- picture: BASF
Tests show that Ucrete polyurethane cement flooring is well suited for wet areas with high hygiene requirements.
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Especially in clean rooms, floors must dry quickly after cleaning and disinfection in order to ensure a hygienic environment. Flooring must both prove its suitability for such demands as well as meet the requirements of LMHV 852. Using a microbiological testing procedure, the Potsdam testing institute Biotecon Diagnostics investigated the disinfection properties and microbial situation of the two polyurethane cement floors manufactured by BASF Bautechnik GmbH, (Frankfurt/Main, Germany), Ucrete DP 20 (R12/V4) and Ucrete UD 200 (R 11) as well as mineral surfaces made of polymer cement and diffusible industrial coatings. Among other things, disinfection success depends on the surface qualities of flooring. The fewer pores this has, the less chance bacteria have to evade disinfectants and “survive”. Testing showed that the porous, recessed structure of bacteria enables them to withstand disinfectants applied to mineral flooring, which makes it easy for them to spread once again. The dense surface structure of Ucrete polyurethane cement, on the other hand, is impervious to penetration by germs and bacteria. It enables significantly better reduction of germs; one of four test bacteria was able to be completely destroyed after 24 hours.
Realien GmbH (Neckartailfingen, Germany) compared the above-mentioned floor surfaces in regard to their water drainage, water absorbency and drying properties. The measurement data reflect the suitability of floors for use in wet areas under hygienic conditions as well as their behavior in regard to the building structure. For use in a company that processes meat, for example, the most suitable flooring is one that absorbs as little water as possible during normal operation and cleaning so that existing surface water can evaporate quickly.
The conclusions of testing were that Ucrete UD 200 and Ucrete DP 20 are very well suited for use in wet areas with hygiene requirements. Their surface structure does not show any water absorption; only surface water or moisture remains. On both types of Ucrete flooring, water used in the course of production or cleaning dries completely after only three hours. The industrial coating was rated by testers as only conditionally suited for use in wet areas requiring great hygiene; polymer cement is “unsuitable”.
