4. 10. 2021
Operations using forklifts
If you use a forklift in your operation and want a floor that looks great and is safe, Fortelock Industry tiles are an excellent choice. Not only do they look great and let you choose from a wide range of colours and several textures, but they also improve workplace safety and are specially designed to withstand the regular loads of forklift traffic.
Marking out forklift routes
Their main advantage is the option to use colour combinations to divide the space into safety zones or to lay out the routes along which forklifts move. Using the tiles for this purpose is permanent, and there is no need to paint the floor or stick warning tape onto it as with other types of surfaces. If needed, the tiles can also be replaced or rearranged, so zones and routes can be adjusted at will.
Technical parameters of the Fortelock floor
Industry tiles are 7 mm thick and their hardness is 92±3 Shore A. They are suitable for industrial use in load classes 42 and 43 and for high-load storage, in other words precisely for operations with forklifts or pallet trucks.
The load the floor can bear is truly high:
• for four-wheel forklifts with rubber tyres it is up to 5,500 kg
• for reach trucks with hard wheels it is up to 4,200 kg
• for pallet trucks on hard wheels it is up to 1,800 kg
These values may vary from case to case, and achieving them may require fixing the floor to the substrate or gluing it down, which further increases its durability. You will find the details in the technical data sheet, where you can also read our further advice and tips.
We stand behind the quality and durability of the floor and back it with a warranty of up to 12 years.
Explore the productsWhen to choose Industry Ultra and how to verify the load
The Industry Ultra range, 10 mm thick, is designed for warehouses with forklifts, production halls and round-the-clock operation. According to the technical data sheet, when loose-laid it can take an electric forklift with PU wheels up to 2,900 kg, an electric reach truck with rubber wheels up to 5,100 kg and a forklift with tyres up to 5,500 kg, always including the weight of the truck. Heavy trucks with small wheels, especially electric trucks with the battery above the driven axle, must be tested first and fixed or glued down for permanent use. You can verify this with a loan of up to 5 m² of tiles for a month. Tiles made from recycled material are not recommended for loads from electric trucks with a total weight above 2,500 kg.
Frequently asked questions
How do I mark forklift routes on the floor?
With coloured tiles or marking strips. The narrow and wide tiles of a strip together make up the size of one standard tile, so the markings fit into the grid without cutting. Routes, corridors and parking spaces can be changed at any time by swapping tiles. You will find examples in the article Mark out zones in your warehouse with the floor.
Does PVC flooring under forklifts have to be glued down?
It depends on the truck and the conditions. The technical data sheet recommends testing heavy trucks with small wheels first and fixing or gluing the tiles for permanent use. Gluing is also necessary in direct sunlight, near heat sources and where temperature fluctuations exceed 15 °C. For maximum dynamic load-bearing capacity, fixing is recommended at temperatures above 27 °C.
How should you drive a truck on PVC flooring to avoid damaging it?
Smoothly and without spinning the wheels. The technical data sheet recommends avoiding turning the wheels on the spot, harsh braking and sudden acceleration. Vehicles with tyres should not stand on the tiles for long because of dye migration, and pallets should not be slid without lifting, as they could scratch the surface.
What slip resistance does a Fortelock floor have in a forklift operation?
Industry and Industry Ultra tiles have a slip resistance rating of R10 according to DIN 51130. If your operation requires higher slip resistance, Fortemix offers a surface treatment as part of its professional cleaning service that increases slip resistance up to R11. The service also includes the application of a protective PU layer.
Can recycled tiles be used under electric trucks?
Only to a limited extent. The technical data sheet does not recommend loading ECO tiles with electric trucks with a total weight, including the load, above 2,500 kg, as the maximum load may be lower for recycled material. Recycled tiles can also expand more, so primary PVC is the safer choice in demanding environments.
