Product category:
Paints, Coatings and Finishes
News Release from: Mapei UK | Subject: Mapeproof ESM
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 January 2007
Mapei and flooring in the commercial
environment
Mapeproof ESM, based on a solvent-free pure epoxy resin, remains totally impermeable to water vapour rising from the concrete slab and allows the application of subsequent flooring products.
In today's competitive commercial environment most forms of construction, whether they are domestic housing, shops, restaurants, centres for commerce or public service buildings like schools and hospitals, all require a minimum construction time and early operational date Several well known restaurants have completed projects in under 48 hours, and this demonstrates how planning and material selection can literally reduce the building programme by weeks or even months
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 24 Jul 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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When it comes to the flooring element of a building, the biggest challenge is to minimise the residual construction moisture and where necessary, isolate it so that it cannot cause undesirable effects on the remaining flooring components.
To put this into context, a typical 200mm thick concrete floor slab will take from 3 months to a year to dry, depending on concrete mix constituents and site conditions.
Add to this the drying time for a 75mm sand cement screed which will take approximately 3 months to dry out, and the problems become clear.
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Unless we are prepared to wait anything up to a year before installing a floor finish, another solution is needed.
Mapei, one of the world's largest construction materials and flooring adhesive manufacturers have developed a range of products to overcome this.
In practice, most concrete slabs can either be isolated or prepared to receive a surface applied, liquid DPM to suppress moisture.
Mapeproof ESM is an ideal material for this, based on a solvent-free pure epoxy resin.
It remains totally impermeable to water vapour rising from the concrete slab and allows the application of subsequent flooring products.
When considering the screed layer, a different approach is required, and the research and development division of Mapei have come up with the answer.
Topcem is a unique product designed specifically for screeds.
The idea is to replace the normal cement with a special hydraulic binder that hydrates very quickly, converting the free moisture into a stable solid matrix, which reduces shrinkage and increases compressive and flexural strengths.
Mapei's Topcem screed can receive ceramic tiles after only 24 hours, regardless of screed thickness, and even moisture sensitive coverings like timber and vinyl can be laid after only 4 days.
As well as fast drying, the compressive and flexural strengths are much higher than traditional sand cement screeds, allowing thinner sections to be used and reducing the risk of cracking.
The setting and workability characteristics remain very similar to normal screeds, allowing traditional placing methods to be used, and where pumps are employed it is possible to cover as much as 500m in a single day.
The practical applications are very wide ranging and include bonded and isolated floors as well as those containing underfloor heating and cooling systems.
Topcem is available throughout the UK from a network of experienced contractors, as well as leading specialist distributors. Request a free brochure from Mapei UK ...
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