The First Facility Management Blog

The France-based designer and manufacturer of vinyl resilient floor coverings has relocated its U.S. operations from Atlanta to Georgia, effective today, October 1. The relocation to the former Architectural Flooring Systems (AFS) headquarters, which Gerflor acquired in early June, includes Gerflor’s Sports and Commercial flooring divisions. The company states that its move to Chicago represents its continued growth in the U.S. commercial vinyl flooring market.

“Gerflor’s recent acquisition of AFS immediately increases our internal sales support operations, which is a vital component in our organizational expansion plans,” said Alan Fennell, president of Gerflor Commercial Flooring previously. “Our offices will officially close in Atlanta at the end of September, although business is already up and running in the new Chicago office.”

The company’s customer service phone number (877-437-3567) remains the same.

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) now has a new floor area measurement standard. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) recently approved and published “E1836-08: Building Floor Area Measurements for Facility Management,” a standard that provides a definitive procedure for facility managers to use when measuring and classifying floor area in buildings. 

The standard provides a simple, step by step procedure to measure floor area that makes it easier and faster to determine how much floor area is available for space planning. It includes measurement rules for floor areas in text form and an easy to read matrix. ASTM-E1836-08 should be used in tandem with “E2619-08: Measuring and Calculating Building Loss Features that Take up Floor Area in Buildings,” which allows users to determine the amount of floor area that is rendered unusable for occupants or core business functions by specific physical elements of the building. 

Essential for allocating and charging back space, IFMA’s new standard can be applied to space planning, strategic facility planning, and specifying occupant requirements. It enables owner-occupiers and tenants to perform space planning activities and charge back business units for the amount of space they occupy.

This new standard provides a common measurement to allow collaboration between The Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA) and IFMA standards, eliminating the overlap of terms between the two organizations.

“This standard is positioned well for the future. It is the first time two standards have been put in alignment,” said Lynne Blair, president of LY Blair & Associates and chair of the IFMA Standards Committee. “Using this standard, we can share data more easily than ever before. The new standard allows for the reduction of costs by facility managers and building owners and helps transfer data between departments in an organization, which had previously been a stumbling block.”

Shaw Hospitality Group is teaming with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York to find unique hospitality carpet designs from some of the school’s brightest, up and coming design students. The winners of the inaugural “The Language of Design Challenge” will be awarded cash prizes, as well as the opportunity to have their winning carpet design displayed at hospitality industry trade shows.

“At Shaw Hospitality Group we focus on an ongoing infusion of fresh, creative thinking and unique perspectives in flooring design,” said Desiree Worsley, Shaw Hospitality Group vice president of marketing. “This design contest with such a well respected school is a unique opportunity to discover talented new artists and to raise awareness of the potential careers in pattern design for the floor covering industry.”

The students were given six 2009 color forecasts from LA Colors From Amsterdam and asked to design a signature rug, three broadloom designs, and an optional border design, based on one of these color pallets. The designs must be original works suitable for the hospitality market for public spaces, such as ballrooms, guest corridors, and meeting rooms. Students are also required to complete a brief design concept explaining their inspiration for their submission.

Competition judges include: Hospitality Design Magazine editor-in-chief Michael Adams; Catherine Stein of The Color Council; Teresa Viserious, principal of Viserious Design; Thom Filicia, renowned interior designer and design expert on the hit television show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy; and Deborah Hernandez, adjunct professor at FIT.

The competition, which began in April, allows students to research trade shows, hotels, Web sites, and retail stores throughout the spring and summer to spot design and color trends. Entries will be submitted and judged in December. Judging will be based on creativity, color, pattern, and scale related to floor covering in the hospitality industry.

Gerflor, a global leader in the design and manufacture of vinyl resilient floor coverings, recently announced its Sample Reuse Program exclusively through its website at www.gerflor-us.com. By visiting the environment section of the website, visitors can print off a prepaid U.S. postage label and return Gerflor vinyl flooring samples to its Atlanta office for reuse and redistribution. The Sample Reuse Program aims to reduce environmental impact and creates a new way to achieve sustainable results.

“For more than 20 years, Gerflor has been committed to the concept of creating environmentally friendly products by making the strategic decision to place ‘green’ issues at the top of its agenda,” said Alan Fennell, president of commercial flooring. “The Sample Reuse Program is yet another way we show our commitment to the environment and further extends our leadership in developing sustainability practices.”

“When designing a space, we use samples to convey concepts or ideas to colleagues and clients,” said Robyn Dubick, interior designer, CR Goodman Associates. “With Gerflor’s new Sample Reuse Program, we have the opportunity to return unused samples that will ultimately help conserve natural resources and reduce the negative impact on the environment.”

Steps for mailing samples back to Gerflor:
• Print off the prepaid United States Postage label and instructions
• Pack the samples back into the original packaging or other box/envelope
• Give package to your mail delivery person or drop it off at the nearest post office

Gerflor has the largest collection of commercial vinyl flooring products in the world, with offerings ideally suited for health care, education, retail, corporate, and public spaces. Founded in 1937 and headquartered near Lyon, France, Gerflor provides unique product and design solutions and is present in 100 countries around the globe with more than 1,700 employees.

This Web Exclusive comes from Robert Krebs of the American Plastics Council.

The innovators of today’s interior vinyl products artfully blend traditional materials with advanced technologies to produce versatile, durable, and beautiful flooring. Many interior designers and architects recognize resilient vinyl flooring as an important material in their palette, particularly when creating spaces sustaining heavy traffic or that have to be kept meticulously clean. Design flexibility provides an added bonus.

Vinyl flooring is referred to as “resilient,” because it characteristically bounces back from the weight of objects compressing its surface. This feature also contributes to favorable acoustics and comfort underfoot. Originally used only in high-traffic areas, vinyl flooring is now used in just about every hard-surface application. Durability, ease of maintenance, and moisture resistance top the list of attributes explaining its wide acceptance.

Commercial vinyl flooring is manufactured in either 12″ or 9″ square tiles, or continuous sheets 6′ or 12′ wide. Floor tile is sold as either solid vinyl or vinyl composition tile (VCT). Sheet flooring can be homogeneous, inlaid, or layered composite.

Vinyl flooring formulations differ widely, and many are proprietary. The actual vinyl content of these floors ranges from 11% to 55%. Other raw materials used include: fillers such as limestone, calcium carbonate, or clay; plasticizer additives to soften the vinyl and provide flexibility; stabilizers to minimize degradation and discoloration from heat and light; and pigments.

Versatility In Design
Vinyl sheet and tile flooring creations come in myriad styles and extensive color palettes, but the material’s versatility is particularly evident in the seemingly limitless, often intricate patterns flooring manufacturers are capable of producing. Tile can be custom cut and laid out in patterns using different colors or finishes. Corporate logos can be made from VCT to become part of the floor design, as can geometric icons or other shapes. The latter can be used, for example, to guide traffic in a hospital, school, or retail setting.

Custom designs are easily created using vinyl sheet and strip plank flooring, as well. Designers have been known to generate CAD drawings of the floor pattern they want from just a fabric sample as their inspiration. Virtually any look can be obtained to suit any decor, including classic looks simulating wood and ceramic tile.

Performance
Facility managers can (and should) expect long-lasting beauty, even in heavily traveled areas, from properly specified, installed, and maintained vinyl floors. New technologies have improved resilient flooring’s performance, making it tougher than ever—resisting rips, tears, gouging, scratching, scuffing, staining, indentation, and other physical abuse.

A floor’s durability is rated according to standards judging criteria such as: abrasion, gouge, puncture, cut, and impact resistance; how dynamic and static loads affect the life of the floor; how color is affected by heat and light exposure; and chemical resistance. Upon request, vinyl-flooring manufacturers can provide much of this information, showing exactly how their products measure up to these various performance standards.

A single flooring product may not meet the demands of every location in a building, so specifiers must check with the manufacturer to determine the best product for a particular application. Manufacturers can also recommend proper installation and maintenance techniques for ensuring the new floor performs as intended.

Some of the areas in which VCT manufacturers provide guidance include:
Loads. Consideration should be given to a floor’s ability to recover from indentation after a load has been placed on it for 24 hours. Test results show load limits to which products can be subjected with no permanent indentation after load removal.

Chemical and stain resistance. Special vinyl flooring formulations can be used in areas prone to chemical and staining reagent exposure. Manufacturers can provide test results for a variety of chemicals and reagents on individual product lines. In general, vinyl floors resist alkalis, acids, alcohols, oils, greases, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Ketones, esters, and chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons may cause softening. Some rubber materials, such as rug backings and car tires, cause staining.

Static dissipation. Not many people realize a person walking across a flooring surface can generate a static charge amounting to several thousand volts of electric potential. While not a problem in most venues, it is definitely to be avoided where sensitive electronic equipment is manufactured or operated, as in clean or computer rooms, around fiber optics, and in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Specifically designed to dissipate unwanted static charges from the human body, electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring allows electrical charges to flow safely to ground to avoid damaging sensitive equipment or creating an unwanted spark in a highly flammable area. ESD floors based on dense, homogenous, static-dissipative vinyl tile are extremely durable, resist the effects of common chemicals and solder, and are not conducive to bacterial or fungal growth.

Slip resistance. Specifying the appropriate floor surface can play a significant role in preventing slips and falls—and associated injuries, workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and lawsuits. Tile and sheet vinyl floors are available with enhanced slip-retardant surfaces suitable for a variety of commercial and institutional applications. Manufacturers recommend flooring with enhanced slip resistance for ramps, showers, and locker rooms, as well as areas of high humidity.

The slip resistance of a floor surface is measured by its coefficient of friction. The higher the coefficient, the less slippery the surface. Suitable VCT products are available in both sheet and tile, with abrasives in the material or a raised profile. While flooring with a raised profile is appropriate in high traffic areas where enhanced slip resistance is needed, it is potentially more difficult to clean than smooth surfaces.

Healthcare Settings
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control suggests the use of easy-to-clean surfaces like vinyl flooring in healthcare settings is a sensible approach to controlling pathogens.1 Vinyl is one of the few materials that can stand up to the magnitude of cleaning these settings require.

Sheet vinyl floors help maintain stringent hygienic conditions, receiving high ratings where infection control is an issue because the seams can be chemically sealed or heat welded to keep out moisture and dirt. With fewer seams than most other hard surface flooring, vinyl gives bacteria fewer places to settle in and grow. For this reason, vinyl has even been specified in the bone marrow transplant units of hospitals.

Vinyl is also flexible enough to be extended up a wall to form a wall base, keeping dust from collecting where walls intersect the floor. Vinyl flooring is nearly impervious to water. Disinfectant cleaners can provide a sterile surface without damaging the floor, and most stains are easily removed.

To understand the criteria driving decisions about material choices among healthcare interior designers, The Vinyl Institute commissioned a survey of Healthcare Forum members of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance were repeatedly called out as being paramount.

Respondents said they specify vinyl flooring most often for the public or community spaces in healthcare facilities. VCT is the most frequently specified, followed closely by sheet vinyl and broadloom carpet. Asked to rate the top five characteristics influencing their decision to specify VCT, three-quarters of respondents said initial cost, 73% chose it for durability, 69% for aesthetics, 68% because the client preferred it, and 51% for ease of maintenance. These numbers reflect a material with a strong balance of very desirable characteristics.

For patient and long-term care resident rooms, sheet vinyl is the flooring material of choice, followed by VCT. Sheet vinyl is selected because of its aesthetics, durability, ease/cost of maintenance, client preference, and infection control. Vinyl plank flooring products are growing in popularity, ranking third in the survey among preferred materials for patient and resident rooms. The trend toward designing these spaces with a warmer, more residential feeling is likely driving this material’s popularity.

Prolonging Life
The vinyl floor’s wear layer is key to maintenance. The thickness is generally measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch. Higher-quality vinyl floors may also employ a high-performance wear layer, while lower-priced floors generally feature a vinyl wear layer to protect the underlying pattern. In general, a high-performance wear layer makes the floor easier to clean and more stain resistant.

Some of the greatest abuse to any floor comes from tracked-in dirt and abrasive grit, which wears away any floor’s surface. The good news is that proper cleaning and maintenance are the only things required to combat dirt and preserve vinyl flooring’s utility and beauty.

Floors should be swept or mopped daily to remove gritty dirt. Damp mopping should be done with a neutral detergent. Mop treatments with petroleum solvents or silicone compounds should be avoided as they can create slippery conditions. Spills should be wiped up before they dry with a clean white cloth dampened with warm water. To control tracked-in dirt, grit, or stains from asphalt and oil in driveways, non-staining doormats should be placed at entrances. Some rubber or foam-backed doormats can cause surface staining.

Periodic spray buffing and the application of a high-quality commercial floor polish are also part of the regimen to resist staining and maintain a desirable appearance over time.

Resilient vinyl flooring’s proven long-term durability and safety features, aesthetics, moisture resistance, and low maintenance requirements are indicative of a cost-effective material with a strong balance of desirable characteristics. With vinyl, designers can be assured of delivering performance as well as beauty for the right price.

Notes
1. Noskin, Gary A.; Bednarz, Patrice; Suriano, Terra; Reiner, Sandra; Peterson, Lance R.; “Persistent contamination of fabric-covered furniture by vancomycin-resistant enterococci: Implications for upholstery selection in hospitals,” American Journal of Infection Control, August 2000.

Krebs is director of communications for the Plastics Division of the American Plastics Council.

Today’s Web Exclusive comes from Greg Schwietz, president of L&M Construction Chemicals.

For facilities of many types, a new tweak on a tried and true flooring material is paying off with maximized durability, minimized maintenance, and an aesthetic that often draws compliments. Concrete, which has performed structurally underfoot for well over a century, is now emerging as a highly attractive, long wearing, easy to maintain, affordable flooring option.

Just about any structurally sound concrete floor, old or new, can be smoothed, dry polished, and hardened and densified (a process that chemically changes the composition of the top wear surface). This floor finish option does not require waxing, sealing, or frequent maintenance other than simple mopping to maintain a highly polished, scuff-free look. The concrete polishing system, which can also include color dying of the surface wear layer in a broad range of hues, can result in substantial savings in installation and annual maintenance costs over alternative flooring options such as stained or sealed concrete, VCT, stone or terrazzo.

When the architectural firm Marmon Mok looked for a way to revitalize the 102,000 square foot concrete floor plaza level of the Alamodome, it consulted with StoneCare of Texas, of San Antonio. The firm was looking for a solution that would wear well and require only minimal maintenance. The firm had designed the popular, multipurpose domed stadium, which opened in May, 1993, and retained responsibilities for overseeing all upgrades.

The facility, which hosts sporting events, concerts, conventions, and trade shows, can seat up to 65,000 and is expandable to over 72,000 seats. The floor, which circles the perimeter of the seating, was showing signs of age and had many layers of wax over bare concrete. Repeated waxing over the years had darkened the floor’s appearance and was absorbing some of the natural ambient lighting.

StoneCare of Texas had the solution: Dry polished concrete. This new method offers a mechanical, dust-free, water-free polishing floor system that features a diamond grind, dry polish and densify process that can be performed start-to-finish in eight to 10 hours.

The dry polish process, FGS PermaShine, uses HEPA filter vacuum air purification technology to collect the dust generated during the dry abrasive grinding and smoothing process. The dust is captured and collected in lightweight bags that can be easily and safely disposed of in a landfill. The filter and collection system can keep a jobsite virtually free of any airborne dust, eliminating any need for special protection or isolation of the work area.

The process uses a series of progressively finer diamond disks in the grinding machines, enabling a polish up to a very high degree of shine. After the floor is polished for the final time, it is still somewhat porous. To achieve maximum durability, the installer applies a water-based, solvent free, VOC-free, odorless and non-toxic penetrating hardener/densifier.

The hardener/densifier chemically reacts with components in the concrete to form a dense, hard crystalline compound in the top wear layer (about 1/16 of an inch) that adds strength and wear resistance and helps preserve the highly polished look over the life of the installation without completely sealing the surface. The top wear surface continues to breathe, enabling excess moisture to escape from within. The chemical interaction also eliminates dusting and micropitting of the concrete surface by abrasion over time. Yet, because the floor is no longer porous, spills do not penetrate and wipe right up completely.

The rejuvenation of the floor at the Alamodome took about eight weeks, with the installers averaging about 3,000 square feet per shift, with work proceeding in a circle around the circumference of the dome.

“Stadium management is very pleased with the degree of shine and how it illuminates all the corridors. The Alamodome now is much brighter and cheerier,” notes Bibi Nunez, project manager at Marmon Mok.

The resulting polished concrete floor meets the NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute) standards for certification as a “high traction” floor, retaining its non-slip qualities when wet, which could satisfy similar requirements at restaurants, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, supermarkets and auto showrooms, The floor also complies with ADAD and OSHA requirements for interior floor surfaces.

There are a couple of green perks, as well from the environmentally friendly process. A dry polished concrete floor can contribute to up to five LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) credits under various categories, including Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Low Emitting Materials, on projects all the way up to Platinum. And depending upon the color of the dye selection, the finished floor can reflect up to 35% of lighting which reduces the heat output from the lamps, reducing any demand on an air-conditioning system and can reduce overall lighting costs, to boot.

Though the Alamodome did not dye the floor, after a floor is polished almost to the desired degree and before application of the hardener/densifier, it can be permanently dyed with a specifier’s choice of color. Dye concentration can range from a relatively subtle 25% all the way up a rich and vivid 100%. Decision makers can also specify the level of shine and choose to incorporate logos or other designs achievable by dying adjacent spaces different colors.

Dyed or not, dry polish and densified concrete retains its “just finished” appearance for the life of an installation without the upkeep required by other flooring options, including stained and sealed concrete, VCT, stone and terrazzo. FGS PermaShine floors have been proven to save as much as 65% on on-going maintenance expense, which is typically the most costly factor in the life of a finish.

Schwietz (gschwietz@lmcc.com) is president of L&M Construction Chemicals, which produces chemical treatments for the construction, repair and protection of concrete and is the developer of the FGS/PermaShine concrete polishing system.

Brown Contracting, Inc. of Eugene, OR was chosen for the top prize at the Oregon Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association (OCAPA) and American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) recent annual awards ceremony.

Don Brown and his team at Brown Contracting were awarded first place in the Commercial Division at the OCAPA/ACI’s 28th Annual Excellence in Concrete Program for their work on the Market of Choice grocery store in Eugene, OR. The awards salute the best industry professionals working with concrete in Oregon and southwest Washington.

Brown placed, finished, and polished the 30,000 square foot floor, enhancing and protecting its surface with the FGS/PermaShine Polished Concrete Floor system from L&M Construction Chemicals.

Brown Contracting integrally colored the concrete with multiple colors and gradations of local river rock, marble, and glass aggregates seeded into the surface. Subsequent to water curing, the marble and glass were exposed, polished, and hardened by the FGS/PermaShine process, which resulted in a “green” flooring option for environments such as supermarkets.

Precast concrete stair treads and landings led to eating and management office areas that also used the FGS/PermaShine system.

“When one considers medium to long-term floor maintenance savings and payback, as well as surface durability for retail foot traffic, high traction certification through the National Floor Safety Institute, and the sheer ‘awe’ power of the look, no other flooring option measures up to L&M’s FGS/PermaShine System,” said Brown.

The FGS/PermaShine process uses a patented “dry-grind” installation method, which conserves water and eliminates messy slurry disposal at landfills. The GreenSpec-listed, FGS/PermaShine system contains zero-VOC’s. The high gloss finish, in conjunction with the surface application shake-on pigments during concrete placement, can increase light reflectivity.

Sika Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sika AG, recently acquired the commercial and industrial polymer flooring business of ICS Garland, Inc. The transaction closed on April 25, 2008. Revenues for this business totaled approximately US$ 14 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

With its second acquisition in North America this year, Sika has added another player into its industrial flooring business in this region. The ICS Garland polymer flooring business has a portfolio of epoxy, polyurethane, and ESD technology products.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the sales price. Approximately 45 employees are expected to join Sika as part of the transaction, including the ICS Garland manufacturing facility and offices in Cleveland, OH. Sika Corporation is based in Lyndhurst, NJ.

Prior to the acquisition, Sika already held a place in the market for construction chemicals including adhesives and sealants, concrete admixtures, and repair and strengthening products. The company notes that this transaction creates for it a comprehensive range of epoxy, polyurethane, and other key polymer flooring products and technologies.

The designer and manufacturer of vinyl resilient floor coverings announced the use of its Taralay Premium Compact collection in a major music television network building in Los Angeles, CA. Taralay is designed to perform in high traffic areas and is treated with the patented floor treatments Sanosol®, an antimicrobial solution, and Protecsol®, a “no-polish-for-life” solution. Available with optional acoustic closed cell backings that provide ergonomic relief and comfort underfoot, Taralay also provides sound absorption.

“Shimoda Design Group is pleased to specify Gerflor flooring on this project,” said Shimoda project designer, Sue Chang. “When Shimoda Design Group considered floor coverings for the staff café, Gerflor’s diverse product designs and superior performance qualities were major benefits to our client. Gerflor flooring solutions are easy to clean and reduce noise to provide a welcoming, clean environment for employees.”

“Gerflor offers designers and customers a wide range of design options for all types of commercial environments,” said Alan Fennell, President of Gerflor U.S. Commercial Flooring. “Our extensive offerings of high quality products and vibrant colors further extend our presence in the U.S. as the world’s leader in vinyl product selections.”

Gerflor uses ingredients that are non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-reprotoxic in the floor manufacturing process. The company’s patented floor treatments reduce the use of aggressive chemicals during maintenance, which helps to conserve water and energy, and improves indoor air quality. All of Gerflor’s flooring is 100% recyclable at the end of lifecycle.

About Gerflor Gerflor offers a collection of commercial vinyl flooring products, with innovative offerings ideally suited to the healthcare, education, sports, retail, leisure, corporate, and industrial sectors. Founded in 1937 and headquartered near Lyon, France, Gerflor provides numerous product and design solutions and is present in more than 90 countries around the globe with over 1500 employees. Gerflor’s environmental record includes ‘A’ rated Green Guide (BRE) certification, outstanding whole life cycle performance, as well as full compliance with ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards. In addition, Gerflor commercial flooring can contribute toward LEED credits and is 100% recyclable.

L&M Construction Chemicals has released a white paper available to the architectural community that details the sustainable attributes and potential LEED points available with an FGS/PermaShine Polished Concrete Floor System. The paper is entitled “Polished Concrete & LEED Certification” and was released in early November.

“FGS/PermaShine is one of the best ‘green’ floors systems around and looks as good as terrazzo with considerable cost savings on installation and for ongoing maintenance,” said Greg Schwietz, L&M President. He added, the thermal mass of concrete in an FGS/PermaShine floor saves energy, especially during periods of peak energy usage. Mechanically and chemically the GreenSpec-listed FGS Process minimizes exposure to VOCs and particulate matter.

If recycled fly ash or slag is used in a new or restored Polished Concrete Floor, further reduction in environmental impacts can be achieved from the FGS/PermaShine Process.

The FGS/PermaShine process uses a patented “dry-grind” installation method available, which conserves water and eliminates messy slurry disposal at landfills. The installation protects nearby stock from slurry spills and can be installed overnight.

L&M also produces a FGS/PermaShine Concrete Conditioner for polished concrete, to replace harsh cleaners and costly waxing for a nearly 60% reduction in floor maintenance costs.

The Polished Concrete and LEED Certification white paper can serve as a reference tool for architects, contractors, owners and facility managers building green. To request the paper, visit www.fgs-permashine.com/requestinfo.asp.