Cove Molding Requirements for Food Service
The State of Connecticut imposes regulations to protect the health of people who use and work in public facilities. All areas used to prepare and serve food in schools, child day care centers, and other public facilities must be maintained in accordance with sanitary practices and procedures set forth in section 19-13-B42 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
The floors in kitchens and in other rooms and areas where food and drinks are prepared or stored, where multi-use utensils are washed, and in walk-in refrigerators, dressing or locker rooms, and toilet rooms must be constructed with smooth, nonabsorbent materials that are easy to clean. Materials such as carpet, vinyl composite tile, and rubber or vinyl topset base are not acceptable for use in these locations.
The floor in any of these facilities must curve up the wall so that nothing can get caught and the surface is easy to clean. The floor surface must continue up the wall a minimum of four inches in a seamless manner. This design is known as cove molding.
Concrete can be used for cove molding if it is treated with an approved, commercial grade, clear, penetrating sealer that can resist damage from grease, acid, oil, and moisture. The concrete surface must be smooth and must not have any chips, pits, or exposed aggregate.
The cove base must be either an integral coved concrete curb or a “keyed-in” tile cove base. With a “keyed-in” tile cove base, the floor is saw-cut at the juncture between the wall and the floor and an approved cove base is inserted and grouted. This creates a surface that is flush, integral, and continuous with the floor. Poured or troweled epoxy resin can also be used for cove molding to create a smooth surface that is easy to clean and complies with the regulations.
Here at Elite Concrete Systems we favor the use of Torginol Color Granules mixed with Elite Crete clear epoxy. The paste is molded into the corner and up the wall to produce a seamless base coving that is tough, smooth, waterproof and attractive. Hundreds of colors and color blends are available. Call (860)307-9499 for more information.