Surface treatment solutions for industrial buildings

The coating solutions for industrial spaces depend on the type of activities conducted in the building. When designing and equipping industrial spaces, special consideration must be given to the specific requirements of the operations. Are there chemical exposure, temperature variation or other special demands within these spaces? Coatings and paints need to adapt to these requirements to effectively serve their purpose. Tikkurila offers solutions for industrial spaces with different needs.

Industrial buildings encompass a diverse range of spaces, each tailored to meet the specific needs and processes of the industry they serve. Roughly, there are spaces for industrial operations, logistics and office use.

In more detail, in industrial buildings you can typically find production areas where manufacturing and assembly take place, warehouses for storing materials and products, laboratories for research and quality control, loading docks for logistics, maintenance workshops and quality inspection rooms. There are also offices for administrative purposes and break areas for employees.

In industrial spaces floors experience constant use. Tikkurila’s floor products cover different needs: Fontefloor EP 100 for light stress, Temafloor 150 and Temafloor P300 for medium stress, Temafloor 3000 for heavy use and Temafloor 4000 for extremely heavy use.

The variety and arrangement of spaces in industrial buildings are designed to accommodate the unique requirements of each industry and its operations. Industrial spaces require specialised planning for the surface treatment solutions, so it is important to discuss the product choices with the designer of the facilities. Industrial spaces often face special challenges like condensation control, overheating or high levels of hygiene. Tikkurila’s functional paints can effectively meet these challenges. Tikkurila GrafoTherm anti-condensation coating is a good solution for spaces where moisture condensation can become a problem. Tikkurila BioRid is suitable for new and previously painted surfaces in conditions where protection of the paint film from mould contamination is required, for example in food industry facilities.

The purpose of the space significantly affects the rate of damage to paint surfaces and the choice of surface treatment combination. For floors in industrial spaces Tikkurila Temafloor 5000M, Temafloor 4000 and Temafloor 3000 might be the perfect treatment solution.

Colours in industrial spaces serve mainly specific functional purposes; colour design is primarily centred around ensuring safety rather than aesthetic preferences. The colour choices play a vital role in coordinating and signalling specific areas and potential hazards within the facility. Several common colour associations serve distinct purposes: 

• Red is frequently employed to mark no-go zones or areas of danger, invoking a sense of caution or stopping. 
• Green is typically used to indicate safe and clear pathways, conveying a "go" signal. 
• Yellow with black is a common combination in areas where potential dangers or health risks exist, serving as a warning. 
• Emerald green, often used to identify fire escapes and fire doors in industrial settings, has been supplemented by modern signage and lighting for the same purpose.

In addition to general safety-related colour codes, many materials or industries involve separate colour coding like colour markings related to chemicals or electricity. For instance, with chemical hazard labels orange means explosive, blue means dangerous when wet and red means flammable. More information about safety signs and colours can be found from ISO 7010 standard. 

Of course, in areas such as offices or break rooms, the colour design can play more with brand identity and other needs. Externally colour can also be used to help promote brand identity and wayfinding for navigating around the site. When choosing the external colours, it is good to think about the building’s surroundings: How does the landscape change during the seasons? What colours are the driveways, parking lots or walkways? What colours are the surrounding buildings? All these factors will affect the building’s external colour scheme.

Tikkurila’s portfolio includes a wide range of products that meet the BREEAM and LEED classification requirements. Many of Tikkurila’s products carry Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification. However, design for sustainability performance is a key factor for building projects, regardless of if green building certificates are applied. Read more about Green Building and solutions for sustainable building.