Altro Kitchen Guide

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Altro Kitchens Guide

Altro kitchen floors and walls are designed to withstand heavy use, reduce maintenance costs, and retain their appearance for 30-plus years. Backed by long-term product guarantees, Altro offers durable solutions trusted by customers time and again.

Designing, building or running a commercial kitchen comes with more than just the pressure of service, it carries serious responsibilities around safety, hygiene, and compliance. Overlooking these fundamentals doesn’t just put people at risk; it exposes businesses to legal, financial, and reputational damage. The following sections break down why getting the basics right matters.

Meeting safety standards starts underfoot

Challenge: Safety

• Slips, trips and falls cause serious workplace injuries and are preventable.

• Nearly 1 in 4 serious work-related injury claims are caused by slips, trips, or falls in Australia.*

• Spills, grease, food, wet shoes and poor transitions can all cause slips, therefore flooring must maintain grip in all conditions.

• Commercial kitchen floors must meet strict standards.

Checklist:

Slips-resistant (R12/P5 or higher)

Impervious to liquids

Easy to clean and maintain

Food safety starts with smart surfaces

Challenge: Hygiene

• Each year, about 4.7 million Australians get sick from unsafe food**

• Choose tough, hygienic surfaces and clean regularly to prevent mould and bacteria.

• Seamless transitions and detailing stop contaminants from taking hold.

• HACCP-certified floors and walls protect food safety.

*https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/insights/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release **www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety-culture

Cutting corners on compliance puts businesses at risk

Challenge: Compliance

• Slips, Compliance is everyone’s responsibility – from design to install.

• Reduce legal, financial, and operational risks with compliant, s lip-resistant flooring.

• Not all R12 floors offer lasting slip resistance.

• Downtime for repairs is costly. Choose products built to last.

In Rhodin v Coles [2019], the ACT Supreme Court ruled against Coles after a delicatessen attendant slipped on ice in a seafood cool room.

In Rhodin v Coles [2019], the ACT Supreme Court found Coles liable after a delicatessen worker slipped on ice in a seafood cool room. The plaintiff had reported the hazard a month earlier but later injured her wrist and was eventually unable to return to work. The court ruled Coles failed to manage the hazard appropriately.

This case highlights the importance of maintaining safe working environments to prevent slip-and-fall incidents and the legal consequences companies may face for negligence.***

***https://cgw.com.au/publications/skating-on-thin-ice-coles-liable-for-workers-slip-and-fall/

What does this mean for you?

• Failure to meet safety standards can lead to serious injuries, legal action, costly disruptions, and regulatory and financial penalties.

• Inadequate hygiene infrastructure increases the risk of contamination, food borne illness, reputational damage, and legal liability.

• Non-compliance with codes and standards can lead to shut-downs, costly repairs, insurance issues, and long-term financial loss.

• Everyone has a duty of care to meet safety, hygiene and compliance standards.

Do it once, do it right

The solution

• Start with understanding the environment and its risks.

• Choose fit-for-purpose products that minimise risk.

• Take a long-term view: consider lifetime value, not just upfront cost.

• Proper installation and cleaning ensure lasting performance.

• Follow guidance for coving and drainage to achieve a fully seal ed installation.

How Altro floors and walls can help!

• Designed for safety, hygiene, and long-term compliance

• Waterproof, impervious, and bacteria-resistant surfaces

• HACCP-certified for global food safety standards

• Industry-leading guarantees and lifetime support

• Stylish solutions from back to front of house

Comparing wall finishes for commercial kitchens

MATERIAL

Tiles

PROS

• Familiar, traditional aesthetic

• Design flexibility

• Suitable for floors and walls

• Durable

Stainless Steel

• Consistent thickness hides wall issues

• Impact-resistant, no cracking or hazardous fibres

• Colour won’t yellow

• Resistant to temperature-related bubbling

• Hygienic, grout-free surface

• Incredibly easy to clean

• 30-year product guarantee

• Water tight

• Colour and design flexibility including tiled patterns

• Doesn’t dint like stainless steel

• Easy and quick to install (with the right skilled labour)

• All corners are heat-bent and the seams are heat-welded, creating a fully sealed surface

• Extremely durable and corrosion-resistant

• Non-porous and easy to clean

• Ideal for high heat/moisture

• Modern industrial look

• Resistant to staining and chemicals

CONS

• Susceptible to cracking and chipping

• Surface damage can harbor pathogens and moisture

• Porous grout difficult to clean

• Poor acoustics

• Damage can affect waterproofing

• Hard to repair when damaged

• Long non trafficable time post repair

• Slow, messy repair process if damaged

• Choose correctly as it has an incredibly long-life span

• 60 degree radiant heat limit, meaning not to be used under range hood

• Has a memory – cannot repair dents or scratches, affecting appearance

• Shows fingerprints and smudges easily

• Poor acoustic absorption (noisy)

• Higher upfront cost and skilled welding needed

• Limited design flexibility

• Cracks and sharp edges can form when stainless steel is dented due to excessive localised stress

• Can become white with oxidization

• Not joined in a truly water tight way (unless fully metal welded)

Altro Whiterock™

Comparing flooring choices for commercial kitchens

MATERIAL

Tiles

Altro Stronghold™ 30

PROS

• Familiar, traditional aesthetic

• Design flexibility

• Suitable for floors and walls

• Durable

Epoxy

• Homogeneous construction, no wear layer means that slip resistance lasts for the life of the floor

• Approved for high-hygiene food and beverage areas

• Provides excellent traction even when wet or contaminated

• Designed for heavy commercial use with minimal maintenance

• Smooth surface with integrated aggregates reduces dirt buildup

• Altro’s range are HACCP approved

• Comfort underfoot compared to other hard surfaces like tiles and epoxy

• Quick and easy to repair if damaged

• Excellent impact sound insulation of 10 dB

• Working temperature bandwidth of 90 degrees, 60 to -30

• Homogeneous construction means performance and aesthetics never change

• Generally robust and can be installed with different levels of slip resistance

• Certain grades/types are known for resistance to high pressure, temperatures, + chemicals

• If installed properly, it provides a monolithic, resistant surface

CONS

• Susceptible to cracking and chipping

• Surface damage can harbor pathogens and moisture

• Porous grout difficult to clean

• Poor acoustics

• Hard to repair when damaged

• Long non trafficable time post repair

• Cushioned mats are often recommended to reduce foot and joint discomfort from hard surfaces

• Higher upfront investment compared to some standard vinyl floors

• Needs professional installation for best performance

• Moisture trapped in the slab can cause costly repairs

• During install, slip resistance is applied topically, if not metered out properly can be inconsistent and wear down over time

• Over time surface can develop micro pores, pinholes, and spider cracks which catch dirt and bacteria and make it impossible to clean

• Moisture trapped in the slab can cause costly repairs

• Installation is key to resinous coating bonding properly

• Unlike tiles and vinyl, which are produced by precise manufacturing machines with tight tolerances, epoxy coatings are manually applied, leaving more room for error in the finished surface

• Also, like tiles long repair process with long non trafficable times post repair

• Solvent based epoxy flooring has very high VOC content and is flammable

• Water based epoxy flooring is less durable and will require multiple coats

• 100% solid epoxy flooring has very high initial costs and needs professional installation for best performance

• Cushioned mats are often recommended to reduce foot and joint discomfort from hard surfaces

Altro Flooring Specification Guide

Food & Drink

Safety flooring

Smooth flooring

Application

Bakeries / Without rack ovens

Bar serveries - General

Dining areas

Circulation areas

Corridors - Heavy traffic

Fast

Food

Food

Food

Commercial kitchens (area where food is prepared and cooked tailored to suit all types of cooking and serves)

Meat

Reception / Offices

Shower

Stairs

Toilets

Ramps - General

Ramps - Wet

Altro Walling Specification Guide

Food & Drink

Altro Products for kitchens

What Altro products work in commercial kitchens/back of house.

Altro Stronghold™ 30

Ideal for kitchens, canteens, food prep and service areas

• Highest sustained slip resistance (P5/R12)

• Homogeneous construction with no wear layer

• 3mm thick safety floor, reduces fatigue and noise in busy kitchens

• Adhesive-free option for quicker install

• HACCP-accredited

• Frequently specified with Altro Whiterock for a seamless, hygienic solution

View Stronghold 30 product page

Safe, durable floors for back-of-house spaces

Corridors, bars, storage: Altro Classic™ 25

• Trusted for over 60 years

• R11 / P4 sustained slip resistance

• Withstands heavy traffic and wheeled loads

• Ideal for bars, service corridors, laundries, and storerooms

Guest toilets: Altro Suprema™, Altro Illustra™, Altro Wood™, Altro Walkway™ 20

• R10 slip resistance

• Durable, general-purpose safety floor

• Easy to install – contractor favourite

Staff change rooms or bathrooms with showers: Altro Pisces™ / Altro Aquarius™

• Stylish, safe flooring for wet areas

• R11 / P4 slip ratings – wet and dry performance

• Safe for shoes and barefoot use

• Easy to clean, maintains aesthetic

View Classic 25 product page
View Pisces product page
View Aquarius product page
View Suprema product page
View Illustra product page
View Wood product page
View Walkway 20 product page

Altro Whiterock™ and Altro Whiterock Satins™

Wall sheets designed for commercial kitchens and hygienic environments

• Smooth, durable, and HACCP-approved

• Resistant to temperatures up to 60°C

• Available in classic white or a wide range of colours

• Easy to clean

• Backed by a 30-year product guarantee

• When paired with Altro Stronghold 30 flooring, creates a fully hygienic, bacteria-resistant environment that reduces contamination risks

View Whiterock product page
View Whiterock Satins product page

Altro Kitchen Floors Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs)

Not all R12s are created equal

Altro developed these ITPs to help you achieve a correct installation of Altro Stronghold K30 and Altro Stronghold K30 adhesive-free floors.

Following these ITPs will ensure the longevity, durability, and slip resistance of your floors, as well as protect your product guarantee.

Use these ITPs to keep your project running smoothly and safely. If you have any questions, please contact Altro’s technical team.

Installation Guides

Contact Altro for information regarding installing our walling solutions.

Safety Flooring Installation Guide

K30 Adhesive-Free Flooring Installation Guide

Cleaning Information

View
View Safety Flooring Cleaning Information
View
View Wall Sheets and Doorset Cleaning Information

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