What are approved finish materials for floors, walls, and ceilings?

  • Food prep / employee service area – this includes areas where employees are handling open food or drink, i.e., repackaging dry goods from bulk.
  • Warewashing – this includes areas where employees wash, rinse, sanitize, and air-dry utensils.

Room Finish Schedule Summary

Legend
StatusStatus Abbreviation
ApprovedYES
Not ApprovedNO
Pre-Approval RequiredPAR

 

 

 

 

Floor Finish Summary
Floor FinishFood Prep and WarewashingDry StorageWalk-in Cooler, Walk-in FreezerTap/Tasting Room, Customer Facing Service AreaCustomer Self-service Areas
Poured Flooring SystemYESYESYESYESYES
Quarry/Ceramic/Porcelain TileYESYESYESYESYES
Vinyl (Sheet or Tile)NOYESNONOYES
LaminateNOYESNONOYES
WoodNONONONOPAR
CarpetNONONONOPAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cove Base Finish Summary
Cove Base FinishFood Prep and WarewashingDry StorageWalk-in Cooler, Walk-in FreezerTap/Tasting Room, Customer Facing Service AreaCustomer Self-Service Area
Poured Flooring SystemYESYESYESYESYES
Quarry/Ceramic/Porcelain TileYESYESYESYESYES
Stainless SteelPARYESYESPARYES
ScreedNONOYESNOYES
WoodNONONONONO
4" Vinyl BaseNONONONOYES
Coved Transition StripYESYESNOYESYES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wall Finish Summary
Wall FinishFood Prep and WarewashingDry StorageWalk-in Cooler, Walk-in FreezerTap/Tasting Room, Customer Facing Service AreaCustomer Self-Service Area
FRPYESYESNOYESYES
Ceramic TileYESYESNOYESYES
Stainless SteelYESYESNOYESYES
Painted SheetrockNOYESNOPARYES
Cooler/Freezer PanelsYESYESYESYESYES
Decorative Wall Tile, BrickNONONOPARYES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceiling Finish Summary
Ceiling FinishFood Prep and WarewashingDry StorageWalk-in Cooler, Walk-in FreezerTap/Tasting Room, Customer Facing Service AreaCustomer Self-Service Areas
Painted SheetrockYESYESNOYESYES
Vinyl Coated TilesYESYESNOYESYES
Non-Galvanized MetalYESYESNOYESYES
Cooler/Freezer PanelsYESYESYESNONO
StructuralNOPARNOPARPAR
PVC Plastic PanelsYESYESNOYESYES
PlexiglassYESYESNOYESYES
WoodNOPARNOPARPAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information 

  • These are materials specifically designed for areas of food and drink service/preparation, dishwashing, and dry storage.
  • This does not include floor finish materials that have interwoven fibers, concrete, unfinished wood, vinyl flooring in walk-in units.
  • This does not include finish materials on walls and ceilings such as galvanized metal, sealed or unsealed wood, knock-down or popcorn-style finish on drywall.
  • Open structured ceilings are not allowed in areas where employees are handling open packages of food.

Floors shall be constructed of smooth, durable, nonabsorbent, grease-resistant, and easily cleanable materials for food preparation, open food handling, or dishwashing areas.

Approved Floors Include

  • Quarry tile
  • Ceramic tile
  • Porcelain tile
  • *Poured flooring systems*
  • +Protect-All Composite Flooring+

Poured Flooring Systems

A poured flooring system is a multi-layered flooring product that is installed in a specific manner and designed for use in a retail food facility. This type of flooring is not a sealant or a coating.

Poured flooring specifications include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Thickness of 1/8” (125 mils) to 3/8" (375 mils)
  • Compression strength of 5000 PSI or greater
  • Manufacturer’s recommendations of installation and use which may include a factory trained installer. NOTE: Thermal-shock resistant flooring is required for areas under floor mounted cooking equipment and inside walk-in units.

*The following companies produce at least one poured flooring product which the MDA has approved for use at a licensed facility: BASF, Dex-o-tex, Florock, Sherwin Williams, Stonehard, and Tennant. When selecting a floor that is right for your business, please consult with the manufacturer and the MDA Plan Review Team for best results.*

Coved Base

A cove base with a smooth radius transition must be installed at all floor/wall junctures in any food preparation, handling, or dishwashing areas. The image, listed on Page 6 of the Retail Plan Review Construction Guide, shows the correct method for installation of base cove, flush at the floor and wall juncture.                                                                                  

Unapproved Flooring

Vinyl (sheet, plank, and tile), sealed concrete, wood, and carpet materials are not allowed in areas for food preparation, open food handling, and dishwashing areas.

Dry storage, Pre-Packaged, and Sales Area

The above guidance is for areas where food employees are conducting food preparation, open food handling, or dishwash activities. In other areas of the food establishment, such as dry storage for unopened packages of food or the sales floor, other materials, such as vinyl or sealed concrete, are acceptable.

*+This is not an endorsement of any individual company; this is merely a list compiled by the Department of Agriculture that has been approved in the past. The specific flooring still must be pre-approved by the Plan Review staff and there may be other companies that are acceptable.*+