RESINOUS FLOOR AND WALL SYSTEMS
FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Given the varied use of educational facility spaces – from classrooms to kitchens to gymnasiums - the selection of proper floor and wall surfaces is a complex decision involving many environmental considerations. The right system protects your investment, the wrong system could result in costly repairs, damage to the building and its contents, possibly an early replacement, regulatory citation, or disruption to students and faculty. During the presentation, the presenter will discuss the following learning objectives to get a better understanding of resinous floor and wall surfaces for educational facilities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- What factors should be considered in the design criteria
- How to write specifications, project documentation, and qualifications
- How to assess installation conditions
- Implementing proper surface preparation
- Defining system types and their proper environments
WHAT IS RESINOUS FLOORING?
Typically comprised of materials that include polymeric materials such as epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic (MMA), resinous flooring is cast in place. In addition to its many advantages over traditional systems, resinous flooring has the significant benefit of meeting multiple requirements for a wide range of applications.
The three materials commonly used for resinous flooring are epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic (MMA).
Epoxy
A copolymer derived from two or more monomeric species, epoxy is formed from two different chemicals, referred to as the “resin” or “compound” and the “hardener” or “activator.” Epoxy has a wide range of applications the include flooring, fiber-reinforced plastic materials and general purpose adhesives.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane polymers are formed by combining two bi- or higher functional monomers (a molecule that may bind chemically to other molecules to form a polymer). Polyurethanes are used in the manufacture of a wide range of products, from foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels to microcellular foam seals and gaskets and high-performance adhesives.
Acrylic (MMA)
Acrylic resin is a general term for any one of the plastics (resin) generated through chemical reaction by applying polymerization initiator and heat to a monomer. Methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) is a transparent, colorless fluid substance and emits a highly offensive odor during application. Surrounding areas must be properly ventilated and evacuated during installation.
Epoxy | Polyurethane/Aspartic | Polyurethane/Aliphatic | Cementitious Urethane |
---|---|---|---|
12-hour cure | 4-hour cure | 12-hour cure | 8-hour cure |
Slab Temp 60F | Slab Temp 40F | Slab Temp 50F | Slab Temp 40F |
High Strength | High Strength | Moderate Strength | Moderate Strength |
Excellent wear | Excellent wear | Excellent wear | Excellent wear |
Good Chemical Resistance | Excellent Chemical Resistance | Excellent Chemical Resistance | Excellent Chemical Resistance |
Highest sensitivity to moisture | High sensitivity to moisture | Lowest sensitivity to moisture | Lowest sensitivity to moisture |
Only up to 140ºF | Suitable up to 140ºF | Suitable up to 140ºF | Suitable up to 248ºF |
Low UV stability | High UV stability | High UV stability | Low UV stability |
No thermal shock resistance | Moderate thermal shock resistance | Moderate thermal shock resistance | Excellent thermal shock resistance |
Low Odor | Low Odor | Low Odor | Low Odor |
Slow Install time | Fast Install time | Slow install time | Fast install time |
Epoxy Urethane systems are the workhorse in the industrial flooring market. While there are many types of epoxies and urethanes, as a general rule they tend to provide excellent resistance to a wide range of chemicals. They offer protection from impact and traffic wear as well. These systems can be installed at thicknesses ranging from thin mil coatings of 10-15 mils, up to trowel down systems of ¼” and greater.
Describe resin differences and use the chart above to illustrate.
WHY ARE RESINOUS SURFACES IDEAL FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES?
No other type of facility has as many varied space uses with specific environmental requirements:
Administration
Auditoriums
Automotive
Cafeterias
Classrooms
Corridors
Gymnasiums
Music/Arts
LIFE-SPAN
Resinous flooring, when the right system for the intended use is installed properly, can last 20+ years. If the owner want to “refresh” the floor after 5 – 10 year it can be re-topcoated for a fraction of the initial installed cost.
Renewable and sustainable. Can be refinished rather than removed and placed in a landfill
SAFETY & SLIP RESISTANCE
Many resinous flooring systems available meet the International Building Code (IBC) dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) of 0.42.
Safety Aware that cleanability can be associated with a high slippage index (a smoother floor can be more slippery), manufacturers offer resinous flooring systems in different textures.
Slip resistance index (ASTM F-1679, F-2508) is directly related to the smoothness of the floor (the smoother the floor the less slip resistance). Measured in ranges from 0 to > 1. The greater the number the more slip-resistant.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You can't do that. You cant put a broom finish on there and expect to get good results if you have something that's existing we can work with you. But you still need to put up prep on it. But the broom finish you're still going to have that lateness in the concrete. So you're not going to have that really solid substrate to find your material to with a broom finish concrete. But not only that, when you broom finished concrete. Typically it's a less detailed installation than if you're power trialing or trawling concrete where you're getting that impact. And you're moving that material with those aggregates and bringing the cream to the top. So I suggest that any application like that you definitely still want to put up for up on that substrate.
It depends on how much deflection is there. It's difficult just to say without knowing more details on that if you do have a specific environment.
It really just depends on what chemistry is there. If you're talking about an application where these materials are already put down. It just really depends on what they are. I guess the short answer is it just depends to answer a question, but it has to deal with the chemistry of what's down. And what you're putting on top of it and where will they be compatible.
Yes you can do that. I've seen a lot of decorative flake done that way where they do a micro flake but you want to use the resins better are made for that type of an application for a wall application. You don't want to start putting making epoxy binder that's made for the need for a vertical surface on a horizontal surface because you could have slumping happening on that wall. Just because the viscosity of that material is different that we would hang on a wall versus what we would put on a floor. So the answer is yes. But there are specific ways to do that.
I wouldn't rely on them for waterproofing but they are sound deadening. So you're not going to it will absorb a lot of sound, as well as ergonomics.
You know it just depends on if those joints are going to move or not. And if it's an existing slab. If it's been there a while they're typically not going to move anymore. So you can just route those out. So you'll take it a chiseling hammer and route out that that joint. And then pack it with material. And then put the resinous flooring on top of there. And that will be enough to hold that together. But if it's a moving joint you definitely want to saw cut and honor on the joint that's below
Well the code base systems are separate material than the floor that are made specifically for vertical application. So typically on a day you're doing a one inch radius code. Your framing that wall in the floor. And you're pulling that material directly up the wall with a flat trowel. So you're pulling it up the wall to a termination whether it's a strip or maybe it's a CMU block struct joint and you're bringing it physically up the wall and then you're coming back and creating that 1 inch radius with a specially bent trowel and you're pulling that across and closing the material tight.
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