Designing a Sustainable (Green) Stone Floor Maintenance Program
By Frederick M. Hueston PhD
Walk into any stone, terrazzo or janitorial chemical supplier and you will find an endless selection of cleaners, sealers, restorers, etc to keep you terrazzo and stone floors looking new. The problem is many of these chemicals can be harmful to the user, occupants and the environment. How does one design a program that is not only sustainable and safe but to also keep your terrazzo and stone flooring in like new condition?
Fortunately there is an effective way to not only maintain these surfaces but also to keep them looking new. The following guideline will show you how to develop a sustainable maintenance program. This is especially important for schools, hospitals and other buildings were children and people sensitive to these harmful chemicals are present everyday.
The dangers of floor strippers, finishes etc have been studied by many organizations including universities, etc. Here is a partial list of those studies
- Green Seal Report
Floor Care Products: Finishes and Strippers
www.greenseal.org/resources/reports/CGR_floorcare.pdf
-Safe and Effective Use of Floor Finish Strippers
Janitorial Products. Pollution Prevention Project
Sponsored by US EPA
www.wrppn.org/janitorial/factsheet/floor.htm
-Health Hazard Evaluation Report 95-0313-2589, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, Michigan
-NIOSH [1990]. NIOSH criteria for a
recommended standard: occupational exposure to
ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ethylene
glycol monobutyl ether acetate. Cincinnati, OH:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, Centers for Disease
Control, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication
No. 90–118.
-Ruth JH [1986]. Odor thresholds and irritation
levels of several chemical substances: a review.
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 47:A142–A151.
WHO [1983]. Indoor air pollutants: exposure
and health effects. World Health Organization
Regional Office for Europe. WHO–EURO report
and studies no. 78, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Program Guidelines
Step 1. A good sustainable maintenance program starts with proper identification of the stone. Is it granite, marble, terrazzo or limestone? If it’s marble is it soft or hard? What type of finish does it have? Polished, honed, flamed, etc.? Is the type of stone the proper material for the traffic it is to receive? If not maintenance costs will be higher. If the answer to these questions are unknown, I suggest you contact a reputable stone supplier or restoration company to find out. A complete understanding of your particular stones characteristics is an absolute must for designing a sustainable maintenance program.
Step 2. Once the stone’s characteristics are identified determine the quality of the installation. Are the tiles flat and even? Do they contain lippage (uneven tiles). If so, proper maintenance may prove difficult. The floor should be ground flat, honed and polished using sustainable restoration procedures that utilize non-chemical methods. Are there any cracked tiles? Dirt will have a tendency to accumulate in these cracks. These tiles should be replaced or if replacements are not available at least repaired.
Step 3. What is the present condition of the stone? Has it been coated with waxes, acrylics, urethane or other coatings? If so these coatings need to be ground off to determine the condition of the stone as well as eliminate any toxic and unsafe properties. I have seen stone floors that appear to be in great shape until the coatings are removed to unveil a pitted, scratched mess. If a poor condition is found, complete restoration is necessary before a successful sustainable maintenance program can begin.
Step 4. Once the stone is restored to like new condition, then and only then will a sustainable maintenance program provide good results. This applies not only to the following program but any program. If the stone will be exposed to water, coffee, spills etc, an application of a an approved Green impregnator is recommended. These impregnators are designed to penetrate into the stone, without leaving coatings on the surface and still allowing the stone to transpire(breathe). They contain no harmful vapors or off gases when cured.
Step 5. Daily Maintenance
The three most important tasks that can be done on a daily basis to keep the stone looking new and extending the time before restoration is required are: Dust Mop, Dust Mop and Dust Mop. The most destructive material to most stone is sand, dirt and miscellaneous grit. If these substances could be eliminated, maintenance of the stone would be almost non-existent. A stone floor can never be dust mopped too often. Use a clean, non-treated, dry dust mop at least two to three times a day in high traffic areas and less often in low traffic areas. Walk off mats placed outside and inside an entrance will also eliminate a good portion of sand, dirt and grit. It takes approximately seven steps to remove all loose dirt from the bottom of ones shoes. Walk off mats also need to be removed and cleaned daily. Keep this in mind when purchasing walk off mats. Remember if sand, dirt and grit are eliminated there will be nothing left behind to scratch and dull the stone.
Note: Coatings in addition to potentially being hazardous contribute to accelerate wearing of the stone or terrazzo surface by acting as a magnet for dirt and debri. It has been shown in studies that a stone or terrazzo floor without any coating will be easier to maintain as well as more cost effective.
Step 6. Cleaning
All natural stone, both polished and unpolished should be cleaned daily in high traffic areas and less often in lower traffic areas. A clean rayon or cotton string mop should be used with cold to warm water with the addition of a quality Green Approved neutral cleaner or stone soap. Approved Green Neutral cleaners are defined as surfactant type detergents that have a Ph of 7. Acidic and alkaline cleaners should not be used. Be sure to follow the directions very carefully.
Why Does Stone Shine?
All stone is taken from the earth in a raw block form. This block is cut into slices that we call slabs. The slabs are then cut further to a smaller size such as a tile or countertop. It is then polished using a series of abrasive materials. The mechanics are relatively simple. A piece of stone is rubbed with a series of abrasives starting with a course grit size followed by
Finer and finer grit sizes. The scratch pattern left behind from one grit is removed by the next grit creating finer and finer scratches. This process is continued until the scratch pattern becomes microscopic. The process is similar to refinishing a piece of wood, starting with a course sandpaper and ending with a fine sandpaper. The shine is placed on the stone by continuing this abrading process using very fine powders. With sustainable(Green) restoration methods no chemicals are used.
Restoration
Periodically the stone will need to be restored. Perhaps you have not followed a proper maintenance program or the type of stone you have is not suited to the conditions it receives or for what ever other reason it is not responding to maintenance, then restoration is required. How often this will need to be done is difficult to determine. Generally if all the precautions above are followed, restoration may only be needed as often as once per year or as little as once every five years or so. The restoration process re-hones the stone to remove deep scratches and is then re-polished. Do not attempt the re-honing process yourself, this requires a great degree of skill and experience, please call a reputable restoration company who specializes in sustainable methods for this task.
Natural stone was the first building material used by man. Its care and maintenance is one of the oldest tasks performed by our ancestors and was maintained without any of today’s modern chemical products. The above guidelines were developed by our years of experience with this beautiful material and with the addition of sustainable practices will provide many years of beauty.
Written by
Frederick M. Hueston, PhD
Stone University
E-Mail: Fhueston@aol.com
Web Site: www.stoneuniversity.org
Showing posts with label grainte. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grainte. Show all posts
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Thursday, December 6, 2007
How To Make a Slippery Floor Safe
How to make a slippery floor safe
There are many treatments that can be purchased and applied to a tile surface to make it slip resistant. These treatments fall into two categories: Coatings or treatments which chemically or physically alter the surface of the tile.
Coatings:
Coatings can be waxes, acrylics or other commercially available products. The coating places a thin layer of material on the surface of the tile. The tile will than be as slippery as the coating itself. Warning: not all coatings provide slip resistance. In fact some coatings will make a floor more slippery. Before specifying a coating, contact the manufacturer of the coating and ask for slip resistance test data. Many of the coating manufacturers are very familiar with slip resistance. Make sure the coating can be used on the tile surface you are using. Certain coatings will not adhere to polished stone or porcelain and require coatings specified for these surfaces.
Treatments:
There are now available special treatments that can be applied to the surface of tile to render it slip resistant. These treatments are primarily hydrofluoric acid. The acid attacks the surface of the tile and creates microscopic holes. This is what is typically called etching of the surface. This process works effectively on many surfaces but can decrease the service life of the tile. Once the surface is treated with this method maintenance will increase. Since these treatments contain a very dangerous acid, it should only be applied by trained individuals. Contact your local tile supply store for recommended contractors.
The issue of slip-resistance is of major concern in the US. Lawsuits are on the increase as con artists continue their search for the big payoff. Large hotels, banks and other big corporate building owners are their main targets but they are also targeting the small business. The corner food store and the local gas station are not exempt from these flim flam artists.
This is not to say that there are not times when a floor surface is not unsafe. Many factors contribute to the slipperiness of the floor. Water, grease, oil and debris scatted on the floor all can contribute to slipperiness. The competent architect and designer cannot control what happens to the floor after its installed but he/she can get it started properly.
How to Minimize Slip/Fall Accidents
Although it will be impossible to prevent all slip/fall accidents there are several precautionary procedures that building owners, cleaning companies and others can take to minimize risk. The following is some suggestions and is not intended to replace legal advise if an accident occurs:
1. Pay attention to areas where water and/or spills occur. A walk off mat should be placed inside the entrance of doors during a rain storm. When floor tile gets wet, the COF* may decrease causing a fall. Mats should be placed prior to the first drop of rain. Pay attention to areas where food is served or carried. Foods and drinks can create an ice like condition on the floor and any spills should be picked up as soon as they occur.
2. If the floor tile is maintained by stripping and waxing, this procedure should be done at night when there is no one around to fall. Daily wet mopping should also be performed at night during off hours.
*Coefficient of Friction
3. Always place wet floor signs in all areas you may be working in. This applies for all times of the day or night. It is also a good idea to train your floor cleaning personnel to warn people who may walk across the floor that it might be slippery.
4. Keep accurate records. It is surprising how many cleaning companies fail to keep any record of maintenance on a tile surface. Accurate record keeping says that you are responsible and that you generally care about safety. Include in your records the following information:
* Name brands of all products used on the floor
* Procedures that are performed on the floor and how often. Be specific.
* Who performed these procedures.
It is a good idea to keep a daily log of the maintenance procedure. Designate one individual to keep track of the log and have him perform routine inspections of the floor and record what he found during his inspections. If a legal suit is filed this information will be quite helpful in proving you are competent and hopefully not at fault.
5. Get slip/fall insurance. Every building owner should carry slip/fall insurance. Some of the products used on the floor will also carry slip/fall insurance. This insurance is designed to protect the coating manufacturer and you should not rely entirely on theirs. Get your own policy.
What to do when some falls:
O my, someone just slipped and fell, what should you do?
1. Treat the victim with kindness and courtesy. Do not administer medical treatment unless you happen to be qualified to. If necessary call an ambulance. Also offer to call their family. Show care and concern.
2. Look at the victim’s clothing and especially his/her shoes. Take notice of how worn they are and the overall condition. Once the victim leaves, record this information in your log or on a separate report. This is important, remember it takes two surfaces to slip, if the victim is wearing worn shoes part of the blame may be placed on their neglect.
3. Look carefully at the area where the victim fell. Is there water, grease, a banana peel? Record in the log any thing you find.
4. Did any one else see the fall. If so, take a statement from them. Record this in a special report and get their name, address and phone number.
5. Record the time and location of the fall. Pay special attention to the weather conditions. Was it raining, snowy or what.
6. Did you notice how the victim walked. Did he/she stumble or appear as if they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If possible record their behavior and how they walked or ran before the fall.
7. If you have a camera, take pictures of the victim and the area where they fell.
8. Fill out an accident report and do not leave out any detail. Use a separate sheet of paper if necessary.
Following the above suggestions will help considerably when involved in a slip/fall case. Your attorney will love you for it.
One Final Word
The legislation and rules concerning COF and slip/fall can and probably will change. It is a good idea to consult with an expert in slip/fall and to keep up to date with any new rule, law or recommendation that may sneak up
COF-Coefficient of Friction
Slip resistance is measured by the ratio of forces required to move one surface over the other under a given vertical force. In other words, it takes two surfaces to determine slip resistance. The floor tile is one surface and the bottom of ones shoe is the other surface. This ratio is what we call the coefficient of friction(COF).
COF can be measured in two different ways and can cause confusion amongst those unfamiliar with the science of slip resistance. When the COF is measured from a resting position it is called the “Static COF”. When it is measured when the surfaces are in relative motion it is called the “Dynamic COF”. The dynamic COF is very difficult to measure and almost all portable and laboratory meters measure only the static COF. It is important to know this difference since you will see both measurements in the literature. Most measuring devices(Slip meters) will refer to the static COF. The measurements you will find in the literature and those discussed here will be the Static COF. A COF of 0.5 is considered to be a slip resistance surface. The higher the COF the less slippery the surface. It is possible to have too high a COF. In other words the surface can be too slip resistance and an individual would find it difficult to walk on.
How to Measure Slip Resistance
There are basically two types of machines that can measure static COF, Permanent laboratory models and portable field models commonly refer to as pull meters. The most popular and widely accepted laboratory slip meter is the James Machine. The James Machine uses an 80 pound weight that is applied through an arm to a leather shoe placed on a panel. The panel and the leather shoe are moved horizontally. The distance the panel moves before slipping is measured and recorded on a chart and is the coefficient of friction. The James Machine was invented in 1940 and was the machine which established the 0.5 COF as the minimum for slip resistance. This standard was accepted in 1953 by the Federal Trade Commission . Many still consider the James Machine as the only true slip tester.
There are also many portable slip meters on the market which claim to measure the static COF. The American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) recognizes several portable meters. When purchasing these meters make sure they comply with ASTM C-1028 which is the recognized slip test for tile flooring. For further information on slip meters contact ASTM at the following address: 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187
Written by
Frederick M. Hueston
The National Training Center for Stone & Masonry Trades
828-301-9796
fhueston@aol.com
www.ntc-stone.com
There are many treatments that can be purchased and applied to a tile surface to make it slip resistant. These treatments fall into two categories: Coatings or treatments which chemically or physically alter the surface of the tile.
Coatings:
Coatings can be waxes, acrylics or other commercially available products. The coating places a thin layer of material on the surface of the tile. The tile will than be as slippery as the coating itself. Warning: not all coatings provide slip resistance. In fact some coatings will make a floor more slippery. Before specifying a coating, contact the manufacturer of the coating and ask for slip resistance test data. Many of the coating manufacturers are very familiar with slip resistance. Make sure the coating can be used on the tile surface you are using. Certain coatings will not adhere to polished stone or porcelain and require coatings specified for these surfaces.
Treatments:
There are now available special treatments that can be applied to the surface of tile to render it slip resistant. These treatments are primarily hydrofluoric acid. The acid attacks the surface of the tile and creates microscopic holes. This is what is typically called etching of the surface. This process works effectively on many surfaces but can decrease the service life of the tile. Once the surface is treated with this method maintenance will increase. Since these treatments contain a very dangerous acid, it should only be applied by trained individuals. Contact your local tile supply store for recommended contractors.
The issue of slip-resistance is of major concern in the US. Lawsuits are on the increase as con artists continue their search for the big payoff. Large hotels, banks and other big corporate building owners are their main targets but they are also targeting the small business. The corner food store and the local gas station are not exempt from these flim flam artists.
This is not to say that there are not times when a floor surface is not unsafe. Many factors contribute to the slipperiness of the floor. Water, grease, oil and debris scatted on the floor all can contribute to slipperiness. The competent architect and designer cannot control what happens to the floor after its installed but he/she can get it started properly.
How to Minimize Slip/Fall Accidents
Although it will be impossible to prevent all slip/fall accidents there are several precautionary procedures that building owners, cleaning companies and others can take to minimize risk. The following is some suggestions and is not intended to replace legal advise if an accident occurs:
1. Pay attention to areas where water and/or spills occur. A walk off mat should be placed inside the entrance of doors during a rain storm. When floor tile gets wet, the COF* may decrease causing a fall. Mats should be placed prior to the first drop of rain. Pay attention to areas where food is served or carried. Foods and drinks can create an ice like condition on the floor and any spills should be picked up as soon as they occur.
2. If the floor tile is maintained by stripping and waxing, this procedure should be done at night when there is no one around to fall. Daily wet mopping should also be performed at night during off hours.
*Coefficient of Friction
3. Always place wet floor signs in all areas you may be working in. This applies for all times of the day or night. It is also a good idea to train your floor cleaning personnel to warn people who may walk across the floor that it might be slippery.
4. Keep accurate records. It is surprising how many cleaning companies fail to keep any record of maintenance on a tile surface. Accurate record keeping says that you are responsible and that you generally care about safety. Include in your records the following information:
* Name brands of all products used on the floor
* Procedures that are performed on the floor and how often. Be specific.
* Who performed these procedures.
It is a good idea to keep a daily log of the maintenance procedure. Designate one individual to keep track of the log and have him perform routine inspections of the floor and record what he found during his inspections. If a legal suit is filed this information will be quite helpful in proving you are competent and hopefully not at fault.
5. Get slip/fall insurance. Every building owner should carry slip/fall insurance. Some of the products used on the floor will also carry slip/fall insurance. This insurance is designed to protect the coating manufacturer and you should not rely entirely on theirs. Get your own policy.
What to do when some falls:
O my, someone just slipped and fell, what should you do?
1. Treat the victim with kindness and courtesy. Do not administer medical treatment unless you happen to be qualified to. If necessary call an ambulance. Also offer to call their family. Show care and concern.
2. Look at the victim’s clothing and especially his/her shoes. Take notice of how worn they are and the overall condition. Once the victim leaves, record this information in your log or on a separate report. This is important, remember it takes two surfaces to slip, if the victim is wearing worn shoes part of the blame may be placed on their neglect.
3. Look carefully at the area where the victim fell. Is there water, grease, a banana peel? Record in the log any thing you find.
4. Did any one else see the fall. If so, take a statement from them. Record this in a special report and get their name, address and phone number.
5. Record the time and location of the fall. Pay special attention to the weather conditions. Was it raining, snowy or what.
6. Did you notice how the victim walked. Did he/she stumble or appear as if they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If possible record their behavior and how they walked or ran before the fall.
7. If you have a camera, take pictures of the victim and the area where they fell.
8. Fill out an accident report and do not leave out any detail. Use a separate sheet of paper if necessary.
Following the above suggestions will help considerably when involved in a slip/fall case. Your attorney will love you for it.
One Final Word
The legislation and rules concerning COF and slip/fall can and probably will change. It is a good idea to consult with an expert in slip/fall and to keep up to date with any new rule, law or recommendation that may sneak up
COF-Coefficient of Friction
Slip resistance is measured by the ratio of forces required to move one surface over the other under a given vertical force. In other words, it takes two surfaces to determine slip resistance. The floor tile is one surface and the bottom of ones shoe is the other surface. This ratio is what we call the coefficient of friction(COF).
COF can be measured in two different ways and can cause confusion amongst those unfamiliar with the science of slip resistance. When the COF is measured from a resting position it is called the “Static COF”. When it is measured when the surfaces are in relative motion it is called the “Dynamic COF”. The dynamic COF is very difficult to measure and almost all portable and laboratory meters measure only the static COF. It is important to know this difference since you will see both measurements in the literature. Most measuring devices(Slip meters) will refer to the static COF. The measurements you will find in the literature and those discussed here will be the Static COF. A COF of 0.5 is considered to be a slip resistance surface. The higher the COF the less slippery the surface. It is possible to have too high a COF. In other words the surface can be too slip resistance and an individual would find it difficult to walk on.
How to Measure Slip Resistance
There are basically two types of machines that can measure static COF, Permanent laboratory models and portable field models commonly refer to as pull meters. The most popular and widely accepted laboratory slip meter is the James Machine. The James Machine uses an 80 pound weight that is applied through an arm to a leather shoe placed on a panel. The panel and the leather shoe are moved horizontally. The distance the panel moves before slipping is measured and recorded on a chart and is the coefficient of friction. The James Machine was invented in 1940 and was the machine which established the 0.5 COF as the minimum for slip resistance. This standard was accepted in 1953 by the Federal Trade Commission . Many still consider the James Machine as the only true slip tester.
There are also many portable slip meters on the market which claim to measure the static COF. The American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) recognizes several portable meters. When purchasing these meters make sure they comply with ASTM C-1028 which is the recognized slip test for tile flooring. For further information on slip meters contact ASTM at the following address: 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187
Written by
Frederick M. Hueston
The National Training Center for Stone & Masonry Trades
828-301-9796
fhueston@aol.com
www.ntc-stone.com
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