Access Flooring Adhesives
Raised Access Flooring
A raised access floor (also raised flooring, platform flooring, or raised access computer floor) is an internal floor that consists of strong floor tiles (usually about 600mmx600mm) laid on top of metal pedestals. This creates a void between the base floor and the panels which is used for underfloor wiring, pipes or to create an area which can be tanked to hold water and protect any floors underneath the installation. Typical areas of installation include new or refurbished offices, schools and modern domestic properties.
Pedestal adhesives or access flooring adhesives are used to stick the pedestals that support the panels to a substrate which is usually concrete. There are two kinds of commonly used pedestal adhesive and these are called ‘single component’ and ‘two part’ adhesives.
Access Flooring Pedestal Adhesives
For many years the only adhesives used was a two part epoxy adhesive however in 1997 Star Uretech developed the UK's first single component adhesive. This was a giant leap forward in performance, ease of use and product safety. Unlike the two part adhesives our single component adhesive required no mixing, reduced waste and improved the performance dramatically.
Star Uretech have continued to lead the market through technical innovation and customer service and whilst many cheap imitations have attempted to replicate our unique formulations, Star Uretech continues to provide the best and safest adhesives available. Our adhesives are now used by the top three UK construction companies and we continue to lead the way in the access flooring adhesives market.
All of the StarFix single component pedestal adhesives are tested to (and pass) the following standards:
● French VOC Regulation - Regulation of March and April 2011 (DEVL1101903D and DEVL1104875A)
● French CMR components - Regulation of March and April 2011 (DEVL1101903D and DEVL1104875A)
● AgBB/ABG - Anforderungen an bauliche Anlagen bezüglich des Gesundheitsschutzes (ABG), Entwurf 31.08.2017
● Belgian Regulation - Royal decree of May 2015 (C-2014/24239)
● EMICODE - November 2015
● Indoor Air Comfort® - Indoor Air Comfort 6.0 of February 2017
● Indoor Air Comfort GOLD® - Indoor Air Comfort GOLD 6.0 of February 2017
● Blue Angel (RAL UZ 113) - RAL UZ 113 for “Low-Emission Floor Covering Adhesives and other Installation Materials” (Version June 2011)
● BREEAM International - GN22: BREEAM Recognised Schemes for VOC Emissions from Building Products
● LEED v4 (outside US) - LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction (April 2015)
● BREEAM® NOR - BREEAM-NOR New Construction 2016
Performance
The standard and specification to which all UK raised access floors are measured is called ‘MOB PF2 PS/SPU’ and this was originally created by the Property Services Agency. The document covers both the products used in access flooring and the installation.
The National Building Specification, NBS K41 covers the design, supply and installation of raised flooring; it cross references to the PSA specification & BS EN 12825 with regard to product performance. This document is widely used throughout the UK.
The original creators of the document (the PSA) no longer exist and the copyright of the standard now resides with the Access Flooring Association. Star Uretech have taken the time to refresh the document (make it easier to read) and it can be downloaded using the link below.
● 2021 Update - Platform Floors (Raised Access Floors) MOB PF2/SPU
The structural grades of a raised access floor are identified by means of a colour coded marking system:
● LIGHT GRADE – GREEN ●
● MEDIUM GRADE - YELLOW ●
● HEAVY GRADE – RED ●
● EXTRA HEAVY GRADE – BLUE ●
There are two performance and tests associated specifically with the pedestal adhesive and these are called the ‘T15 Horizontal load test’ and the ‘T42 Pedestal fixing test’ (commonly referred to as the swing bag test).
Test P4.06 – T42.00 PEDESTAL STRUCTURE AND FIXINGS (Swing bag)
The dynamic impact test shall be carried out on site by the supplier and witnessed by the nominated officer of the Authority, on a random sample of installed free standing pedestals and on a single free-standing pedestal as may be required by clause P4.06.
The test shall be carried out as follows:
A soft body comprising a canvas/leather bag 150mm dia. x 250mm containing dry sand and weighing 3 kg shall be arranged to swing through an arc of 90 degrees at a radius of 1 metre to strike the head of the selected pedestal. See Figure 35. When subjected to this dynamic force, the pedestal structure shall not fail and the pedestal shall remain firmly fixed to the sub floor. The test shall not be commenced until at least 48 hours have elapsed from the time that adhesives, used to install the pedestals, were first applied.
Test P4.07 – T15.00 PEDESTAL STRENGTH - HORIZONTAL LOAD
Pedestals for full access systems and pedestals for partial access systems which are not permanently fixed to the underside of panels, when free standing and fixed to a suitable rigid substrate by means of the method proposed by the Supplier shall not be permanently deformed by more than 1mm per 100mm in height or 1mm if the pedestal is less than 100mm high when subjected to a steady horizontal moment of 90 Nm within the range of applied loads from 9 kg minimum for pedestal heights of 1 metre and above and 50 kg maximum for pedestal heights below 185mm, applied to the uppermost part for five minutes. Pedestals shall not become detached from the rigid substrate due to failure of the fixing method whilst being subjected to the foregoing load. Pedestals are required to sustain the following vertical loads over an area of 50 mm x 50 mm for a period of five minutes without collapse:
a. 4 times the particular static concentrated load applied through the panels at the centre of the head.
b. 3 times the particular static concentrated load applied through a panel over one quadrant of the head.
NOTE: The requirement b. is applicable to Full Access systems and pedestals supporting access panels in Partial Access systems only.
Free movement in an unloaded pedestal at the maximum and minimum adjustment positions shall not exceed 1mm per 100mm height. The free movement shall be induced by the application of a horizontal force of 5N. The adjusting device on the pedestal shall be positively locked and shall not become loose due to vibration or other causes during the life of the system. It shall be possible to release the locking by means of a tool should readjustment become necessary.
