed to extreme heat and cold temperatures.
Chemical Resistant:
The kitchen not only emits high temperatures, but there is also significant exposure to oils, grease, cleaning solutions, and detergent. With time, all these chemicals can eat away at the surface of many floorings; therefore, you should have flooring that is chemical resistant.
Durability:
Plates, dishes, and other utensils may drop on the flooring. Often, they can cause cracks, blisters, and dents in the flooring. If the cracks are deep, they may expose the underlying concrete, which is porous. Over time, the concrete can get soft and start to crack, which will require expensive repairs.
Slip Resistant:
One important requirement for commercial kitchens is that flooring be slip-resistant. Spillage of food and other liquids can make the flooring extra slippery and having a worker slip and fall (or if your kitchen is open to the public – heaven forbid have a customer slip and fall) is not a scenario your business wants.
The kitchen is often cleaned twice a day, and this process can also make the flooring a little extra slippery at those times. Just placing a wet floor sign up is not good enough, and you can easily face a malpractice lawsuit if any of your workers (or customers) slips and has significant injuries. No matter what flooring you select, it must be anti-slip/slip resistant.
Hygienic and Easy to Clean:
For obvious reasons, the kitchen floor should be easy to clean and be easy to maintain hygienics. You do not want food to collect on the flooring and lead to mold growth. You should, therefore, have flooring that has very few seam lines, nooks, or possible depositories for germs so that they do not start to accumulate bacteria. For kitchens, a monolithic flooring system is recommended as it is easy to clean.
What Flooring Should I Select?
Ceramic Tiles are a great option. Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are also popular choices for restaurant kitchens mainly because of their strength and durability. Ceramic tile that has been properly installed is unlikely to crack or chip. It can withstand heavy foot traffic, as well as wear and tear from table or chair scrapes. It is also known for being sanitary and clean because it is waterproof.
Conclusion
If you are considering flooring for your commercial kitchen, the best advice is to speak to a professional from East Coast Flooring & Interiors. The professionals at East Coast Flooring & Interiors have decades of experience installing flooring for restaurant kitchens in Florida. We are very familiar with the restaurant kitchen flooring requirements needed for the health and safety of both customers and staff. Call us today and receive a free consultation. Let them help advise you as to the requirements for restaurant floors.