Resilient floor coverings are versatile, with possible applications ranging from private homes to gyms, clean rooms and industrial storage areas. They differ in just as many ways in their properties, e.g. in terms of their starting materials and possible slip resistance. Resilient floor coverings are usually laid as sheet or roll goods and firmly glued to the substrate. In contrast to other floor coverings (parquet, tiles), their appearance is not significantly influenced by the joint pattern, but is determined almost exclusively by the colour and structure (homogeneous/heterogeneous) of the surface.
Textile floor coverings, laminate floor coverings and panels for loose installation are sometimes counted as resilient floor coverings, but are not the subject of this bauwion knowledge page.
planning Slip resistance: In many cases, depending on the installation location and use, there are requirements for tested and classified slip resistance for resilient floor coverings. For further information, see Encyclopedia articles ► Slip resistance according to GUV-R 181 and ► Slip resistance in wet-loaded barefoot areas according to GUV-I 8527.
Plinth formation: There are a variety of options for plinth design for resilient floor coverings. In addition to conventional skirting boards made of wood or plastic, which are also used for other types of floor coverings, many resilient floor coverings offer the option of pulling the covering up onto the wall with a cove, in which the covering is supported by a rounded profile placed in the corner. This cove base is used as a design element, but especially when there are increased hygiene requirements, e.g. in medical areas or clean rooms. For the individual possibilities of plinth formation, see Lexikonbeitrag ► Plinth formation for resilient floor coverings.
Suitability for chair castors: The suitability of the elastic floor covering for chair castors, usually of type W according to DIN EN 12529 (castors with elastic tread for hard floor coverings), must be specified by the manufacturer, if necessary.
Suitability for damp rooms: The suitability of the elastic floor covering for damp and wet rooms must also be specified by the manufacturer, if necessary. There are also special products that are recommended by the manufacturer exclusively for the wet-loaded barefoot area or wet room floors with colour-coordinated wall coverings made of the same material, e.g. PVC.
Underfloor heating: In principle, it is quite possible to combine underfloor heating with an elastic floor covering, but the respective product must be expressly approved by the manufacturer for installation on underfloor heating.
Electrostatic behaviour: In certain applications, antistatic floor coverings with a defined electrical conductivity are required, e.g. if a static charge in potentially explosive areas can become a danger to life and health, or if sensitive electronic components can be damaged or destroyed as a result of a static charge. For more details, see Lexicon article ► Dissipative (antistatic) floor coverings.
Fire protection: The fire behaviour of an elastic floor covering must be classified according to DIN EN 13501-1 (formerly: DIN 4102), i.e. after appropriate testing, it must be assigned to one of the fire behaviour classes contained therein. Without further testing, most resilient floor coverings are otherwise classified in accordance with DIN EN 14041 Table 3 under certain conditions (minimum/maximum mass, minimum total thickness) in the fire behaviour class Efl (normally flammable).
Accordingly, not every elastic floor covering is suitable for areas where there are requirements for flame retardancy of the floor covering, e.g. in necessary stairwells.
Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Resilient floor coverings, like all other building products for indoor use, may only release very limited quantities of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are hazardous to health. For more information, see Lexicon article ► VOC emission behaviour of construction products.
Cleanroom suitability: Floors in cleanroom areas must be able to be cleaned in the best possible way and thoroughly. In addition to a smooth, continuous surface, this also requires resistance to cleaning chemicals. PVC floors with appropriate approval for cleanroom areas are particularly suitable for this purpose. Cleanroom suitability is divided into classes according to the American guideline ASTM F51/00, with class A meeting the highest requirement.
An important detail in cleanroom floors is the plinth design. In cleanroom floors, cove plinths are often formed, which merge into the wall in a rounded manner on rising components, thus avoiding the 90° joint between floor and wall, which is difficult to clean.
Decontaminatability: Surfaces that can be contaminated by radioactive substances, e.g. in laboratories or in medical areas, must be able to be decontaminated quickly. For this purpose, DIN 25415 and ISO 8690 contain largely identically described methods with which the decontaminatability of surfaces can be tested under laboratory conditions.
the subsoil: The subsoil must be free of coarse impurities, major unevenness or cracks. The executing company gem. VOB must also report concerns in the event of too damp ground, incorrect altitude or unsuitable temperature of the substrate, an unsuitable indoor climate or a lack of protrusion of the edge insulation strips.
If the flooring is not floating (on a surface approx. 2 mm thick, e.g. made of cork, XPS or PE foam), the substrate must be smoothed with a filler or levelling compound before laying the flooring. If more than 1 mm has to be levelled or filled over the entire surface, which is almost always the case with construction site screeds as a substrate, this is a special service for which the executing company is entitled to a separate remuneration according to VOB C DIN 18365. The service should therefore be included in the tender specifications, as far as can be identified, at the time of the invitation to tender.
Readiness for covering: Laying work on a screed may only begin when it is fully ready for covering. More information on this on the bauwion knowledge page ►400 | Construction site screeds.
Impact formation: As a rule, the joints of elastic floor coverings are welded with a "cord" adapted to the floor material, which does not allow moisture to pass through into the substrate when used as intended.
Movement joints: Movement joints made of layers below the pavement, e.g. from the screed or the shell, must be incorporated into the covering in the same width, see also lexicon article ► Movement joints in floor construction. The joint is then covered either with elastic joint sealant or a corresponding profile.
Cleaning/care: Cleaning and care must be carried out according to the recognised rules of building cleaning, incorrect cleaning measures can lead to hygiene and slippery problems as well as to visual impairment and depreciation of the floor covering. Tailored to the respective product, the manufacturer provides cleaning and care instructions, which must be handed over to the customer in writing gem. VOB C DIN 18365. As a rule, this includes instructions for final construction cleaning, intensive cleaning (basic cleaning), ongoing cleaning (maintenance cleaning) and the appropriate cleaning agents and equipment for this purpose. The effect of chemical substances such as cleaning agents and disinfectants should be tested on a covering pattern or an inconspicuous area of the floor before use, as chemicals of all kinds can cause permanent damage and discoloration in elastic floor coverings.
DIN 18365 VOB Procurement and Contract Regulations for Construction Services - Part C: General Technical Contract Conditions for Construction Services (ATV) - Flooring work
DIN EN 650 Resilient floor coverings - Floor coverings made of polyvinyl chloride with a backing of jute or polyester fleece or on polyester fleece with a backing of polyvinyl chloride - Specification
DIN EN 651 Resilient floor coverings - Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with a foam layer - Specification
DIN EN 652 Resilient floor coverings - Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with a cork-based backing - Specification
DIN EN 655 Resilient floor coverings - Panels on a backing of pressed cork with a polyvinyl chloride wear layer - Specification
DIN EN 686 Resilient floor coverings - Specification for linoleum with and without pattern with foam backing
DIN EN 687 Resilient floor coverings - Specification for linoleum with and without pattern with cork backing
DIN EN 688 Resilient floor coverings - Specification for cork linoleum
DIN EN 1816 Elastic floor coverings - Specification for homogeneous and heterogeneous flat elastomer floor coverings with foam coating
DIN EN 1817 Resilient floor coverings - Specification for homogeneous and heterogeneous flat elastomer floor coverings
DIN EN 12104 Resilient floor coverings - Pressed cork boards - Specification
DIN EN 12199 Resilient floor coverings - Specifications for homogeneous and heterogeneous profiled elastomer floor coverings
DIN EN 12529 Wheels and castors - Furniture castors - Castors for swivel chairs - Requirements
DIN EN 13413 Resilient floor coverings - Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with a fibrous backing - Specifications
DIN EN 13553 Resilient floor coverings - Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings for use in special wet rooms - Specification
DIN EN 13845 Resilient floor coverings - Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with particle-based increased sliding resistance - Specification
DIN EN 14041 Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Main properties
DIN EN 14521 Resilient floor coverings - Specification for flat elastomer floor coverings with or without foam base layer with a decorative layer
DIN EN 16776 Resilient floor coverings - Homogeneous and heterogeneous polyurethane floor coverings - Specification
DIN EN ISO 10581 Resilient floor coverings - Homogeneous polyvinyl chloride floor coverings - Specification
DIN EN ISO 10582 Resilient floor coverings - Heterogeneous polyvinyl chloride floor coverings - Specification
DIN EN ISO 10874 Elastic, textile and laminate floor coverings - Classification
DIN EN ISO 24011 Resilient floor coverings - Specification for linoleum with and without pattern
DIN EN ISO 26986 Resilient Flooring - Foamed Polyvinyl Chloride Flooring - Specification
Source: bauwion
