Clean, safe, and compliant floors aren’t optional in pharmaceutical manufacturing—they’re essential. In facilities where strict regulations and hygiene standards govern every inch of space, the flooring beneath your feet plays a vital role. From ensuring product purity to protecting workers and maintaining FDA compliance, every flooring choice carries long-term consequences.
So why do so many pharmaceutical manufacturers choose epoxy and urethane cement flooring systems? Because they’re built to meet the demands of this exact environment—offering durability, chemical resistance, and seamless sanitation all in one system.
In this blog, we’ll break down what makes these two materials so well-suited for pharmaceutical spaces and what to consider when choosing a system for your facility.
What Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Floors Need to Deliver
Before diving into product types, let’s look at the flooring performance requirements that pharmaceutical facilities typically need:
- Seamless surfaces to prevent bacterial growth and simplify cleaning
- Chemical resistance to withstand disinfectants, solvents, and acidic ingredients
- Durability under heavy foot traffic, carts, and equipment
- Moisture resistance to prevent contamination and structural damage
- Thermal shock resistance for areas exposed to temperature swings (especially with clean-in-place systems)
- Slip resistance to support worker safety, even when wet
These aren’t optional. They’re essential for meeting FDA, cGMP, and ISO compliance while keeping the workspace safe and efficient.
That’s where epoxy and urethane cement come into play.
Why Epoxy Flooring Works for Pharmaceutical Environments
Epoxy floor coatings are known for their smooth, hard finish and excellent chemical resistance. When applied properly over a prepared substrate, they form a seamless, non-porous surface that’s easy to clean and difficult for microbes to penetrate.
Here’s why they’re commonly chosen for pharmaceutical facilities:
- Sanitary Finish: Seamless installation eliminates grout lines, cracks, and seams where bacteria can hide.
- Chemical Resistance: Epoxies hold up well to harsh cleaning agents, solvents, and chemical spills.
- Customizable Appearance: Available in various colors and finishes for zoning, brightness, or design preferences.
- Moderate Installation Cost: Epoxy coatings are generally more affordable than urethane cement systems, especially for areas with light to moderate exposure.
Best Uses of Epoxy in Pharma Settings:
- Laboratories
- Packaging rooms
- Offices and corridors
- Non-wet processing areas
However, epoxy has limitations in high-moisture areas and spaces that experience heavy thermal cycling. That’s where urethane cement excels.
Why Urethane Cement Is a Top Performer for Harsh Conditions
When durability, moisture resistance, and thermal tolerance are top concerns, urethane cement is the go-to choice. This system combines urethane resins with cementitious fillers to form a thick, textured surface that bonds directly to concrete—even in damp conditions.
Key advantages include:
- Extreme Durability: Withstands heavy equipment, constant cleaning, and frequent traffic.
- Thermal Shock Resistance: Ideal for areas exposed to steam cleaning, washdowns, or rapid temperature shifts.
- Moisture Tolerant: Can be applied over damp slabs without risk of delamination.
- Chemical and Acid Resistance: Great for aggressive cleaning regimens and chemical manufacturing environments.
- Slip-Resistant Options: Can be broadcast with aggregates for added traction.
Best Uses of Urethane Cement in Pharma Settings:
- Clean rooms
- Mixing or compounding rooms
- Washdown areas
- Wet processing zones
- Any space with strict sanitation protocols
Urethane cement is often more expensive upfront, but its longer service life and lower maintenance costs often offset the investment over time.
When to Use Epoxy vs. Urethane Cement
So which system is right for your pharmaceutical manufacturing space? It often comes down to where in the facility the flooring will be installed and what demands it will face.
Choose epoxy when:
- You need a smooth, cleanable surface with moderate chemical resistance.
- The area is temperature-stable and not exposed to moisture from below.
- Aesthetic customization (like bright colors or high-gloss finish) is desired.
Choose urethane cement when:
- You expect thermal cycling, steam cleaning, or wet washdowns.
- Durability and longevity outweigh aesthetic considerations.
- You need superior resistance to acids, alkalis, and moisture vapor.
In some facilities, a hybrid approach works best—using urethane cement in production areas and epoxy in less demanding spaces.
Compliance Starts from the Ground Up
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, facility design isn’t just about function—it’s about compliance. Choosing the right floor means fewer shutdowns, fewer maintenance issues, and better chances of passing audits.
Both epoxy and urethane cement can be installed as part of cGMP-compliant flooring systems when done by experienced contractors. They can also be integrated with curbs, base coving, and wall systems to create fully seamless, hygienic surfaces from the ground up.
Final Thoughts
Your flooring isn’t just a background surface—it’s a frontline defense against contamination, inefficiency, and downtime. For pharmaceutical manufacturing environments that demand peak performance, epoxy and urethane cement flooring systems offer proven solutions.
Each system brings its own strengths to the table. By choosing the right material for each space within your facility, you can extend your floor’s life, support compliance goals, and ensure a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.
When it comes to high-stakes spaces like pharmaceutical manufacturing, flooring decisions matter. And the right choice can make all the difference. For more information, read our next article, “Urethane Cement vs Epoxy Flooring”.
