An Ottawa inspector flagged our floor, what are the next steps?

The first step is to find out exactly which regulation the inspector cited and what the floor must do to meet it, because the right coating system follows from the specific finding.

If the inspector is from Ottawa Public Health, the applicable rule is O. Reg. 493/17 (Food Premises), section 7(1)(c), which requires that floors in food preparation, service, cleaning and washroom areas be tight, smooth and non-absorbent, and section 7(1)(g), which requires them to be kept clean and in good repair. OPH also asks to be notified before you establish, build, change or significantly renovate a food premises. We found nothing that says clearly whether re-coating an existing kitchen floor counts as a significant renovation, so ask OPH before booking any work. Their plan approval, if they require one, does not substitute for a City of Ottawa building permit.

If the inspector is from the Ministry of Labour and the finding relates to a slippery surface, the applicable rule is R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 (Industrial Establishments), section 11(b), which says a floor used by any worker shall not have a finish likely to make it slippery. No slip-resistance number is set in that regulation or in the Ontario Building Code.

Once you know the citation, a floor coating contractor can assess whether the existing floor needs grinding, patching, a full re-coat or a new system.

On the permit question, ottawa.ca lists new flooring and painting among projects that do not require a building permit, but that page does not say whether it covers commercial buildings, so confirm with the City. If the repair involves adding a floor drain, that is plumbing work and a permit is required. If the building is a designated heritage property, the standard exemptions do not apply.

Before work starts, obtain a WSIB clearance certificate for the contractor and keep it on file; WSIB policy requires a clearance before construction work begins, and without one the business may be liable for the contractor's WSIB payments up to the labour portion of the contract. Ask for proof of liability insurance and references on similar commercial floors.

Here is what to line up side by side when you receive written quotes:

• The product name and data sheet for each coat, including the primer
• The prep method and the ICRI concrete surface profile the contractor is targeting
• Whether a moisture test is included, which standard (ASTM F2170 or F1869) will be used, and what happens to the price if the slab fails
• The number of coats and the thickness each data sheet specifies
• Whether cove base is included and at what linear footage
• The anti-slip aggregate type and broadcast rate
• The closure window the contractor is committing to, referenced to the data sheet return-to-service times

Once quotes arrive, ask each contractor to show you where in the product data sheet the closure window they are promising actually comes from.