Document a4KraoY5zKgwR7DJYMgnY98d9

FILE NAME: Flooring (FLR) DATE: 1980 DOC#: FLR007 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Recommended Work Procedures for Resilient Floor Coverings RECOMMENDED WORK PROCEDURES FOR RESILIENT FLOOR COVERINGS CONTENTS Introduction .................................................... Why Asbestos in Resilient Floor Covering.'':' What About Asbestos?..................................... Recommended Work Procedures Preparation of Floors, General Information . Sheet Vinyl Floor C overin g........................... General Information and Preparation . . . . Special Precautions . . .'..............................4 Complete Removal, Unadhered................ Partial Removal, Adhered. ..................... Complete Removal, Adhered . _................. Resilient Tile Floor C overin g......................... General Information..................................... Complete Removal of Existing Resilient Tile Floor Covering.................................. Copyright1980 by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute. Printed in US/A IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INSTALLERS OF RESILIEN FLOOR COVERINGS Introduction The member companies of the RESILIENT 1'I.C COVERING INSTITUTE are manufacturers of the fe i: ing forms of resilient floor coverings which may n some asbestos: 1. Sheet Vinyl 2. Vinyl Asbestos Tile 3. Asphalt Tile W H Y A SBESTO S IN RESILIENT FLOOR COVERINGS? Asbestos fibers have been used in the manufaclur resilient floor covering products for more than 50 y< Asbestos fibers are used to provide durability to tile p ucts. In addition, asbestos fibers in sheet vinyl back permit these products to be installed on all grade le' The presence of "locked-in" asbestos fibers in resi! floor coverings provide the "versatility and economy which they have been noted throughout the years. WHAT ABOUT ASBESTOS? In the past decade much attention has..been focusei the relationship between exposure to asbestos fibers respiratory ailments. It has been determined that ini tion of free airborne asbestos fibers may be injurioi health. However, the asbestos fibers contained in above types of resilient floor coverings are not ree, firmly encapsulated or locked-in the product during manufacturing process. Asbestos contained therein not become airborne during the lifetime of the pro when these products are used and maintained as re< mended by the manufacturer*. *See "Monitoring for Airborne Asbestos Fibers: Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile" "Monitoring frv Airborne Asbestos Fibers: Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering," re prepared by SRI International, 1978-79. (Available on request from the Resi. Floor Covering Institute. 1030 15th Street, NW Suite 350, Washington, 20005). J It is essential that certain precautions be observedj. how ever,' when installing a resilient floor covering or when preparing or removing an existing resilient floor covering. It is the purpose of this Work Procedures Manual to provide those precautionary steps necessary to assure the safest way to accomplish the work involved. Recommended Work Procedures % $ PREPARATION OF FLOORS WITH EXISTING RESILIENT FLOOR COVERNGS TO RECEIVE NEW RESILIENT FLOOR COVERINGS Follow the installation instructions published by the manufacturer of* the new floor covering when a new ,1 resilient sheet or tile floor covering is to be installed on a surface presently covered with a resilient floor covering.! These instructions will tell you what must be done to th4 existing surface before the new resilient floor covering can a be installed. O f the four general procedures listed below, Items 1 and 2 are covered by manufacturers' instructions; Items 3 and 4 are covered specifically in this Work Procedures Manual*; *tsS Resilient Floor Covering Installed O v er. . . . 1. The Existing Surface. Followthe manufacturer's instruc & t io n s for removing wax, filling in low spots, etc. Use wet scrubbing. Never sand an existing resilient floor covering. 2. New Underlayment. Install panels on top of the existing surface (wood subfloors only) and apply new floor covering directly over this. Follow the manufactuer's instructions. 3. Partially Removed Existing Adhered Sheet Vinyl Floor Cover ing. See instructions below under heading Partial I Removal of Existing Adhered Sheet Vinyl Floor l Covering," page 8. 4. Completely Removed Existing Resilient Floor Covering (a) Sheet Vinyl--S ee instructions below: 'In case of minor variations, the manufacturer's instructions should be-followed. >Sr j*. !.. "Complete Removal of an Unadhered (Lo Lay) or Peripherally Adhered Sheet V Floor Covering," page 6. 2. "Complete Removal of an Existing Adhs Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering," page 11, (b) Tile--See instructions under heading "Comp Removal of an Existing Resilient Tile FI Covering," page 14. SHEET VINYL FLOOR COVERIN Preparation of Floors With Existing Sheet Vinyl Covering to Receive a New Resilient Floor Cover! Sheet vinyl floor covering is installed in several w? 1. Unadhered or Loose-Lay. 2. Adhered or Cemented. 3. Peripherally adhered. Some resilient floor covering can be installed over sting resilient sheet vinyl floor covering under cer conditions. Be sure to follow the floor covering manu turer's instructions, regarding the conditions and preparation required. If partial or complete removal of the existing sheet v floor covering is required, the following instructions ar be followed: Supplies and Tools (refer Sketch 1.) 1. Broad, stiff-bladed -wall scraper, or floor scraper. 2. Utility or hook knife. 3. Tank type vacuum cleaner with disposable dust 1 and metal floor tool (no brush). 4. Large size heavy duty impermeable trash bags closed impermeable containers) with ties, tapes, string to tie shut, and tags for labeling. 5. Hand sprayer or sprinkling can. 6. Liquid dishwashing detergent or liquid wallpa: remover mixed with water to make a dilute solut (1 oz. liquid in one gallon of water). sSgSSg Special Precautions Sketch 3. Never dry erupt d h tm l am is o f floor covering. Sketch 2. Never dry sweep. If unavoidable, use water or other suppressants. Sketch 4. Never sand m existing floor covering; nor sand or dry scrape re felt. ' Special Precautions (Continued) c. Clean the exposed floor with a vacuum cle positioned so that exhaust air does not blow the unclean area (see Sketch 7). DO NOT 1 SWEEP. IF UNAVOIDABLE, USE WATER OTHER DUST SUPPRESSANTS. d. Repeat the above, cutting, removing, rol disposing of one strip at a time and cleaning newly exposed area immediately until the w floor covering has been removed and the v' floor vacuumed clean. Complete Removal of an Unadhered (Loose-Lay) or Peripherally Adhered Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering. a. Remove any binding strips or other restrictive moldings from doorways, walls, etc. b. Cut a strip the length of the floor and about 18" wide along one wall. Remove this strip, gently turn it over and roll face out into a tight roll (see Sketch 6). Tie or tape securely so it will not unroll. Place it in a heavy duty impermeable trash bag, or closed impermeable container big enough to ac comodate several rolls, for disposition. Sketch 7. Position vacuum so that exhaust air does not blow over unclean e. If seams or door openings have been adhered \ double faced tape, remove the tape and plac the heavy duty impermeable trash bag or clc impermeable container. f. If any floor covering areas have been adhe with adhesive and remain stuck to the floor, t should be removed by the wet scraping met explained on page 10. DO N O T DRY SCR/ OR SAND. g. Carefully remove the dust bag from the cles and place it in the trash bag. h. Close and seal the trash bags tightly for disp' (see Sketch 8). Identify contents with a label : ing--"Caution--Contains Asbestos-- Dispose an approved land fill only." 1 i. Install the new resilient floor covering according to the manufacturer's instructions. Partial Removal of Existing Adhered Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering. Most felt backed sheet floor coverings can be separated in the backing or felt layer. The felt left on the floor presents a smooth surface on which some new sheet floor coverings can be installed directly. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Use the following procedure to partially remove the existing adhered floor covering. Reminder: Never Sand an Existing FJoor Covering a. Remove any binding strips or other restrictive moldings from doorways walls, etc. b. Make a series of parallel cuts 4 to 8 inches apart through the top layers and about halfway through the backing, parallel to the wall. c. Start at the end of the room farthest from the en trance door and pry up the corner of a strip, separating the backing layer. Pull the top layer back upon itself slowly and evenly at the angle that per mits the best separation, and half the backing and the top layers will pull free (see Sketch 9). After it is re moved, roll up the strip face out into a tight roll. Tie or tape securely (see Sketch 10) and place in the heavy duty impermeable trash bag or closed im permeable container for disposal. Sketch 9. SipunitiNg lop layer from backing. d. Each succeeding strip should be removed ir above manner. Avoid walking on the expos \ f much as possible. Roll up each strip as it is r?m and place it in the trash bag or closed cc: it; Close full bags tightly and seal securely for clisj Identify with a label stating "Caution--cor asbestos. Dispose in an approved land fill only e. Occasionally, parts of the top layers will stick t backing. This can often be eliminated by pe from the opposite direction. The stiff-bladed sc will help in stubborn areas. f. Any high spots of felt.on the floor can be levelli wet scraping. ! i Reminder: Never Sand or Dry Scrape Residual Felt W et scraping is done as follows: 1. Pour the detergent solution into the sprayer or sprinkling can. 2. Thoroughly wet the high felt spot with this solu tion. Wait a few minutes to allow the solution to soak into the felt (see Sketch 11 below). exposed during scraping, re-wet with more solu tion. Sketch 12. A fltr wilting fell, use shff-bluded scraper lo remoue. 4. Pick up the larger pieces by hand and place trash bag immediately. g. Non-adhered felt left on the floor can be cut and re-adhered to the floor with adhesive. h. If small areas of backing pull free from the floo depression should be filled with latex patching pound, as recommended by the floor cov manufacturer. i. Clean the floor with the vacuum cleaner usin metal floor tool. DO NO T DRY SWEEP WH BROOM. Position the vacuum cleaner so discharge air does not blow on the felt. C remove the dust bag from the cleaner imrncd: and place in a heavy duty impermeable trash b closed impermeable container. j. Close and seal trash bags tightly for disposal. Idc contents with a label: "Caution--contains ash Dispose in an approved land fill only." k. Do not walk over the felt unnecessarily, as this i scuff the felt and raise dust. l. Install the new resilient floor covering imr. .h following the manufacturer's instructions. Complete Removal of an Existing Adhered Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering. If complete removal is required, follow these in tions: Reminder: Never Sand an Existing Floor Cover a. Remove any binding strips or-.other restr: moldings from doorways, walls, etc. b. Make a series of parallel cuts 4 to 8 inches apar almost through the backing, parallel to a wall. c. Start at the end of the room farthest from th trance door, and pry up the corner of the first separating the backing layer. Pull the top layer upon itself slowly and evenly at an angle thal mits the best separation and most of the backin; top layers will pull free (see Sketch 9). Removi strip, gently turn it over and roll face out into a roll. Tie or tape securely (see Sketch 10) and ph a heavy duty impermeable trash bag or close: permeable container for disposal. SIMAS' la a ss -^3%5;* JC*i:;-- d. Repeat the above on the next two strips but do not remove anymore than a total of three strips at this time. e. Remove the felt remaining on the floor in the stripped area by wet araping. Reminder: Never Sand or Dry Scrape Residual Felt Wet scraping is done as follows: 1. Pour the detergent solution into the sprayer or sprinkling can. 2. Thoroughly wet the residual felt with this solu tion. Wait a few minutes to allow the solution to soak into the felt (see Sketch 11). 3. Stand on the remaining floor covering (not the felt) and use the stiff-bladed scraper to scrape up the wet felt (see Sketch 13 below). rS lP^ Hi f % Ess 4. Repeat the above on the next series of strips, only one three-strip area at a time. Stand on th maining floor covering or clean floor (do stand on the felt) to scrape up the felt. 5. Repeat this operation until the felt has l removed from the whole floor. Close full tightly, and seal securely for disposal. Idei with a label stating "Caution--Contains Asbe Dispose in an approved land fill only." f. When the whole floor has been cleaned free of let it dry and vacuum up any dirt using the vac cleaner with the metal floor tool. Reminder: Do Not Dry Sweep. Position the vacuum cleaner so that the discharg does not blow on the floor being cleaned. g. Carefully remove the dust bag from the cleaner place in a. heavy duty, impermeable trash ba closed impermeable container for later disposal h. When the floor is dry, it is ready to have a resilient floor covering installed. Follow the covering manufacturer's instructions. Sketch 13. Shintl d>i fhe rnmnnui^ floor removal not the teit. i/wrnj: fell Reminder: D o Not Scrape Dry Felt Re-wet the felt if it 'dries out or if dry felt is ex posed during scraping. Pick up the scrapings as they are removed from the floor and place in a heavy duty impermeable trash bag or closed im permeable container. Scrape all felt from this floor area before proceeding further. RESILIENT TILE FLOOR COVERINi Preparation of Floors W ith Existing Resiiien Tiles to Receive New Resilient Floor Coverin Some resilient floor coverings can be installed ov isting resilient tile installations. Follow the installai structions published by the manufacturer of the new covering when a new resilient floor covering is to stalled on a surface presently covered with a resiiien covering. These instructions will tell you what mi done to the existing surface before the new resiiien: covering can be installed. Caution: Never Sand an Existing Tile Installatio (see Sketch 4). Complete Removal of Existing . Resilient Tile Floor Covering. Supplies and Tools (refer Sketch 14) 1. Heavy duty wall scraper with approximately 4" blade and 6" to 8" handle. 2. Hammer 3. Commercial type hand held hot air blower. 4. Heavy duty impermeable trash bags (or closed im permeable containers), ties and labels. Sketch 15. Wedge the scraper in the seam o f two adjoining tiles and -rndi-u tile upward. Sketch 14. Tools and supplies for tile removal. a. Those areas normally exposed to heavy foot traf fic patterns usually have tiles adhered the tightest. As a matter of good practice in starting the tile removal, those sections which receive least traffic should be the locations selected for starting the removal of the tile. Since tiles are normally in a 9" X 9" or 12" X 12" dimension, it should be the goal to remove individual tiles as a complete unit. b. Start the removal by carefully wedging the wall scraper in the seam of two adjoining tiles and gradually forcing the edge of one of the tiles up and away from the floor (see Sketch 15). Do not break off pieces of the tile but continue to force the balance of the tile up by working the scraper beneath the tile and exerting both a forward pressure and a twisting action on the blade to pro mote release of the tile from the adhesive and the floor. c. When the first tile is removed place it, wil breaking it into smaller pieces, in the heavy impermeable trash bag or closed imperm> container which will be used for disposal. d. With the removal of the first tile accessibili other tiles is improved. Force the wall sc: under the exposed edge of another tile and tinue to exert a prying twisting force tc scraper as it is moved under the tile until th releases from the floor. Again, dispose of th< and succeeding tiles by placing in the heavy bag or closed container without additional b ing. e. Some tiles will release quite easily while othe quire varying degrees of force. Where adhesive is spread heavily or is quite hard, 1 prove easier ta fo r c e the scraper througi tightly adherea areas-by striking the scraper die with a hammer usmg blows of moderate while maintaining the scraper at a 25 * to angle to the floor (see Sketch 16), Sketch 16. Difficult tilt rtmoval can often be accomplished bp striking the scraper k :ndle with a hammer or mallet as shown. f. If some areas are encountered where even the technique detailed in the previous paragraph proves to be inadequate, the removal procedure can be simplified by throughly heating the tile(s) with a hot air blower until the heat penetrates through the tile and softens the adhesive. NOTE: Handle the hot air blower carefully to avoid per sonal burns (see Sketch 17 below). g. As small areas of subfloor are cleared of til adhesive remaining on the floor must be sc: up with the 4" hand scraper until only a smooth film remains. In those areas v deposits are heavy or difficult to scrap removal can be expedited by heatipg with th air blower prior to scraping. Deposit scrapir a heavy duty impermeable trash bag or close permeable container. h. As indicated in previous paragraphs, tile:: si be placed immediately in a heavy duty permeable trash bag or closed impermeable tainer. Do not attempt to break tiles after the in the bag. i. When all tiles have been removed from the and placed in heavy duty bags or closed tainers, seal the bags securely for dispose Sketch 18 below) and mark: "Caution--Cor Asbestos--Dispose in an approved land fill c Sketch 17. In very difficult areas, using a hot air blower can simplify tile removal. Sketch 18. Seal trash bags securely for disposal. WARNING Do N ot Sand Existing Resilient Flooring, Backing, Or Lining Felt. These Products May Contain Asbestos Fibers That Are Not Readily Identifiable. Sanding Of Asbestos Containing Material Can Place Fine Par ticles Of Asbestos In The Air. These Asbestos Particles If Inhaled May Cause Serious Bodily Harm. MANUFACTURER MEMBERS RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING INSTITUT AMTICO FLOORING DIVISION AMERICAN BILTRITE, INC. LAWRENCEVILLE, N] 08648 AZROCK FLOOR PRODUCTS DIVISION UVALDE ROCK ASPHALT COMPANY SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233 CONGOLEUM CORPORATION RESILIENT FLOORING DIVISION KEARNY, N] 07032 FLINTKOTE COMPANY, THE FLOORING DIVISION DALLAS, TX 75221 GAF CORPORATION CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP NEW YORK, NY 10020 KENTILE FLOORS, INC. BROOKLYN, NY 11215 MANNINGTON MILLS, INC. SALEM, N] 08079 NATIONAL FLOOR PRODUCTS CO., INC. FLORENCE, AL 35630