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ESD flooring, ESD Tile Installation

SELECT ESD TILE flooring MATERIALS

  Remember an esd floor is NOT installed like a standard floor material: At United ESD we "do" esd flooring installs.  Any esd flooring material, thousands of successful installs, great references PLUS certification to the latest EOS ESD guidelines.

Installation: ElectraTile and UltraStatic Control ESD Tile is installed using installation techniques similar to standard flooring but with many important differences that can affect the ESD Conductivity.  Follow and utilize the installer summary list at the bottom of this page prior to proceeding with the install.  This material is supplied in cartons containing 14 each 24 x 24 tiles (56.07 sq/ft per carton), cartons containing 45 ea 12" x 12", or bulk pack 24" x 24" stacked.  Each tile is .080 thick

Important differences:  ElectraTile and UltraStatic Control ESD Tile is designed to work in conjunction with a highly conductive water based permanent liquid adhesive or one of  our two conductive releasable adhesives only. When using one of our releasable conductive adhesives please contact us for specific installation instructions.

 Proper grounding of the adhesives and the subsequent installed ESD flooring material is relevant to the excellent performance of any ESD Tile.  See ESD Floor Grounding for further information.

Application of 160 water based conductive acrylic adhesive: For permanent installations using our 160 conductive liquid adhesive and a 1/16" square notch trowel blade.  Only spread as much adhesive as you can install tile into while wet.  This material tends to set up relatively fast.  Proper transfer is essential in providing consistent conductive properties and bond strength.  However, do not over apply! Excess adhesive tends to seep from between seems when rolling making cleanup difficult and time consuming.  Clean any excess adhesive while wet for best results.  This adhesive is water based so have a wet rag handy if you tend to be messy! Note: this adhesive is designed for use on concrete with vapor emissions falling below 5 lbs / 1000 sf / 24 hour period.

Application of StatBond water based conductive acrylic adhesive: For permanent installations using our StatBond conductive liquid adhesive and a 1/16" square notch trowel blade.  Only spread as much adhesive as you can install tile into while wet.  This material tends to set up relatively fast.  Proper transfer is essential in providing consistent conductive properties and bond strength.  However, do not over apply! Excess adhesive tends to seep from between seems when rolling making cleanup difficult and time consuming.  Clean any excess adhesive while wet for best results.  This adhesive is water based so have a wet rag handy if you tend to be messy! Note: this adhesive is designed for use on concrete with vapor emissions falling below 3 lbs / 1000 sf / 24 hour period.

Laying:   It's customary to snap  chalk lines and start from the center of the room.   However, in corridors and small spaces it may be simpler to work lengthwise from one end using a center line snapped as a guide. Begin laying tile at the center point of your chalked lines making sure that the tile is laid as close as possible along the chalk line.   Remember, if the first few tiles are not installed correctly it will adversely effect the entire installation. On porous substrates, lay tiles into wet adhesive, allow to set up for a few minutes than roll with a 100 pound conventional roller.  On non-porous substrates allow adhesive to "flash" slightly prior to laying.   Do not let it dry!  Roll with recommended roller.  Clean any excess adhesive from tiles immediately. Since it takes time to scribe and cut the boarder tiles it's advisable to spread the adhesive only where full tiles will be installed.  After the field is complete, cut the boarder tiles in, then spread adhesive and lay making sure the tiles are all installed in the same direction as the previous field.  Bubbles or voids must not be allowed. This adhesive will dry slowly beneath the tiles, gaining bond strength as it dries.  As such, re-rolling and weighting tile "bubbles" will be effective in eliminating voids for a period of up to 48 hours (approximately) after initial spreading / laying.

Note for fast track construction: New slabs cure very slowly and will generally require a minimum of at least 90 days (4" slab over vapor barrier).  Many slabs (depending on environmental conditions and water of convenience used in mixture) will take MUCH longer to cure to the recommended moisture emission level required prior to installation of your new ESD flooring.  The curing times of the slab can be greatly hastened via the addition of the new "super plasticizers to concrete mixture.  These plasticizers don't change slump or quality yet typically provide a 50% increase in curing time allowing installation or your ESD flooring in as little as 45 days.

Grounding:  See ESD Floor Grounding for full details and diagrams. It's the flooring installers responsibility to discuss the placement and implementation of grounding with the end user of this product.  This will aid in avoiding any controversies once the job is started!

Flash Coving:  ElectraTile and UltraStatic Control ESD Tile can be easily flash coved or heat welded using standard coving and welding techniques.

Testing:  Certification of conductivity for this flooring  is generally  accomplished per EOS  / ESD 7.1 or your particular end user test requirements.  This testing is generally administered by United ESD or End User.  Contact United ESD for further specifics.  See Certification for further details

INSTALLERS CHECK LIST SUMMARY

• Conduct Calcium Chloride moisture test, insure that the results do not exceed 5.0 lbs per 1000 square feet in a 24 hour period (water based 1 part acrylic conductive adhesive).  Test for pH levels insure that the pH of concrete substrate does not exceed 9.

• Perform bond strength test using standard installation parameters.

• Permanent HVAC system must be turned on and set to a minimum of 68^o F for a minimum of 72 hours prior to, during and after installation.  With  maximum environmental temperature not to exceed 98^o F.

• Acclimatize  material to installation area for a minimum of 24 hours prior to installation.

• Use only United ESD approved conductive adhesive. 

• Use 1/16 square notch trowel blade only.

• Inspect material visually prior to installation!  Any material installed with visual defects will not be considered legitimate claim as it pertains to labor cost.  Make sure that the tiles are all from the same batch numbers as indicated on the cartons.

• Install the tiles in the same direction as indicated by the arrows on the tile backing.

• Do not allow heavy equipment on the newly installed floor for a minimum period of 72 hours.  Normal foot traffic may be allowed after a period of 24 hours in most environments. 

Maintenance / Post Install Cleanup:   Post install cleaning can be accomplished with standard rotary buffing equipment, semi abrasive pad  and water.  HOWEVER  water nor buffing should not be utilized for a period of 72 hours after installing floor.  Maintenance is dependant on the nature and intensity of traffic and the specific requirements of the end user. To keep cost low, without compromising standards of hygiene and cleanliness, United ESD recommends that a maintenance regime be specifically tailored to your needs. Polishes or floor finishes that inhibit the floors electrical performance must not be used. Remove abrasives by sweeping on a regular basis. Damp mop with warm water and approved United ESD Cleaning solution as needed.