Guide to the selection of resin flooring

Selecting a floor topping that is not compatible with final use or the physical composition of the floor will lead to premature deterioration of the floor substrate impeding the full utilization of the flooring and as a result incurring extra cost as in labor and repair expenses to reinstate the functionality of the floor.

The following factors should be taken into consideration while selecting the flooring system:

1. The resin system will be classified into three major categories as stated below, based on the intended final use of the resin flooring including the type of traffic and traffic inflow?

• Light duty (LD) light foot traffic, occasional rubber tyred vehicles
• Medium duty (MD) regular foot traffic, frequent forklift truck traffic, occasional hard plastic-wheeled trolleys,
• Heavy-duty (HD) constant forklift truck traffic, hard plastic wheeled trolleys, some impact
• Very heavy duty (VHD) severe heavily loaded traffic and impact

2. Loading Type (dynamic )

The type of vehicular loading including trucks, light commercial vehicles, forklifts, and types of wheels such as rubber wheels or plastic wheels moving on the surface, it is very important to identify the system layers and accommodate the type of load and the wheel material?

3. Chemicals exposure, the type of chemicals intended to be used in the cleaning and disinfection process?

Type of chemicals and concentration presentation is very crucial to identify the system and thickness that can withstand these chemicals in addition to the chemicals base of the cleaning agent?

4. ?The maximum and minimum temperature exposure that the resin system will be exposed to as part of the intended use or as part of routine cleaning.

Most of the resin-based coating systems can’t withstand more the 65 - 70 Co as in dry heat source and special products can take up to 100 Co in steam or wet heat, in case the temperatures exceed the above limits a specialty Novolac resin is recommended (consult Mapei Technical department).

5. Mixing and application temperatures are crucial for the successful application of any resin coating, especially in the summertime in countries where the temperatures are exceeding 30 Co to avoid quick setting and or accelerated chemical reaction within the product itself makes storing of the product and the prevailing climatic condition at the time of mixing a key success factor for any resin application

6. Aesthetics look and color uniformity?

7. UV resistance or Ultraviolet lights

Some of the resin floorings are not UV stable, this could lead to changes in color and rarely in some changes in the final product performance.it is recommended to consult Mapei Technical department to have the right product to fill full the intended use requirements.

8. Quality of the finish?

9. Need to reduce risk of osmosis;

Osmatic blistering can happen due to poor sealing or poor cleaning of the surface leaving the substrate contaminated with water-soluble salts on the surface of the concrete being coated, causing severe blistering of thin synthetic resin floorings, this can take place within a few months of the application. These blisters commonly vary in size.

10. Food industry requirement and compliance with hygiene?

For special applications such as food preparation, food processing, and butcheries to name a few, it is important to ensure that the selected resin complies with food safety and hygiene legislation by implementing and maintaining strong food safety and hygiene procedures such as the international HAPCC (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certificate.?

11. Slip resistance or static controlled characteristics

slip resistance is a must in areas where high liquid/oil spillage and in areas where the rough surfaces are required to increase the friction such as the ramps in the car parks.

12. Life expectancy of the flooring??

Practically everything can last for many years if regularly maintained and cared for properly. The good thing about resin floors is that unlike other floor coverings it’s not easily damaged, even though it requires routine maintenance over time. the lifespan of resin flooring can be extended following good cleaning and maintenance regime.

13. The final thickness of the floor?

The final thickness of the resin flooring is related to the solid content of the product; hence the buildup of 100% solid resin flooring is higher than a solvent-based product however you may achieve the required thickness of a solvent base coating by increasing the number of coats.

14. Time available for the application and curing of the flooring;

scheduling the application is as important as the application.

15. Substrate :

the age and type of the substrate and moisture content within the substrate is very important factor and should be taken into consideration, ignoring any of those factors can result in cracking, blistering, or peeling off due to weak adhesion.?

?The FERFA associated classified the systems as follows:

Mapei has a variety of resin flooring that match the above specification and thickness, Based on the above the designer in coordination with the material manufacturer will select the right products.