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BEFORE YOU START:
1. Selection of Flooring: Several factors must be
considered when specifying resilient flooring. A proper evaluation
of site conditions, level of commercial traffic, and other external
factors should be considered. Design and pattern, product
durability, substrates and site conditions are all basic parts in
the specification process to consider.
IMPORTANT! United ESD Vinyl Tile should
not be used in exterior applications, golf shops, locker rooms, food
processing facilities, or commercial kitchens.
2. Basic Requirements:
Flooring must be installed at the final stage in any type of
construction. Allow enough time for adhesive to cure. Keep foot
traffic off of the floor for at least 24 hours. Take precautions to
properly protect the newly installed flooring if remaining work by
other trades is to be completed. Heavy construction paper covered by
plywood sheets is the best method for protecting newly installed
resilient flooring.
3. Measuring:
Installation inspection such as quantity, color, design, etc. must
be checked and confirmed prior to installation. Be sure to use
identical LOT numbers if required. LOT shows lot number and lot
type. Lot numbers describe the date of production. Lot type
describes lot type by alphabetic code. Identical lot codes mean
identical lot numbers and lot type.
4. Room Temperature:
Flooring materials and room temperature must be maintained within
60° F / 75° F (18 C and 25 C) for at least 24 hours before and after
the installation.
5. Moisture Testing:
Substrates to receive flooring must be free of moisture. For normal
concrete substrates, Anhydrous Calcium Chloride Test results must
not exceed 3lb / 1000sq ft / 24hours as stated in resilient flooring
installation guide on concrete substrates.
6. Adhesives: Since
applications vary depending on adhesive used, please refer to
adhesive label for more detailed information regarding spread rates
and drying times, or contact your United ESD Flooring
Representative. ElectraBond / StatBond is the only recommended
permanent adhesive recomended for ElectraTiles.
Caution: Do not overspread conductive
adhesives; they are difficult to remove from tiles after they dry.
Apply a small area to determine the right amount of adhesive before
spreading large areas with adhesives.
7. Recommended trowel size:
United ESD conductive adhesives should be applied using a 1/16” by
1/32” by 1/32” U notched trowel.
SUBSTRATES:
Conditions and Preparation
Substrate conditions affect a great deal to the overall appearance
of United ESD Vinyl Tile. Substrates to receive installation must be
clean, completely dry and free of damage.
1. CONCRETE SUBSTRATES
A.) Basic Conditions:
1. Any defects found from concrete substrates must be corrected.
Newly installed concrete substrates contain excessive moisture
residues. Ideal time for the moisture residue to dry completely is
28 days / inch (1day / millimeter). Usually the thickness of the
concrete slab is set to 20 (50cm). Moisture dissipation time can
depend upon thickness of the slab and other external conditions.
2. Substrates must be smooth and dry enough to
receive resilient flooring.
B.) Notice:
1. United ESD recommends always performing a calcium chloride test,
bond test, and alkali test and documenting the results before
installing resilient flooring over concrete.
2. Do not install United ESD flooring over existing resilient
flooring that is too heavily embossed, not adhered well to
substrate, is dirty with excessive wax build-up, etc. United ESD
recommends removing existing resilient flooring whenever possible.
United ESD does not recommend removing flooring and adhesives
containing asbestos by sanding, etc. Removing flooring and adhesives
containing asbestos should be done by a qualified asbestos abatement
company.
3. Using chemical compounds or waterproofing treatments on concrete
substrates where Alkalinity / hydrostatic pressure is apparent or
water permeation is expected shall not be an alternative.
Installation must be suspended even though the appropriate action is
taken and installation risk be discussed with all appropriate
associates.
4. Do not install over lightweight concrete or gypsum base that
cannot hold 100lb / cubic foot (1602kg / m3). Before tile
installation, reinforce light weight concrete with at least 1 (25mm)
thickness light weight concrete according to standard concrete
mixing recommendations and consult with a concrete professional.
C.) Moisture: Moisture test must be performed for
both new and existing concrete before installation. To perform this
test, refer to ASTM 1869 Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture
Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium
Chloride.
D.) New and existing concrete substrates: New and
existing concrete subfloors should meet the requirements of the
latest edition of ASTM F 710, Standard Practice for Preparing
Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring. The concrete subfloor
design must also meet and / or exceed both the static and dynamic
load requirements for the intended use of the space. All concrete
slabs MUST meet the requirements for *ACI lightweight, should have a
compressive strength of 3,500 psi (24 MPa) or greater. *ACI
302.1R-96, Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction, PP.5 and
22.
NOTE: Regardless, in the event of underlayment failure, the
responsibilities for warranties and / or performance guarantees is
the responsibility of the subfloor subcontractor, not with the
manufacturer of the resilient flooring.
E.) Aged Concrete Substrates: Concrete substrates
must be free of moisture before the installation of resilient
flooring. Aged concrete substrates must be free of paint, grease,
wax and other foreign materials and it should be leveled. Perform
underlayment reinforcement to cure the damaged or indented area.
F.) Painted Concrete: Concrete substrates must be
free of paint, grease, wax and other foreign material before
installing underpayments or tile ASTM test categories that judges
condition of substrates are as follows:
ASTM D 4258 Cleaning test of coating concrete surface
ASTM D 4259 Abrasion test of concrete surface
ASTM D 4260 Alkalinity test of concrete surface ASTM D 4261
Extension feasibility test of concrete surface ASTM D 4262 Erosion
PH test of concrete surface Follow all ASTM guidelines for proper
preparation.
G.) Existing Resilient Flooring: Installing United ESD vinyl Tile
over existing resilient flooring is not recommended.
WARNING: Existing resilient flooring
should never be cut, sawn, mechanically mended or dissolute. This
operation may cause asbestos or asbestos dust diffusion. Inhaling
asbestos can cause a number of serious diseases. Smoking in asbestos
dust environment could cause serious lung injury. Check that the
removal process is followed under the laws and regulations required
by federal, state and local governments. Asbestos removal must be
performed by asbestos specialty professionals who are properly
trained and possess all required licenses.
WARNING: Adhesive Removal— once resilient
flooring is removed, soluble asphalt adhesives are commonly found.
Keep in mind that these adhesives are not always easily
recognizable. When it is uncertain whether asbestos residue is
contained, you must treat it as it does contain asbestos. Asbestos
inhaling may cause serious injury like asbestos pneumonic. Smoking
where asbestos dust is present could cause serious lung injury.
Suspend the operation immediately if asbestos contamination is
uncertain and consult with an asbestos removal professional.
WARNING: DO NOT SAND, DRY SCRAPE,
DRY SWEEP, SAW, DRILL, BEADBLAST, OR MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE
IN ANY WAY EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT,
ASPHALTIC CUTBACK ADHESIVES OR ANY OTHER ADHESIVES. THEY MAY CONTAIN
ASBESTOS.
H.) Curing and Parting Compounds:
Curing and parting compounds on concrete substrates where resilient
flooring will be installed may damage adhesion resulting in
installation failure. “Curing compounds leave a film that can
interfere with the adhesion of other materials to the treated
surface; their use should be avoided on surfaces that will later be
covered with resilient floor coverings, where applicable, a letter
of compatibility should be issued prior to the use of a curing
compound on a floor receiving a subsequent finish.” - American
Concrete Institute, ACI, publication 302.1R-96, Guide for Concrete
Floor and Slab Construction. Letter of compatibility must come from
the manufacturer of the compound.
I.) Gypsum Based Underlayments: Gypsum base
underlayments and substrate leveling compounds are utilized for
noise and fire proof purposes. Responsibility of underlayment
compound use is attributed to underlayment manufacturer.
J.) Floor Fills / Toppings: Resin-reinforced
self-leveling cement underlayments, cellular concretes, and gypsum
based products are recommended by their manufacturers for use as
floor fills and / or toppings.
NOTE: All recommendations and guarantees regarding the suitability
of these products and their performance as underlayments for
resilient floor coverings are the responsibility of the manufacturer
and the installer of the underlayment system being used.
WARNING: Latex patching reinforcement will not prevent moisture
permeation through concrete slabs.
K.) Latex Patching Procedures:
Follow directions given by the latex underlayment manufacture. Refer
to the following guidelines:
1. Materials that might hinder the adhesive curing such as concrete
residues, gypsum residues, powder, oil, grease, dust, paint and
other foreign materials must be removed in advance.
2. Creased concrete and concrete debris must be leveled through
grinding process.
3. Use of emulsification during surface leveling work may decrease
strength of adhesives. Consult with relevant manufacturer in
advance.
4. Use soap solution and clean water to remove dirt. Flooring must
be clean and free of moisture.
5. All holes and indented areas must be mended before underlayment
operation begins.
6. When underlayment operation is conducted, consult and use only
the recommended products from latex substrates manufacturer.
7. Permeability of underlayments will not be efficient with
concrete, ceramic, and terrazzo. For more information, refer to the
underlayment manufacturer’s technical guide.
8. Do not conduct latex patching underlayment below 50° F (10 C). Do
not expose to sun directly.
9. Neutralize acid or alkali compounds on the subfloor before
conducting the installation.
L.) Radiant Heated Floors: Radiant heated floors
must be secure and underground beneath the concrete subfloor.
Resilient flooring must be stored and installed at temperature that
does not exceed 85° F (29.4
C). If the existing floor is a radiant heated floor, a moisture
preventive panel between the underground radiant heating device and
the substrate must be pre installed to block moisture evaporation.
Keep the radiant heated floor free from traffic for at least 48hours
and keep the same temperature before and after the installation.
Temperature from the radiant heat may be increased gradually.
CAUTION: If resilient flooring is installed on concrete slab with
hot water pipe(s) under-ground and operated by the building’s
central heating system, this may cause discoloration of the
resilient flooring. The responsibility of this matter is borne by
the end user.
Caution: Keep radiant
flooring temperature below 85° F (29.4 C) at all times.
M.) Extension Joints: Extension joints are inserted
for the purpose of concrete crack prevention when subfloor slab is
moving. Insertion of expansion joints right beneath United ESD
resilient flooring may cause installation to fail.
2. WOOD SUBSTRATES
A.) General Information: Wood substrates must be constructed with at
least 18 inches (45.72 cm) of well-ventilated air space beneath.
Installing resilient flooring on sleepers over concrete is not
recommended. For recommended grades of plywood performance, refer to
the APA - The Engineered Wood Association.
B.) CAUTION: Do not install resilient flooring over:
• Eroded or wet areas.
Nailed slab or adhesive secured plywood or concrete floors
(sleepers).
• Over fireproof plywood.
• To crooked Floors or vibration sensed floorings.
 C.)
Panel Substrates: APA panels guarantee continuous product
quality. Receive written descriptions and related documents from the
APA for successful panel construction. Do not install United ESD
tile flooring over OSB or luan.
D.) Other Information: Old terrazzo, sealer, wax,
oil and dirt must be cleaned and removed thoroughly. Heavily worn
out areas must be reinforced. Consult with the underlayment
manufacturer for surface treatment.
E.) Over Existing Resilient Flooring: Do not
install over plank tile on concrete gypsum or cushion vinyl products
and DIY Tile. Remove chemical compounds, wax, oil, dirt completely
and moisture test must be taken as well.
Apply Adhesive: United ESD recommends using
ElectraBond / StatBond ESD Conductive Adhesives for optimum static
control performance and bonding.
IMPORTANT — USE SUFFICIENT VENTILATION WHEN USING ADHESIVE.
Install Grounding Strips: To properly ground the
flooring please visit:
http://ultrastat2000.com/electraguard_grounding.html
Installing Tiles: Measure the area to find the best
starting point for a maximum size perimeter tile. Proper planning
should avoid trimming perimeter tiles more than half their width.
Since most rooms are not perfect rectangles, it is advisable to snap
chalk lines at right angles to one another as guidelines for laying
the tiles. To do this, find the center point of one wall in the
room. Now check your measurement from the center point to the wall
(in feet and inches.) If the measurement is less than six inches,
you should move your center mark six inches in either direction so
that your trim pieces at the walls are maximum size. Do the same for
the remaining walls. The two center lines must bisect at right
angles in the center of the room. To achieve a perfect right angle,
which is essential for a proper install, form a triangle by
measuring 6’ X 8’ X 10’ (figure A). Starting with the center point,
measure 6 feet on one line and mark that point. Go back to the
center point and now measure out 8 feet from the other bisecting
line and mark that point. If the angle is a correct 90°, the
distance between these two end point marks should be exactly 10
feet.
Using the chalk lines as your guide, begin laying the tiles using
the pyramid technique (figure B). Install one quadrant at a time
following the numerical sequence. Do not spread more adhesive than
tile can be installed into and rolled before adhesive sets. For
proper esd performance, a good transfer of adhesive to tile is
paramount.
NOTE: Slide tile into place over adjoining tile and lower into
place. Cut tile to butt tightly into corners to minimize shifting of
tiles. Work off the tile whenever possible. If working off the tile
is not possible, use a kneeling board.
NOTE: The following instructions are guidelines for installation
using ElectraBond / StatBond ESD Adhesive only. Some adhesives may
have different installation requirements; always refer to the
adhesive manufacturers instructions for specific handling
information.
Porous Application:
A. Spread adhesive with a notched trowel (1/16 X 1/32 X 1/32” square
or U notch). Maintain the appropriate notch throughout the
installation. Do not use a larger trowel than recommended or apply
excessive amounts of adhesive, since this can slow drying and cause
bleeding. Do not apply this adhesive by roller or brush.
B. Flooring tile should be placed into the adhesive while wet. It is
customary for the adhesive to be allowed to remain open for
approximately 5 to 10 minutes but is not necessary. Tile should be
rolled, utilizing a 75 – 100 pound, three-section floor roller, as
soon as it is determined that shifting of tile or bleeding of
adhesive will not take place. Roll again 1 hour after installation.
Non-Porous Application:
A. For non-porous applications use a 1/16 X 1/32 X 1/32” square
notch trowel. Correct trowel notching must be maintained throughout
the installation. Do not apply this adhesive by roller or brush.
B. Allow the adhesive to dry to the touch so that there is little or
no transfer of adhesive to the finger. Once the adhesive dries to
the touch, it is ready to accept flooring material. Rolling should
take place immediately after the flooring material has been
positioned into the adhesive.
From the time the adhesive is allowed to dry to the touch to the
time it must be covered is approximately 30 minutes. If adhesive is
allowed to remain uncovered, after initially drying to the touch,
for periods longer than the recommended 30 minutes, a loss in
adhesion will result. Care must be taken by the installer not to
spread more adhesive than can be worked appropriately within the 30
minute time frame. It is extremely important to roll in both
directions, utilizing a 75 to 100 pound three-section floor roller.
NOTE: The adhesive’s bond strength develops and increases over a
period of several days. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether or not the subfloor to be covered is porous.
To determine if a subfloor is porous, place two droplets of water in
each of several areas. If the subfloor is porous, the water will be
absorbed within a few seconds.
Clean-up:
Soapy water followed by Mineral Spirits.
DO NOT APPLY SOLVENT DIRECTLY TO FLOORING MATERIAL.
3. GROUNDING OF United ESD VINYL FLOORING
United ESD ESD Vinyl Tiles are primarily used for eliminating static
electricity and should therefore be grounded so that any absorbed
electricity can be discharged to outside. The method of grounding
can be selected depending on the site conditions and preference of
user. Grounding strips should be laid under the adhesive and
underneath the tile.
A. Building Ground
Connect foil grounding straps to the structural building steel
or AC electrical ground. One strip should be installed for every
1,000 s.f. of flooring.
B. Electrical Ground
Connect foil grounding strap to the electrical ground every
1,000 s.f.
4. QUESTIONS/ASSISTANCE
Call United ESD Customer Service at (719) 331 0656 with any
questions you may have. IMPORTANT — USE SUFFICIENT VENTILATION WHEN
USING ADHESIVE.
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