Specifications

STANDARD SPECIFICATION - BUILDINGS
DPI REFERENCE TEXT - APRIL 2009
PAGE 29
FLOOR COVERINGS
15. FLOOR COVERINGS
15.1 GENERAL
Cross reference
Refer to the Painting section for nishing of sanded
timber oors.
Approved Fixers
Have the oor coverings and accessories installed
by experienced xers approved by the oor covering
supplier.
15.2 INSPECTION
Notice - Witness Point
Witness Point: Give sufcient notice so that
inspection may be made of the prepared substrate
or underlay.
15.3 MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS
Hardboard underlay
Standard: To AS/NZS 1859.4, standard hardboard
Type RD, manufactured as ooring underlay.
Thickness: 5.5 mm.
Carpet underlay
Needled underfelt: Provide a felt composed of
60% animal bre and 40% jute, reinforced with
polypropylene scrim with a minimum mass of 50 g/
m
2
, or hessian fabric with a minimum mass of 150 g/
m
2
.
Synthetic Foam underlay: Provide a high density
synthetic latex at cushion foam sandwiched
between reinforced carrier fabric.
Rubber underlay: Provide a heavy-duty natural
rubber, wafe pattern, with a backing of reinforcing
fabric, either hessian, spun nylon, or polyester.
Hot-melt adhesive tape
Provide a glass bre and cotton thermoplastic
adhesive coated tape 60 mm wide on a 90 mm
wide metal foil base and backed with silicon-coated
release paper.
15.4 SUBSTRATE
Substrate preparation
Prepare the substrate including the following:
• Stripping and cleaning: Remove deleterious and
loose material, including existing oor coverings
and any surface treatment which could adversely
affect adhesion.
• Repairs: Make good to the surface nish as
necessary. Fill depressions with a suitable
ller, and remove high spots and projections.
If necessary lay a steel-trowelled underlay to
concrete substrate.
• Fixtures and ttings: Remove door stops and
other xtures, and rex in position undamaged
on completion of the installation.
• Basic sanding: Produce an even plane sanded
surface on strip ooring to be covered with
carpet or resilient sheet or tile. Lightly sand the
junctions of sheet ooring.
Moisture Content
General: Do not commence the installation of
ooring unless the moisture content of the concrete
substrate has been tested to AS/NZS 2455.1,
Appendix B and values obtained as follows:
• < 5.5% when tested by the electrical resistance
test
• < 70% when tested by the hygrometer test.
If necessary provide articial means for drying out
the substrate before installation.
15.5 LAYING CARPET
Standard: To AS/NZS 2455.1.
Setting out
General: Lay the carpet in continuous lengths
without cross joins in the body of the area. Make
unavoidable cross joins at doorways under the
closed door.
Joints in underlay: Ensure joints in underlay do not
coincide with carpet joints. Do not carry underlay
over carpet grippers or edge strips.
Seaming methods
Woven carpet: Machine or hand sew.
Tufted carpet: Provide hot-melt adhesive tapes.
Fixing
Gripper strip: Provide preformed gripper strip
and tackless edge strip. Space xings at 150 mm
maximum centres.
Permanent stick method: Immediately after laying,
and again one hour later, roll the carpet from the
centre diagonally towards each edge using a
65 kg multi-wheeled roller. Do not roll foam-backed
carpet.
Edge strip
Provide a proprietary aluminium edge strip with
a PVC insert at exposed edges of the carpet. If
edge strips occur at doorways, make the junction
underneath the closed door.
Proprietary Item: Roberts multi-purpose aluminium
trim section.
Clearance
Doors: Trim doors as required to clear the nished
carpet by 3 mm and reseal the underside.
15.6 LAYING RESILIENT FINISHES
Standard: To AS 1884.
Sheet set out
Set out sheets to give the minimum number of joints.
Run sheet joints parallel with the long sides of oor
areas.
Tile set out
Set out tiles from the centre of the area. Match
Specifications March 2009.indd 29 11/03/2009 11:47:12 AM