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THE CHALLENGE: A busy hospital had over 3,000
sq.ft. of worn vinyl asbestos tile (VAT) on corridors in service areas. These
areas provide pharmacy, laundry and catering services almost around the clock.
Installing safe new flooring had to be compatible with ongoing operations and
had to be completed in a single weekend. Conventional asbestos remediation was
not an option because of its high initial cost and unacceptable disruption to
normal activities.
THE SOLUTION:
TFT BIO-FLOR 182 epoxy coating was chosen for this project. This
product offers advantages of very quick curing, excellent record of
success over VAT and an almost complete lack of odor during application.
BIO-FLOR 182 is a 2/1 mix ratio, solvent-free epoxy supplied in 2-gallon
kits. The formula is completely free of solvents and harmful chemicals such as
chromium and lead.
Surfaces were prepared for coating by hospital janitorial staff using OSHA
approved procedures. After cleaning and rinsing the installation crew repaired
damaged or missing tiles using a polyester putty material then applied masking
tape under doors and at the edge of application areas.
The BIO-FLOR 182 system for this application was custom formulated to
complement recently refinished walls which were previously an old, cream-colored
ceramic tile. Working with the hospital an attractive blend of colored vinyl
chips applied over an “Eggshell” colored base coat was produced. The BIO-FLOR
182 system is custom tintable to achieve almost any desired effect.
Application of the system proceeds in several simple steps:
1) A colored BIO-FLOR 182 Base Coat is applied using squeegee and roller then
allowed to cure for about 4 hours until firm.
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2) An unpigmented Clear Coat is then applied and while still uncured the
colored vinyl chips are spread by “chicken-feeding” then rolled into the Clear
Coat.
3) After the “Chip Coat” has cured for about 4 hours a final thin Glaze Coat
of unpigmented BIO-FLOR 182 is applied. The floor is ready for unrestricted
service after curing for about 12 hours at 77’F.
THE RESULT: The high maintenance, possibly hazardous
and unattractive VAT floor was replaced with an attractive, low maintenance and
safe floor with minimal disruption to ordinary hospital operations in a single
weekend.
For more information regarding this project contact:
Jeff Longmore, Technical Director
Thin Film Technology, Inc.
P.O. Box 580669
Houston TX 77258-0669
(713) 910-6200
FAX: (713) 910-6210
E-mail: jeff@thinfilmtech.net
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