Flowfresh Attains HACCP International Certification

Flowfresh Floors Attain HACCP International Certification

10 Aug 2015

  • Flowcrete UK’s Flowfresh floors now HACCP International certified.
  • Flowfresh is HACCP International certified and meets the antibacterial standard ISO 22196.
  • HACCP International certification is a global food safety benchmark.

Global resin flooring manufacturer Flowcrete Group Ltd has secured International HACCP Certification for its Flowfresh range of antimicrobial enhanced polyurethane floors.

This certification means that food and beverage producers operating a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based food safety programme can specify flooring materials, safe in the knowledge that they will meet the relevant regulatory authority’s standards for safe procurement, production and processing as well as the requirements of the world’s leading quality and food safety standards. 

HACCP International certification is a globally recognised benchmark of food safety, and as such is an important set of criteria for businesses eager to gain access to lucrative export markets. 

Flowcrete Group’s Technical Director, Grant Adamson, said: “Our polyurethane range has been able to achieve the HACCP International certification thanks to its ability to deliver a long list of strict food industry flooring requirements.”

The floor plays a crucial role in addressing contamination risks, as an inadequate floor can become a prime site of bacteria build-up. Not only does the floor have to provide a hygienic surface, it needs to do so in the face of corrosive chemicals, moisture, impacts and thermal shock. If it cannot withstand these conditions then the floor can quickly fail – leading to germs and pathogens infiltrating hard to clean cracks.

The importance of installing building materials that minimise contamination and the consequent risk of foodborne illnesses was highlighted in the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Annual Report of Incidents 2015. 1,645 contamination incidents were investigated and microbiological contamination accounted for nearly a quarter of them.

The costs of these incidents are significant. Not only could a foodborne illness outbreak lead to serious financial and reputational damage for the producer - but every year the FSA estimates that nearly a million people in the UK are affected, with a net cost to the country of £1.5 billion.

HACCP guidelines state that a seamless and impervious finish must be maintained at all times, even when subjected to a large-scale food processing facility’s intense working environment.Flowfresh has been specifically formulated to provide a surface that will comply with food industry regulations for an extended period of time despite the sector’s inherently challenging conditions.

Mr Adamson added: “To provide food manufacturers with a floor that goes above and beyond the highest food safety standards, we’ve created Flowfresh out of an exclusive global partnership with the antimicrobials manufacturer Polygiene®. A silver-ion based bactericidal additive is included in the Flowfresh material, empowering the floor finish with the ability to inhibit the growth of most types of harmful bacteria in contact with the surface.”

The Polygiene® agent is homogenously distributed throughout the Flowfresh finish. This formulation means that physical damage to the coating won’t create a safe haven for contaminants that’s out of reach of the bacteria inhibiting flooring ingredient.

Flowfresh has also been proven to meet the ISO 22196 standard, which measures a surface’s antibacterial effectiveness on plastics and other non-porous surfaces. The polyurethane system underwent rigorous testing to show that it complied with this internationally recognised benchmark.

To meet the HACCP International standard, floors also need to allow for adequate drainage and cleaning. A Flowfresh coating can be laid to falls and incorporate stainless steel drainage to quickly channel contaminants and excess liquid out of the area. Coving can also be incorporated to create a seamless, easily cleanable transition to the wall and even the floor’s texture can be tailored to best suit the cleaning regime.

A seamless, high performance polyurethane finish will also prevent common food industry by-products like fats, acids, blood and oils from seeping into the underlying concrete and damaging the substrate.

Get in touch with your local Flowcrete representative today to find out more about how Flowfresh can help food and beverage facilities meet regulatory requirements and protect against the threat of bacterial contamination.

Main image shows HACCP International Asia Pacific Managing Director presenting Flowcrete with its HACCP International certification. From left to right: Craig Blitenthall, Managing Director Flowcrete SA (Pty) Ltd; Susan Goh, Director Tremco Asia Pte Ltd; Francis Tang, Managing Director Flowcrete Hong Kong Ltd; Vivekanandan Margasahayam, Managing Director Flowcrete India Pvt. Ltd.; Sean Tinsley, Managing Director Flowcrete Australia Pty Ltd; Bill Simos, Managing Director HACCP International Asia Pacific; Desmond Sin (middle), Sales Director Flowcrete Asia Sdn Bhd; Andrew Gwyther (back), European Managing Director Flowcrete Europe Ltd; Francis Tan, General Manager Flowcrete China; Craig Brookes, Group Vice President & International Managing Director Flowcrete Group Ltd; Grant Adamson, Group Technical Director Flowcrete Group Ltd; Mark Greaves, President Flowcrete Group Ltd; Kevin Storey, Managing Director Flowcrete Middle East FZCO

ENDS

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Press Contact

For more information please visit www.flowcrete.co.uk/contact-us/ or contact Daniel Ash at Flowcrete Group’s Marketing department on 01270 753 000 or email dan.ash@flowcrete.com.

Notes to Editors

Flowcrete UK has its headquarters in Sandbach, Cheshire and is part of Flowcrete Europe & Middle East, one of the four divisions that make up Flowcrete Group Ltd.

Flowcrete Group Ltd. is a world leader in the manufacture of seamless industrial and commercial resin floor, wall and coving solutions as well as other specialist coating technologies. Flowcrete Group Ltd. has international manufacturing facilities in Europe and Africa as well as Central and South East Asia.

Flowcrete supplies world-class seamless flooring solutions to transform environments across the globe including; decorative seamless resins, waterproof car park deck coating systems, seamless resin terrazzo, durable antimicrobial flooring, corrosion protection, self levelling underlayments, underfloor heating and now underfloor acoustic insulation.

Flowcrete's ambitious and dedicated team is inspired by excellence in people, products and service, as well as continual innovation and sustainable growth. Flowcrete continues to use its global expertise to introduce environmentally friendly, hygienic and aesthetically attractive floors to create a better and more sustainable world.

For further information please contact 01270 753000 or visit us on the web at www.flowcrete.co.uk.

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