Installation & Cleaning Instructions How to install, cut and finish and

Installation & Cleaning Instructions
How to install, cut and finish and
maintain your ecotile floor.
INTRODUCTION
ecotile can be installed over any hard surface and in most situations will not require gluing. The only situations where we
recommend gluing are where the tiles will be located in direct sunlight (i.e. south facing loading bay) or there will be very
heavy traffic movements combined with tight turning circles. Installation should not take place at temperatures below 15ºC
if at all possible, contact our technical department for advice. The tiles must be allowed to acclimatize for a minimum of 24
hours to the ambient room temperature prior to installation. A 5mm expansion gap must be left between the tiles and any
fixed point (walls and machinery) to allow expansion and contraction of the tiles when changes in temperature occur. If the
area where installation is taking place is likely to experience large fluctuations in temperature it is advised that the tiles are
cut around racking, heavy machinery etc. to allow free movement of the tiles.
PREPARATION:
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Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any loose
impediments
Remove any high points in the floor
Fill any holes with a rapid setting floor repair compound
such as Ardurapid A46 or similar
For uneven surfaces that require smoothing use a
smoothing compound such as Ardex Feather Finish.
CUTTING THE TILES
ecotile can be cut using several methods, a lot will depend on personal preference, experience and the tools you have on
hand but we recommend the following:
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Magnum shear / guillotine – Available to hire from Versatile
Stanley / utility knife with a concave blade – Always use a straight edge and wear cut proof gloves.
Electric jig saw with a medium or rough wood blade
Table saw or Band saw with a medium or rough wood blade
Magnum Guillotine
Electric Jigsaw
Stanley knife with concave blade
ecotile 6, 7 and 10mm interlocking floor tiles:
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Start installation of the tiles from the middle of the
room, working outward towards the sides. This will
ensure even distribution of the weight and surface
tension of the tiles.
Measure to find the centre of the room and lay a
chalk line along both the length and width of the
room to identify your starting point and to ensure
that the tiles are fitted at 90 degrees to each other.
It is very important to lay the first row straight; this
will affect the entire installation.
Using the rubber mallet, tap tiles together, starting
at the corner & working your way out to each edge.
Use a rubber mallet or engineering hammer to join
the tiles.
Work out in a circular pattern from the centre of the
room filling in the corners as you move outwards.
Once all the full tiles have been installed allow the
floor to settle for a few hours before fitting the cut
sections of the tiles up to walls and around fixed
machinery and equipment ensuring that you allow at
least a 5mm expansion gap.
Installation Pattern
Chalk Line to mark
centre of the room .
ecotile esd installation:
Install the ecotile esd tiles using the same method as the standard tiles but to
achieve a fully grounded floor follow the following earthing guidelines. The tiles can
be used by themselves to provide a static dissipative floor or in conjunction with
grounding kits to make the floor conductive. To achieve a conductive floor surface
lay the black Velostat tape underneath tiles at 2m intervals with as per image esd 1.
It is recommended that you have one earthing point per 80 to 100m² of Ecotile ESD
and / or one earthing point for each separate room or section of ESD.
USEFUL HINT: Use double sided tape to stick each end of the tape strip to the floor
to stop it moving. Once you have formed the grid you can start laying the tiles.
Starting from the centre of the room lay the first four tiles in a square ensuring that
the interlocking joints are centred on the Velostat strip (i.e. all 4 tiles are in contact
with the Velostat) Work outwards from the centre being careful to ensure that the
interlocking joints stay in contact with the Velostat conductive strip.
ESD Grounding:
image esd 1
Finishing and Edges: When all full size tiles
are laid it is advisable to wait 24hrs before
cutting the edge sections. This will allow the
tiles to settle and expand fully. Remember to
leave a 5mm expansion gap between the tiles
and any fixed points (walls, machines etc.) To
get the best results when cutting use a table
saw, guillotine or jigsaw. We recommend
finishing the 5 mm expansion gap between the
tiles and the walls with a sit on skirting profile
such as Gradus SO100. Wood doorjambs can
be undercut so the tile can slip underneath.
With metal doorjambs – cut the flooring
material to within 5mm & then caulk around the
jamb. Ramp and corner sections are available
to finish your floor.
Sit on skirting
Ramp and corner sections
Cleaning & General Maintenance: By following these simple instructions you will help ensure that your floor looks
good, maintains its anti-slip performance and you will also help extend its life span.
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Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove dust and dirt as often as is practical.
If available use a rotary scrubber dryer, if not a two compartment (separate clean & dirty water) bucket and mop.
Use clean water and a neutral pH floor cleaner in a weak solution.
Optional
Non- ESD Floors - Apply two to three coats of a hard wearing floor sealer when the floor is new.
ESD / Anti-static Floors - Apply two to three coats of Selstat anti-static floor polish to enhance performance and
durability.
Cleaning Chemicals & Polishes
 Heavy Duty Cleaning, Degreasing & Stripping of polish: A powerful heavy duty cleaning and degreasing concentrate that removes
multiple coats of dirt, oil, grease and finish build-up. Ideal for factories and industrial applications Viper Heavy Duty Floor stripper - Box
of 4 x 4ltrs - £124.00 + VAT
 General Day to Day General Cleaning: Clean the floor with ROTEX a one-step, neutral cleaner designed to quickly remove
embedded soils without any residue. ROTEX requires no rinsing, and leaves a peach fragrance. Ideal for use with auto-scrubbers or
the Biomop system. Code: Rotex Floor Cleaner - Box of 4 x 4ltrs - £59.50 + VAT
 Floor Sealer / Polish: To create a high quality finish and help reduce maintenance of your floor we recommend applying two to three
coats or a good quality floor sealer. DISTANCE is a clear, high gloss, hard, thermacrylic floor finish with superior dirt and black mark
resistance. Coverage 50m² per litre / per coat –Distance Floor Sealer - Box of 4 x 4ltrs - £119.50 + VAT
 ESD / Anti-Static Polish & Cleaner: Retains performance even at humidity as low as 11%. Independently tested to IEC 61340 - 4 – 1
and BS 7506. Improves the conductivity of conductive ESD flooring. Applies, hardens and protects like a normal floor polish. For
cleaning dilute polish 40 parts clean water to 1 part polish and mop or rotary scrubber dry. Coverage 500 sq m with 2 coats (Polish
also used for cleaning) - Selstat Anti-Static Floor Polish- Box of 4 x 5ltrs - £149.50 + VAT
 Dr. Schutz Floor Mate Recommended for removing trainer scuff marks and spot cleaning ecotile. Dr Schutz Floor Mate- 400ml bottle£9.75 per bottle + VAT
Cleaning Equipment
 Rotary Scrubber Dryer - Cleaning the floor with a rotary scrubber dryer is the quickest and simplest method. If possible use a
machine which has twin roller brushes and a powerful vacuum to suck up the dirty water. Investment in a good quality rotary scrubber
dryer will save time, reduce cost by saving on labour and keep your floor looking good and performing well. Equipment
Recommendation Karcher BR 45/40C - £2650.00 + VAT
 Biomop System - Consisting of a mop with a micro fibre mop head and twin compartment bucket. The micro fibre mop head lifts dirt
from the surface of the floor and the two compartment buckets ensure that your clean and dirty water remain separate. This damp
mopping system leaves the floor clean and semi-dry ready for foot traffic. The biomop system is ideal for smaller installations or where
the floor area is difficult to access. Twin Compartment Bucket, Mop head, handle and 5 Microfibre Mop heads - £89.50 + VAT
How to maintain your ecotile floor: Keeping your floor clean and looking good is a simple task but will involve a small investment on your part
in the correct equipment and chemicals and the introduction of a simple but professional cleaning regime. The cleaning regime will be dictated
by the usage that your floor will experience and can be broken down into three categories as follows:
1. Preventive Measures - In entrance areas it is essential to install a large, effective dirt and moisture collection entrance mat which must be
cleaned or replaced at regular intervals. This prevents a large percentage of dirt being carried into the building and diminishes wear and tear
strain on the floor. Chairs fitted with either defective or missing gliders or unsuitable rollers/wheels destroy both the surface protection and the
floor coverings themselves and should be changed or replaced.
2. Initial Clean/Re-sealing the floor - The floor must be thoroughly cleaned prior to applying the sealer in order to remove installation-related
residues and building dirt from newly installed floors, to remove any possible existing care finish and to get rid of residues of care products and
dirt in the case of older floorings. Apply Rotex diluted with water (mix ratio is dependent on the resistance of the dirt residues). After allowing it to
stand for 10-15 minutes, scrub the floor using a floor scrubber/polisher fitted with green pad. Rinse the floor with clean, if possible warm, water
until all traces of dirt and cleaning agents have been completely removed (the mopping water no longer bears any traces of foam!).
3. Surface Protection - To protect the floor, help routine cleaning and prolong the lifespan of the flooring, a protective film of sealer can be
applied immediately after completion of the cleaning. Distance is a long-term sealer, is particularly durable and will help improve the anti-slip
performance of the floor.
3.1 Initial Treatment: After cleaning with a rotary scrubber dryer, apply one to two / three coats of the sealer evenly to the dry floor with a mop if
using the general purpose sealer or a short pile roller (10 mm) if using the heavy duty sealer. Between applications wait for the previous film to
dry and become firm enough to walk on but apply both coats on the same day.
3.2 Repair and Renewal: Depending on the level of use and usage conditions, the sealer film should be checked at regular intervals for signs of
wear and tear and a renewed sealer operation performed if required. For this purpose, after thoroughly removing dirt and other residues apply
sealer to the dry floor. It is possible to carry out repair and renewals of individual warn areas of sealer. Note: Before applying sealer remove the
shine from the floor surface using the floor scrubber and green pad to guarantee an optimum adhesion of the following sealer coat. Freshly
sealed floors can be walked on after 4 hours if the general purpose sealer has been used and 24 hours if the heavy duty sealer has been used.
4. Maintenance of ecotile ESD / Anti-static Floor Tiles - VERY IMPORTANT - We recommend applying two coats of Selstat anti-static floor
sealer to ecotile ESD Floor tiles when first installed to improve and help maintain the conductivity of ESD tiles. Selstat once applied, hardens
and protects the floor and helps maintain an anti-slip finish. Selstat must be applied to a clean grease free floor. Apply a thin even film of Selstat
using a clean lint free mop or applicator. Apply a second coat when the first is dry (approximately 30 minutes). COVERAGE: 60 square metres
per litre.
4.1 Use a dedicated set of cleaning equipment for the ESD floor - Do not use equipment that has been used on other floor types or areas of the
building where it may have come in contact with strong acid or alkaline cleaners. This could damage the ESD performance of your floor.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND USING ROTEX NEUTRAL PH FLOOR CLEANER FOR MAINTAINING ECOTILE ESD FLOORING. USE OF
ANY OTHER PRODUCTS MAY INVALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY.
4.2 Dust Removal: It is essential to prevent a layer of insulative dust building up on the ESD floor which may restrict the ESD performance of the
surface. Remove loose surface dust and dirt by sweeping, vacuum or wiping over the floor with a slightly damp mop.
4.3 Manual or Mechanical Wet Cleaning: To remove dirt adhering to the floor dilute 1:10 Selstat polish with clean water using the wet mopping
method, clean the floor with a suitable mop (e.g. Biomop) or using a cleaning appliance (e.g. rotary scrubber/dryer).
4.4 Intermediate Cleaning: In cases where it is no longer possible to remove dirt adhering to the floor surface by wet mopping, perform an
intermediate cleaning operation with detergent in a dilution with water appropriate to the level of dirt present (e.g. 1.50 to 1:100). Regular
polishing up of the floor after cleaning with floor polisher with a white pad is recommended for optimum maintenance of floor condition and to
facilitate cleaning.
5. Routine Cleaning and Care
5.1 Dust Removal: Loose surface dust and dirt is removed by sweeping, vacuum or wiping over the floor with a slightly damp mop, we
recommend the Unger Biomop system.
5.2 Manual or Mechanical Wet Cleaning: To remove dirt adhering to the floor dilute detergent in a ratio of 1:200 and, using the wet mopping
method, clean the floor with a suitable mop (e.g. Biomop) or using a cleaning appliance (e.g. rotary scrubber/dryer).
5.3 Intermediate Cleaning: In cases where it is no longer possible to remove dirt adhering to the floor surface by wet mopping, perform an
intermediate cleaning operation with detergent in a dilution with water appropriate to the level of dirt present (e.g. 1.50 to 1:100). Regular
polishing up of the floor after cleaning with floor polisher with a white pad is recommended for optimum .
6. Removal of Stains and Rubber Heel Marks - Stubborn stains and rubber heel marks can be removed using undiluted PU-Cleaner together
with a cloth or nonabrasive white pad. Subsequently wipe over the area with clear water. Remove stains immediately if possible since certain
types of stains settle into the flooring as they age and can then only be removed with difficulty or are impossible to remove completely.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING RULES
 Regular & light cleaning is better than infrequent and heavy cleaning
 Do use an entrance mat to remove as much dirt and moisture.
 Do use a neutral PH floor cleaning detergent
 Don’t use an excessive concentration of cleaning detergent, it will leave a sticky residue on the floor making cleaning harder in the
future.
 Do use the correct cleaning equipment, either a two component bucket and mop system or rotary scrubber dryer, it may cost a bit
more up front but will save you a fortune in time and effort in the long run.
 Don’t use excessive amounts of water, this will make your job harder, not easier, damp mopping is the best solution.
 For floors with high levels of pedestrian traffic seal the floor with a hard wearing floor polish, it will help with cleaning and extend the
durability of the finish.