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Plasti-flor™
floor tiles conform to the requirements of the standard specification
of Flexible Vinyl Flooring: SABS 786: 1992 (2nd Revision) as evaluated
by Construction Technologies, Division of Building Technologies, CSIR,
PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa. Report No BK021/024 5600 5671
of July 1997.
RESISTANCE
TO CURLING
Specimens of the tile, 150mm x 150mm, were exposed in the prescribed way
under water for 120 hours. The curling was measured and the average value
was 0.41mm. The SABS specification requires that the curl should not exceed
0.75mm.
DIMENSIONS
AND SQUARENESS
Length x Width The tiles were found to be square with side dimensions
varying between 500mm and 501mm. Averages in two directions were taken
and the variation fell between 0.05% and 0.08%. The SABS specification
requires differences smaller than 0.1%. Thickness The thickness was determined
on five widely spaced points on five tiles. Disregarding variation due
to the tile pattern, the average thickness was 4.85mm ± 0.05mm. Squareness
All the corners of the samples were found to be perfectly square.
CHEMICAL
RESISTANCE
Specimens of tiles, 100mm x 50mm, were exposed to: • Beef tallow, commercial
grade • Ethyl alcohol, 95 ± 1% V/V commercial grade • Mineral oil, “Multigrade”
commercial grade • Olive oil, commercial grade. The specimens were exposed
for 48 hours, after which the 10 minute indentation values were determined.
These means values were calculated and expressed as a percentage of the
original 10 minute indentation values.
DIMENSIONAL
STABILITY
At 80 ± 3 degrees Centigrade for six hours shrinkages of 0.26% in one
direction and 0.27% in the other at 90 degrees with respect to the first
direction were noted. The SABS requires change in dimension of less than
0.3% in both directions. Expansion, when immersed in water at 23 ± 1 degrees
Centigrade for 28 days. The expansion was measured at 0.16% in one direction
and 0.1% in the other direction at 90 degrees. The suggested limit by
the CSIR is 0.25% in both directions. These dimensional stability tests
are regarded by the CSIR as important. The requirements are stringent
because the current practice in the building industry is to lay flooring
materials before adequate drying out of the substrata has occurred.
CHEMICAL
10 MINUTE INDENTATION VALUE EXPRESSED AS % OF ORIGINAL VALUE
(0.28mm)
Beef tallow 104 (SABS spec not to exceed 150%)
Ethyl alcohol 114 (SABS spec not to exceed 150%)
Mineral oil 96 (SABS spec not to exceed 120%)
Olive oil 96 (SABS spec not to exceed 120%)
INDENTATION
Indentations on the material were performed at ± 23 degrees Centigrade.
A loading force of 133.5 Newtons was applied on an indenting rod having
a hemispherical end diameter of 6.35mm. The indentation was determined
after one minute and 10 minutes at four scattered points on the surface
of two tiles. The averages were taken and the indentation was 0.24mm after
one minute and 0.28mm after 10 minutes. The SABS specification requires
the one minute indentation to be between 0.18mm and 0.38mm and the 10
minute indentation (for 0.24mm initial indentation after one minute) not
to exceed 0.36mm.
Plasti-flor™
floor tiles conform to the requirements of: SABS 0177, Part 4: Fire Index
of Floor Coverings, as evaluated by Fire and Explosions Group, Division
of Building Technology, CSIR, PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
Report No BK021/021/024 5600 5671 of July 1997.
FLEXIBILITY
AFTER AGEING
Twelve strips of tile, 200mm x 50mm, were exposed to 100 ±1 degrees Centigrade
for six hours and allowed to cool down at 23 ±1 degree Centigrade for
24 hours. The specimens were bent through 180 degrees in three seconds
over a 12mm diameter mandrel. No cracks appeared. The SABS specification
requires that no cracking or breaking should occur.
RESULTS
Spread of flame index: 0.45
Heat contributed index: 0.11
Smoke emitted index: 0.57
Surface fire index: 0.38
Classification: Class 2
LOSS
IN MASS AFTER HEATING
Six specimens from different tiles, each measuring 300mm x 50mm, were
exposed to 100 ±1 degrees Centigrade for six hours and the average loss
in mass was determined at 0.26%. The SABS specification requires that
the loss in mass should not exceed 0.3%.
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