by Brianna Crandall — June 12, 2015—For facilities managers seeking products to keep their flooring safe for occupants and/or to protect the flooring itself, global technology innovator 3M introduced both an anti-slip peelable coating and an updated Scotchgard resilient floor protection coating in recent weeks. Highlights are below.
Safety-Walk Anti-Slip Peelable Coating 3500
3M’s Safety-Walk Anti-Slip Peelable Coating 3500 is reportedly the first peelable floor coating in the world to meet Wet Slip Resistance standards, with minimal reduction to floor gloss and clarity. 3M points out that wet-slip areas in commercial buildings present a safety and liability risk estimated to cost the Australian economy alone billions of dollars in workers’ compensation, lost productivity and public liability insurance claims per annum.
Developed by 3M Australia’s Commercial Solutions Division and patented globally, the breakthrough water-based coating for vinyl, ceramic, terrazzo and other hard floor surfaces will allow contract cleaners and facilities managers to improve floor safety in high-risk wet slip spaces such as entranceways, service corridors and bathroom wash basin areas.
The coating’s anti-slip properties are achieved at the nano-level using innovative bead technology based on micronized organic polymer spheres, which create a unique non-abrasive micro-textured surface with optimum abrasion resistance, gloss control and aesthetics, says 3M. To support the new floor coating, the company has also developed a range of companion products including edge sealer, applicator tool, Doodlebug brush, and floor pad brush.
Safety-Walk Anti-Slip Peelable Coating 3500 has already captured the attention of the Australasian commercial cleaning industry, winning the INCLEAN Innovation Award (Janitorial category) at AUSCLEAN 2014.
Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protector
3M also unveiled the next generation of its innovative Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protector, a unique, proprietary and patented high-performance floor coating with nanotechnology that protects and enhances a floor’s natural appearance. The new zinc-free, low-odor formula utilizes multiple technologies to produce a hard surface that features superior gloss retention, superior black mark and hand sanitizer resistance, and easier black mark removal, says 3M.
The protector, whose predecessor won the 2014 ISSA Innovation Award in the cleaning agent category, works with the 3M Resilient Floor Protection System, a solution approach to providing tough, durable protection and helping to keep floors clean and bright while requiring less maintenance and fewer chemicals.
Traditional floor finishes are high maintenance because they can quickly become dull and dirty, requiring regular stripping and refinishing to maintain their appearance, notes 3M. When used as a two-coat protector, the Scotchgard coating produces a clean, bright appearance that is four times as resistant to abrasion as traditional floor finishes and minimizes the need for stripping, says the company. When used in this fashion, the system allows for reduced chemical usage, increased operational efficiency, and 40 percent quicker hardness development than leading traditional acrylic floor finishes.
Designed for facility floor maintenance in areas such as hospitals, schools, office and retail spaces, Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protector is formulated for multiple surfaces, including sheet vinyl, linoleum, luxury vinyl, and Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT). It is available in a one-gallon bag for use with the 3M Easy Shine Applicator, or in a 2.5-gallon jug.
Once floors are protected, users are able to maintain their beauty with simple daily cleaning with 3M Neutral Cleaner and occasional burnishing with the long-lasting 3M Tan Burnish Pad 3400.
