Building Design and Construction Handbook - Merritt - Ventech!

WALL, FLOOR, AND CEILING SYSTEMS 11.85
of the United States (‘‘Moisture Content of Wood in Use,’’ U.S. Forest Products
Laboratory Publication No.1655, Madison, Wis.). The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory
also recommends heating the building before installing any type of wood
flooring, except when outdoor temperatures are high. Bundles of flooring should
be opened and stored in the building before installation. Leave at least 1 in of
expansion space at walls and columns.
Specifications for wood floors on concrete, gymnasium floors, or other special
designs or conditions may be obtained from associations of wood flooring manufacturers
and installers.
11.41 INDUSTRIAL FLOORS
The primary purpose of a floor covering in an industrial building is to protect the
structural floor from foot and truck traffic and from corrosive affluents. The flooring
also must provide a durable surface that will not be detrimental to plant operations.
A good-quality concrete floor is adequate if factory conditions are dry and the
surface has to withstand only foot and truck traffic. A cast-iron grid filled with
concrete on 1 ⁄4-in-thick steel plates may be used in areas where heavy equipment
or materials are dragged continually. End-grain wood blocks may be used in areas
of heavy trucking of heavy castings, to protect both the structure and castings from
impact damage. Asphalt mastic floors also are used in areas with heavy truck traffic.
If the factory process is wet and corrosive, the designer may have to choose
between a less-resistant flooring that has to be replaced periodically and a flooring
with low maintenance costs but high initial cost. Table 11.13 rates the relative
resistance to liquids of some floor toppings and bedding and jointing materials for
TABLE 11.13 Resistance of Floor Toppings and of Bedding and Jointing Material to
Various Liquids*
Material Water
Organic
solvents Oils Acids Alkalies
Floor topping:
Portland-cement concrete VG G F VP G
High-alumina cement concrete G G F–G VP F
Pitch (coal tar) mastic VG F F F–G G
Asphalt mastic VG VP P F–G G
Epoxy VG G G G G
Polyester
Bedding and jointing materials for clay
tiles and bricks:
VG G G G F
Portland-cement mortar As above for concrete
High-alumina cement mortar As above for concrete
Silicate cement F G G G VP
Sulfur cement VG G F G G
Epoxy As above
Furan VG VG VG VG VG
VG � very good; G � good; F � fair; P � poor; VP � very poor.
* This table is intended for broad comparisons, as the items under various headings may need qualifications
for particular conditions, such as temperature, and concentration of the liquids and acids that are
oxidizing agents.