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A cold store differs from an ordinary warehouse on one core point: the floor must work in a cold, damp environment with temperature changes across the operating cycle, while also carrying forklift loads and meeting frequent cleaning requirements. This article sets out the specific requirements for epoxy flooring in cold storage and — more importantly — how each requirement is verified, that is, how a customer measures, observes and accepts it. The working temperature ranges, minimum application temperatures and moisture tolerance limits of each specific coating system follow that system technical data sheet (TDS); this article does not state those figures as Kadier specifications.
Where cold storage differs from ordinary warehousing
In a cold store, the floor faces several effects at once: prolonged low temperature, condensation when doors open or goods move in and out, defrost water standing on the floor, and repeated hot–cold cycles. The concrete substrate shrinks with temperature, while a hard, brittle coating can crack if it does not suit the range of change. Choosing a coating system for cold storage therefore cannot rest on the generic name “cold-resistant epoxy” alone; each requirement below must be checked against the TDS and a survey of the actual substrate.
5 specific requirements to clarify before choosing a system
1. Application and service at low temperature
The first question to ask a supplier is: what is the minimum application temperature of the system, and what is its service temperature range after curing, according to the TDS? A system that cures well at room temperature may not cure on schedule in a store operating at low temperature. If the store cannot stop operating to raise the temperature, the application window and the measures for controlling substrate temperature and air temperature throughout application must be agreed clearly.
2. Thermal shock and shrinkage
Defrost cycles, doors opening and closing, and cold–warm goods flows create sudden temperature changes on the floor surface. A coating that is too hard and brittle cracks easily at stress-concentration points such as movement joints, wall bases and door edges. When assessing a system, ask the supplier about the TDS recommendations for thermal-shock environments, rather than assuming every epoxy system suits them equally.
3. Rising damp, condensation and ice
Moisture rising from the substrate, water vapour condensing when humid air meets a cold floor, and standing defrost water are three different moisture sources, but all can cause blistering, bubbling and edge lifting if the substrate has not been treated. Substrate moisture treatment and drainage must be resolved before coating; the surface coating itself cannot be expected to stop rising damp. See epoxy coating solutions for logistics warehouses to compare the general warehouse context.
4. Slip resistance when wet and when icy
Cold-store floors are frequently wet from condensation and defrosting, so slip resistance is a safety requirement, not a decorative option. However, the rougher the surface, the harder it is to clean. Balance by zone: pedestrian walkways and door areas need higher roughness, while goods-storage areas can prioritise a floor that is easier to clean. The slip-resistance measurement method must be agreed in advance (see the verification section below).
5. Forklift loads and wear
Forklifts, pallets and wheels concentrate loads on a small area, wearing fastest on main traffic lanes, turning areas and in front of store doors. Load assessment must be tied to the agreed film thickness and wear resistance of the system, not to the generic phrase “heavy-duty”.
When epoxy alone is not enough — a different system needs advising
Where strong thermal shock combines with frequent hot-water cleaning, urethane-cement is sometimes chosen instead of pure epoxy, because its properties suit temperature range and repeated hot washing better. This is an option to be advised on according to the TDS and the actual conditions of each store, not a conclusion that epoxy wins in every cold-storage case. Customers should ask the supplier to compare both options under the same set of conditions: store temperature, defrost cycle, cleaning method and forklift loads.
3-stage verification checklist
Before application
- Measure substrate moisture by the agreed method — relative humidity within the concrete slab per ASTM F2170 or moisture vapour emission rate per ASTM F1869 — recording the method, measurement locations and results in the file. Applicable thresholds follow the contract and the system TDS; this article does not set a generic threshold.
- Check substrate temperature, air temperature and dew point at the time of application; keep a log for each day of application.
- Check drainage falls and defrost-water ponding locations; treat the substrate, cracks and wall bases before coating.
During application
- Log temperature, humidity and the thickness of each coat; compare against the system design agreed before application.
- Inspect the appearance of each coat before applying the next: air bubbles, dirt, roller marks and edge defects.
After application
- Inspect the whole floor visually: cracks, blisters, edge lifting, discolouration and wall-base defects.
- Carry out a pull-off adhesion test at a location agreed in advance, recording the failure mode; agree in advance how test marks will be repaired.
- Test slip resistance while the floor surface is wet, by the agreed method; record the method clearly and do not convert results between different methods.
- Trial-run forklift loads in a sample area before bringing the whole store into operation.
- Monitor after the first defrost cycle and record: where cracks, blisters or new ponding appear.
Operation after handover
After handover, a cold store needs regular monitoring of the points above: cracks at joints and door edges, moisture blistering, wear on forklift lanes and defrost-drainage condition. Every change should be recorded by zone with photographs from the same angle for comparison over time, rather than recorded generally for the whole floor.
Frequently asked questions
Can every epoxy system be used for cold storage?
No. Each system has its own minimum application temperature and service temperature range per its TDS. The TDS must be checked against the actual store temperature and defrost cycle before choosing.
Why measure substrate moisture in a cold store when the floor already feels cold and dry on the surface?
A dry surface does not mean a dry substrate. Moisture rising from below the substrate is a common cause of blistering and delamination, so measuring substrate moisture by F2170 or F1869 and filing the results is a required step before coating.
When should urethane-cement be considered instead of pure epoxy?
When thermal shock dominates — for example a store with a strong defrost cycle combined with frequent hot-water cleaning — urethane-cement is an option to be advised on and compared per the TDS, rather than asserting one system wins in every case.
What information should be prepared before contacting us for a quotation?
Store temperature, defrost cycle, forklift loads, area, current substrate condition and the cleaning method in use. The fuller the information, the closer the TDS comparison and quotation will be to reality.
For a survey and a comparison of the coating system suited to your cold store, please contact us for a quotation or send a request via the contact page (hotline/Zalo 0899355489, WeChat wxid_95o54joujyrr12), including store temperature, defrost cycle and forklift loads, for advice per the TDS of each system.
Illustration: a cold store with storage chambers and palletised goods. Pexels stock photo (photo ID 28657994), illustrating a cold-storage space, not a photograph of a Kadier project.
