Installation Instructions

ID_20201110_EN_FIBERFLOOR
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© 2020 Tarkett USA Inc. 11/2020
CONCRETE SUBSTRATES
1. FiberFloor may be installed over properly constructed and prepared on-grade, above-grade or below-grade concrete subfloors.
2. Concrete subfloors must be constructed as recommended by the American Concrete Institute’s ACI 302.2 Guide for Concrete Slabs that Receive
Moisture-Sensitive Flooring Materials.
3. Prepare concrete subfloors according to ASTM F710 Standard Practice for Preparation of Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring. The
surface of the concrete must be dry, clean, smooth, and structurally sound. The slab must be swept, damp mopped and/or vacuumed to remove
any dust. Any surface materials present such as loose paint, wax, grease, oil, adhesive residues, crayon, pen marking, etc., that may prevent a
proper adhesion or migrate to the surface of the flooring causing discoloration, must be removed. Fill and level any cracks, construction joints,
control joints, depressions, grooves or other irregularities with a high quality, non-shrinking, latex-fortified, cementitious patching compound. For
substrates with high moisture content, contact the major patching compounds manufacture for detailed installation instructions.
4. Do not install Tarkett FiberFloor flooring over expansion joints, or other moving joints in the substrate. These joints must be respected and should
not be filled with products that are not intended for that purpose. Contact an expansion joint cover manufacturer to meet specific flooring conditions.
5. Moisture testing of concrete subfloors must be performed in accordance with ASTM F1869 Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor
Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride and ASTM F2170 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity
in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes.
When installing FiberFloor using the FLOATING INSTALLATION SYSTEM, do not install if the values are greater than 8 lbs./1000 ft²/24hrs per
ASTM F1869 or 90 %RH per ASTM 2170.
When installing FiberFloor using the FULL SPREAD-PERMANENT or RELEASABLE APPLICATION refer to the moisture limitations on the Q Bond
One or 959 Vinyl and Plank adhesive pail label. If the tests results exceed the limitations, the installation must not proceed until the problem has
been corrected.
6. Tarkett does not recommend or warrant any particular product or procedure for the remediation of high moisture in concrete substrates. Several
companies manufacture products suitable for moisture remediation. We suggest you refer to the current ASTM F 710 Standard Practice for
Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring and ASTM F 3010 Standard Practice for Two Component Resin Based Membrane-Forming
Moisture Mitigation Systems for Use Under Resilient Flooring Systems.
7. pH testing of concrete subfloors must be performed in accordance with ASTM F710 Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to receive
Resilient Flooring.
When installing FiberFloor using the FLOATING INSTALLATION SYSTEM the concrete surface pH should be between 7 - 9.
When installing FiberFloor using the FULL SPREAD-PERMANENT or RELEASABLE APPLICATION refer to the substrate pH limitations on the Q
Bond One or 959 Vinyl and Plank adhesive pail label.
ADDITIONAL SUBFLOOR GUIDELINES
Many installations over existing floors produce satisfactory results. However, their success is dependent upon the condition of the existing floor covering.
Installing over existing flooring increases the possibility of indentations and telegraphing of the old floor. NOTE: The final decision to cover an existing floor
with new flooring rests with the flooring contractor and/or installer. Tarkett will not accept responsibility for floor failures where the condition, type or improper
preparation of the existing floor is the cause for the failure. When installing FiberFloor over an existing flooring follow the recommended guidelines below.
1. Minimum temperature of the substrate must be 60˚F (15.6 ˚C). Substrate temperature should be a minimum of 5˚F higher than the dew point
temperature.
2. Ceramic, Porcelain and Natural Stone tiles must be smooth, even and well bonded with a grout line depth less than 1/16” (.625). If grout joint
depth exceeds the maximum allowable depth, fill with Portland based patching compound following manufacturer’s guidelines. Installing
FiberFloor over existing Ceramic, Porcelain and Natural Stone tiles is only recommended when using the floating installation method. If a glue-
down installation method is desired contact Tarkett Technical Services.
3. Resilient Vinyl floors must be smooth, even, non-cushioned and well bonded to the substrate.
4. Strip Wood Hard Wood Floors must be smooth, even, flat, with a maximum gap width between boards of 1/16” (.625). Installing FiberFloor
over Strip Wood Floors is only recommended when using the floating installation method. The use of ProSheet Plus3 is recommended. : Follow
the detailed ProSheet Plus 3 installation instructions found at www.tarkettna.com
5. Heated flooring systems must be installed 2’’ below the concrete subfloor and the operating temperature must not exceed 85ºF (29.4ºC). During
installation, lower the radiant heated floor temperature to a minimum 65º F (18.3º C). This temperature should be maintained for at least 24 hours
before, during and 48 hours after completion of the installation. Gradually increase the temperature in increments of 5°F every 24 hours but do
not exceed 85°F (29.4°C).
6. Residual adhesives should be mechanically removed. Do not use chemical adhesive removers or solvents. Always follow RFCI’s
Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floorcoverings. Caution: Some resilient flooring products and adhesives contain
"asbestos fibers" and special handling of this material is required.
7. Gypsum: Refer to ASTM F2419 Standard Practice for Installation of Thick Poured Gypsum Concrete Underlayments and Preparation of the
Surface to Receive Resilient Flooring for guidelines when pouring gypsum underlayments or preparing for use as an underlayment under Tarkett
products. Follow the Gypsum Underlayment manufacturer’s recommendations for proper application and preparation.
WARNING: Do not sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, bead blast or mechanically chip or pulverize existing resilient flooring, backing, lining
felt, or asphaltic “cutback” adhesive. These products may contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica. Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust
is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm.
Unless positively certain that the product is a non-asbestos containing material, you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require
that the material be tested to determine asbestos content.