The cannabis industry is expanding rapidly in Canada and across North America creating a growing need for regulated, safe, and sanitary grow and processing facilities. One material that fits the industry's unique needs is Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) panels. FRP panels are an appropriate solution for durable and hygienic walls and ceilings in a variety of cannabis environments, from grow rooms to extraction labs, they comply with the safety and environmental standards that cannabis operations must adhere to.
Why FRP Panels are The Right Fit for Cannabis Facilities?
Cannabis cultivation and processing facilities need materials that can withstand the high humidity of grow rooms, the chemical exposure of extract rooms, and the wear and tear from people and equipment constantly moving and impacting walls. FRP panels are an appropriate option and provide the following important benefits:
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Moisture Resistant: FRP panels are ideal for grow rooms where humidity is common.
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Corrosion Resistant: FRP panels can withstand the chemicals that are used when cleaning and processing.
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Hygienic Surface: FRP panels have a smooth, non-porous surface that is easy to clean and sanitize.
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Durable: FRP panels can tolerate scratches, impacts, and wear that could be expected in busy areas.
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Mold & Mildew Resistant: FRP panels help mitigate contamination in the grow environment and specifically mold and mildew.
Key Use Areas
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Grow Rooms: Maintaining a sterile space, inhibiting mold, and ensuring daily exposure to water, fertilizers, and light. FRP panels are installed to walls and ceilings so contamination is avoided.
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Extraction & Processing Labs: FRP panels are great for fire-rated places, while maintaining cleanliness and following stringent health and safety policies and procedures.
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Drying & Curing Rooms: Temperature and humidity levels must be controlled. FRP panels will help with microbial contamination while holding up to the conditions in these rooms.
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Storage Rooms: Long term storage of cannabis must happen in an environment that promotes no bacteria or contamination. Again, FRP provides sealed, easy to-maintain surfaces that are all compliant with GMP and HACCP.
Compliance and Cleanability
The cannabis industry is very heavily regulated including cleanliness, fire rating, and structural materials. And fiberglass wall panels help maintain these GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). Many of the FRP wall panels are available in Class A fire rated versions which meet often required fire code applications for commercial and industrial buildings.
FRP Panels Installation Advantages
FRP panels are usable on a number of substrates, including drywall, plywood, and concrete; this versatility opens up the possibilities for installation in both new construction and facility renovations. FRP panels are light-weight, easily customisable, and where additional moldings, trims, and a hygienic sealant are added, you get an absolutely sealed installation.
FRP panels can be a cost-effective solution for cannabis facilities expanding or retrofitting existing industrial commercial spaces, as it provides a solution with a quick turnaround time and expected long-term performance life.
In Conclusion
Cannabis facilities requires high performing materials in their facility for performance-driven application; this is needed for cleanliness, durability, and compliance. The use of FRP panels is not going away anytime soon, and they are quickly becoming "standard-use", for cannabis grow operations, due to their performance, and mostly due to their affordability and dependable service life in mission-critical areas.
Whether you're finishing out a new cultivation space, retrofitting an extraction lab, or updating the dry room and cure room for your ecommerce site, FRP panels will give you peace of mind and fit the final professional appearance you want to achieve. Choosing the right walls and ceilings early on, will save thousands of dollars in compliance issues, repairs, or material downtime - or both!