All information on this page is copied material from Gulvfakta, which is a technical reference material, Source: Gulvfakta

1.3.0.1 Introduction

Elastic floor coverings have a number of common features, which mean that certain conditions in connection with laying and use are the same for all of them. These conditions are discussed in what follows. In other respects, the coatings are different, and thus have different appearance and different utility properties. The special conditions for the coatings are discussed in separate sections for the individual coating types. Elastic floor coverings are characterized by the fact that they are thin and require full support. The substrate must have the same flatness and slope as desired for the finished floor surface, as the coatings cannot compensate for unevenness. Elastic floor coverings can be laid on all dry, absorbent and level sub-floors that are free of cracks and creases. If the substrate's absorbency is not sufficient, it must be puttyed with a suitable putty compound laid out in a thickness of min. 2 mm. For renovation tasks, the existing floor covering should be removed to ensure a correct adhesive base.

In some cases, the floor coverings are used together with soft underlay materials, e.g. cork, which are used to achieve an improvement in the sound of steps and better walking comfort. Elastic floor coverings are available in several different variants. Most of the coverings are supplied in several different thicknesses and many with special "soft" backs that increase step sound absorption and walking comfort. In principle, the same effects as can be achieved with the "soft surfaces" described above.

Vinyl is delivered homogeneously or composed of homogeneous layers. A special variant is the so-called residential vinyls, vinyls with a foamed middle. Cork is only supplied in tiles, while the others are both available as track goods and as tiles. The coatings can all be cleaned using wet (moist) cleaning methods, although some of the coatings are more sensitive to moisture than others. All the coating types are available in different thicknesses, which are chosen depending on the area of application and intensity of use.

1.3.0.2 CE marking

Floor coverings made of linoleum , vinyl , cork and rubber must be CE-marked. The harmonized standard DS/EN 14041 is the basis for the CE marking and applies to production and use in Europe.

The manufacturer or dealer importing the floor covering is responsible for the CE marking. The required properties appear in annex ZA in DS/EN 14041:
• Reaction in case of fire
• Pentachlorophenol (PCP) content
• Release of formaldehyde
• Water tightness
• Smoothness
• Antistatic properties
• Thermal conductivity
• Durability of response to fire

In addition to the standard, national requirements may have been drawn up to the extent necessary to comply with building legislation. CE marking is not a quality mark, but a harmonized standard sheet that acts as the flooring's travel passport within the European Community.

Fig. 1 Ex. on how the CE marking is used in a product specification.

 

1.3.0.3 Classification of resilient floor coverings

Floor coverings are classified according to area of use and intensity according to DS/EN ISO 10874 "Elastic floor coverings, classification".
The division is made into 3 main classes: Residential, Business and Industry and covers different room categories within these classes, see e.g. checklist 1 in this section. The applicability for different purposes can be seen from the application charts for the individual types of coverings, which are in the sections for the respective floor coverings.

In the sections on the individual floor covering types, it is stated which test methods and assessment criteria are the basis for the EN classification of the material in question. The properties included in the EN classification are listed separately with a marking of the criteria that must be met to achieve the classification. The information on the properties that form the basis of the EN classification comes from the manufacturers, who are responsible for the correctness of the information. In addition, a number of relevant additional properties are listed for each floor covering type.

1.3.0.4 Static and dynamic load

Residual impression with static load

Elastic floor coverings' resistance to permanent indentation is thickness dependent and is tested in accordance with DS/EN 433.
The static load must be no more than 250 N/cm² (25 kg/cm²) and the dynamic no more than 300 N/cm² (30 kg/cm²).
The property is included in EN classification and is met by all classified floor coverings of linoleum, vinyl and rubber, while cork and cork tiles with a vinyl wear layer can only be expected to meet the requirement when the property is stated by the supplier, and included as a supplementary property in the classification form.

Additional properties

Resistance to office chair wheels

Tested in accordance with DS/EN 425.

European symbol for resistance to office chair wheels

When there is a cross in the classification scheme under this characteristic, the floor covering meets the requirement, provided that the chair's wheels meet the requirement in DS/EN 12529, section 4.2.2, i.e. type W, with soft tread made of light material.

Resistance to furniture legs

Tested in accordance with DS/EN 424.

European symbol for resistance to furniture legs

The requirement is met when there is a cross under this characteristic in the classification form.

Suppliers of fixtures and office furniture should always be consulted, so that users of the floor get the right guidance in choosing office chairs, etc., which meet the requirements of DS/EN 12529 - Castors and castors, furniture castors - castors for office chairs, requirements.

 

1.3.0.5 Protection against unclassified loads

Protection against loads that are not covered by the floor covering's classification properties. If the floor is affected by other furnishings, it must be protected from scratches from table and chair legs by attached " felt pads " of a light, soft material, as specified under office chair wheels. Other furniture with a small contact surface against the floor should always be placed on a soft surface, e.g. made of felt, light rubber or a similar material. Improper loading of the floor will cause the coating supplier's material guarantee to expire, including the special wear guarantee for the Flooring Industry's classified floor coverings, if the supplier has given such a guarantee to the client.

Traffic and other loads on newly laid floor coverings

After laying, there must be no traffic on the floor until the glue has hardened. This takes at least a day. All other loads on the floor, e.g. from craftsmen, rolling scaffolds, transport vehicles, furniture and the like, must not be applied until the glue has reached full strength at the earliest. Depending on the temperature and humidity of the room, this takes at least 8 days, but it can take up to 14 days before full adhesive strength is achieved. See more about this in Gulvfakta's section on floor glue .

The flooring industry's material guarantee

For floor coverings that are classified, the supplier can issue a Gulvbranchen's material guarantee. The guarantee is issued in writing as described on the Floor Industry's website .

 

1.3.0.6 Electrostatic charging

Antistatic, static dissipative and static conductive floor coverings

Static electricity occurs when there is a voltage difference between different elements. Generally, it can occur when insulating materials rub against each other. Personal charging occurs, for example, through friction of clothing rubbing against furniture , but also through contact with other furniture surfaces. In the case of unfortunate material combinations, this can give the person voltages of many thousands of volts.
Nuisances in connection with static electricity occur, among other things, when a charged person is discharged by touching a conductive object. It can be a metal door handle, a steel cupboard or the like and can give the person an unpleasant shock. Discharge of electrical voltages below 2 kV (2,000 volts) rarely produces noticeable shocks. But some people will feel discomfort if the voltage is between 2 and 3 kV. If the electrical voltages are above 3 kV, almost everyone will feel uncomfortable. When a person is charged to 3 kV or more and discharged again by touching a conductive object, a spark will occur, which in unfortunate circumstances can ignite flammable materials, e.g. vapors from solvents and the like. Within the electronics industry and other places where work is done with sensitive IT equipment that can be destroyed if a charged person discharges his voltage through it, the Working Environment Act sets special requirements, for example for the conductivity of the floor covering and for the shoes that must be used by people who walk on the floor.

Concepts:

Antistatic floor coverings (AS) (body voltage ≤ 2kV - DS/EN 1815)
Static dissipative floor coverings (SD) (vertical resistance ≤ 109 Ohm - DS/EN 1081)
Statically conductive floor coverings (EC) (vertical resistance ≤ 106 Ohm - DS/EN 1081)

Antistatic floor coverings

An antistatic floor covering must not build up or leave a nuisance electrostatic charge on a person walking on the floor. The antistatic properties are tested by a walking test according to DS/EN 1815, where the personal charge must not exceed 2 kV when tested at 23°C ± 1°C and 25 ± 2% relative humidity after conditioning the test items under the same climatic conditions for seven days. Elastic floor coverings that are CE marked meet the antistatic requirement.

In server and IT rooms in administration and office areas within light business, there are usually no additional requirements for limiting electrostatic charging.

European symbol for antistatic floor coverings

Elements that can affect the antistatic properties:

• Low relative humidity
• Use of unsuitable footwear
• Secondary charging, e.g. from clothes and office chairs
• Lack of contact between the feet and the floor covering, for example if the feet are resting on the chair.
• Static dissipative and static conductive floor coverings
• A wide range of industries are affected by problems with electrostatic charging. In line with the electronic development, the electronics industry has, for example, been forced to focus a lot on the dissipation of static electricity, i.a. by setting up special ESD (Electro Static Discharge) protected areas, so that costly consequences of electrical discharges are avoided. According to DS/EN 61340-5-1, the recommended earth leakage resistance R2 in ESD-protected areas is between 7.5 x 105 Ohm and 3.5 x 107 Ohm, but other values may also be required according to the ESD descriptions.

The floor covering's electrostatic properties are tested in accordance with DS/EN 1081, which describes the measurement of all relevant resistance types using a suitable electrode. However, the standard does not specify requirements for the floor covering's resistance in different areas of use.

DS/EN 1081 describes the measurement of 3 different resistances:

R ₁ (vertical resistance) is the floor covering's vertical resistance, which is measured using an electrode placed on each side of an unlaid floor covering.
R ₂ (resistance to earth) is the floor covering's resistance to protective earth, which is measured between an electrode on a laid floor covering surface and the earth connection.
R ₃ (surface resistance) is the floor covering's surface resistance, which is measured between 2 electrodes placed at a well-defined distance on the laid floor covering.

A floor covering with a vertical resistance (R ₁ ) between 1 x 10 ⁶ Ohm and 1 x 10 ⁹ Ohm must be called an electrostatic dissipative floor.

European symbol for an electrostatic dissipative floor covering

A floor covering with a vertical resistance (R ₁ ) which does not exceed 1 x 10 ⁶ Ohm must be called an electrostatic conductive floor.

European symbol for an electrostatically conductive floor covering

The earth discharge resistance (R ₂ ) describes the discharge time between the upper side of the floor covering and the earth connection as follows:

1 x 10 ⁹ Ohm means a discharge time of 1 second
1 x 10 ⁸ Ohm means a discharge time of 0.1 second
1 x 10 ⁷ Ohm means a discharge time of 0.01 second
1 x 10 ⁶ Ohm means a discharge time of 0.001 second

The electrostatic properties of the floor

It is the client and/or his advisor who sets any requirements for the electrostatic properties of floors. Requirements must be stated in the tender and agreement basis, but in order to ensure the right choice in relation to the current place of use, it is important that users and equipment suppliers are consulted.

Requirements may have a background in safety regulations, for example the Working Environment Act or the High Current Order. Many industrial companies, e.g. within the pharmaceutical industry, sets its own requirements for the electrostatic properties of floors, which must be met. Requirements for the electrostatic properties of floors must always be stated in the tender and agreement basis.

1.3.0.7 Checklist when laying conductive/dissipative floors

Checklist for laying conductive/dissipative floors

• The subfloor must be dry, for concrete the pore moisture must be no more than 85% RH
• The subfloor must have the same flatness as expected of the finished floor, normally ± 2 mm on 2 m
• During and after gluing, the temperature in the air and the subfloor must be 17 - 25°C and the humidity 35 - 75% RH
• The floor covering must be acclimatised for at least 24 hours in the room before laying
• It must be stated in the tender material where copper strips must be run up the wall
• Grounding must be carried out by an authorized electrical installer
• For safety reasons, the conductivity should be checked by an impartial person - and this must be stated in the tender material if the flooring contractor is to arrange for the check to be carried out.

Maintenance

The coating supplier's instructions on cleaning and maintenance of conductive and conductive elastic floor coverings must be given to the user and always followed, so that optimal dissipation effect is achieved. The cleaning and maintenance products used must always be adapted to the floor in question.

Elements that can interfere with the ability to conduct electricity

• Diversion systems are not sufficiently conductive
• False earth connections, i.e. lack of protection around pipes etc.
• Inappropriate footwear
• Potential connections are not correctly connected or missing altogether
• Unsuitable (insulating) care products on the floor
• Use of incorrect measurement methods.
Other elements (insulation)
• The glue is too conductive
• The floor covering is too conductive
• Excessive moisture content in the subfloor
• Too high relative humidity in the room.
The technical committee for elastic floor coverings has prepared a leaflet on antistatic, static dissipative and static conductive elastic floor coverings, which can be downloaded from www.gulvbranchen.dk.

1.3.0.8 Track joints - thread jointing

Track joints in resilient floor coverings are vulnerable. The track joints can be protected by sealing them with a joint. The joint must always be chosen so that it fits the current coating. For PVC coatings, a welding wire is used, which becomes liquid when heated and melts (welded) together with the coating. When the welding wire and coating match, the joints can be made waterproof, which is used in wet rooms and laboratories, for example. For linoleum, wire jointing is used, whereby the joint wire is heated and adheres to the coating. However, the joint will not be as strong or as dense as joints in PVC coatings. For rubber, wire jointing can be used, which does not, however, provide as strong and tight a joint as joints in PVC. Sealant can also be used for rubber. Please be aware that jointing and welding of elastic floor coverings is covered by the MAL code notice and that the fitter must wear respiratory protection during the work. The working environment rules also apply to other persons staying in the work area.

1.3.0.9 Expectations for resilient floor coverings

Our experience of a product is to a very large extent governed by the expectations we have for it. The flooring industry has prepared a leaflet that addresses the expectations you as a consumer can rightly have for floors with elastic floor coverings. You can download the leaflet by clicking here . In addition, www.gulvbranchen.dk contains a number of technical publications about floors and floor coverings. By clicking here , you will be directed to the technical publications.