Floors in food and beverage factories work harder than almost any other industrial floor. They face hot water and steam, freezing temperatures, food acids, fats, sugars, heavy trolleys and cleaning every day, and they must pass hygiene audits. Choosing between epoxy flooring and PU (polyurethane) flooring is one of the most important decisions in a food factory project. This guide compares both so you can choose the right floor for each area.
Quick Answer
For wet processing areas, washdown zones, cold rooms and areas with hot water or steam, PU concrete is usually the better choice. For dry areas such as packing, storage, laboratories and corridors, epoxy self-leveling flooring is often ideal and gives a smooth, bright finish. Many food factories use both systems in different zones.
What Is Epoxy Flooring?
Epoxy flooring is a resin-based floor made from epoxy resin and hardener, applied as a coating, self-leveling layer or mortar. It is hard, smooth, chemical-resistant and easy to clean. DPF’s Dupoxy SL is a 2–3 mm epoxy self-leveling system. Learn more about epoxy flooring.
What Is PU Flooring?
PU flooring is based on polyurethane resin. In food factories the most common type is PU concrete (polyurethane-cement), a heavy-duty system that combines PU resin with cementitious aggregates. DPF’s Ducrete MF is a 4-component PU concrete system (Part A Resin, Part B Hardener, Part C Aggregate and Part D Pigment). Learn more about PU flooring.
Epoxy vs PU Flooring: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Epoxy Flooring | PU Concrete Flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal shock (hot water, steam, freezing) | Limited – can crack or debond with repeated hot/cold cycles | Very good – designed for thermal shock |
| Food acids (milk, sugar, juice, vinegar) | Moderate – some acids can attack it over time | Very good resistance to many organic acids |
| Constant water and wet cleaning | Good on dry, well-prepared slabs | Very good – suits continuously wet areas |
| Moisture in the concrete slab | Sensitive – needs a dry slab or special primer | More tolerant of slab moisture (check system data sheet) |
| Impact and heavy trolleys | Good (better in thicker mortar systems) | Very good |
| Finish and appearance | Smooth, glossy, bright colours | Matt or textured, anti-slip |
| Anti-slip in wet areas | Possible with added aggregate | Excellent with textured finish |
| Indicative price in Bangladesh | ৳ 200–220 / sq ft (self-leveling, 2–3 mm) | ৳ 150–180 / sq ft (Ducrete MF, 3–4 mm) |
Prices are indicative and confirmed after site inspection. See our flooring price guide.
Which Floor for Which Area of a Food Factory?
Wet processing and production areas
Choose PU concrete. These areas see constant water, food spills, hot washdowns and heavy traffic.
Cold rooms, freezers and chillers
Choose PU concrete. It handles low temperatures and the temperature changes when doors open and areas are cleaned.
Cooking, frying and kitchen areas
Choose PU concrete, with a thicker build-up where hot oil, boiling water or steam cleaning are common.
Packing halls and dry storage
Choose epoxy self-leveling for a smooth, bright, easy-to-clean surface, or PU concrete if the area is cleaned with a lot of water.
Laboratories and QC rooms
Choose epoxy self-leveling for a smooth, seamless, chemical-resistant finish.
Warehouses and loading areas
Choose an epoxy coating or mortar depending on forklift traffic, or PU concrete near wet loading bays.
Hygiene Details That Matter in Both Systems
- Coving – a curved joint between floor and wall so dirt and bacteria cannot collect in corners.
- Drains and falls – the floor must slope to drains so water does not stand on the surface.
- Seamless finish – fewer joints mean fewer places for contamination.
- Surface preparation – grinding or shot blasting and repairs before application. Most floor failures start with poor preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is epoxy flooring food safe?
Fully cured epoxy floors are widely used in food facilities, especially in dry areas. In wet, hot or acidic process areas, PU concrete usually performs better over the long term.
Can we use epoxy and PU in the same factory?
Yes. Many food factories use PU concrete in wet processing zones and epoxy in dry areas. A good flooring partner will recommend the right system for each zone.
Which lasts longer in a food factory?
In wet and hot process areas, PU concrete generally lasts longer because it is designed for thermal shock and food acids. In dry areas, a well-installed epoxy floor also gives long service.
Talk to DPF About Your Food Factory Floor
DPF manufactures and installs epoxy and PU flooring for food processing and manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh and Malaysia. We will visit your site, review each area and recommend the right system.
Bangladesh: +880 1711-037659 | Malaysia: +60 17-618 3394 | info@duconasia.com
