PVC coverings

PVC coverings are the most popular floor coverings for public environments. Unlike so-called natural, they do not change colour under the influence of sunlight. Wide range of products with variety of features allows their exploitation in buildings of different types, from typical to specialized rooms. Appropriately selected covering should feature:

• Resistance and long-lasting exploitation (high abrasion resistance – recommended class T),
• safety (antislipness, suitable class of ignition)
• easiness of cleaning (protection of surface against dirt),
• aesthetics,
• additional features e.g. noise attenuation, antielectrostatic and special resistances features.

If properly fitted, floor coverings can be used in variety of buildings: healthcare centres, educational buildings, staff rooms or sports facilities.

While selecting a covering, on our own or with help of a specialist, we need to take into consideration its several basic features.

Covering type

Depending on PVC covering structure, floor coverings can be divided into two categories: multilayer coverings (heterogeneous) and single-layer coverings (homogeneous). Multilayer coverings are more resistant to small scratches occurring during everyday exploitation due to a durable pure PVC surface layer. Some coverings, e.g. Novoflor Extra, are unique with the antislipness class R11 without the burden of other features, so-called corundum, making cleaning difficult. The solution is recommended e.g. for school and hospital corridors.

Abrasion resistance

The most frequently discussed feature for coverings is their abrasiveness categorized according to standards into classes:

• class T – the highest – characteristic of multilayer coverings  e.g. Novoflor Extra and some homogeneous coverings, e.g. Mipolam Elegance 290.  Coverings with this abrasion class are recommended for rooms with the highest traffic volumes.
• class P – characteristic of  homogeneous coverings applied in rooms with high traffic volume.

Other classes are hardly used in Poland, usually only in rooms with very low traffic volumes.

Functional classification

Equally important is functional classification indicating recommended place of application – from habitats with low traffic volumes, through much attended public utility buildings or industrial facilities. That classification is determined by combination of numbers, in which “1” means the least, and “4” the most attended rooms. The most durable products are described as 34/43 classification.

Ignition classification

One of the essential parameters for coverings is ignition of classification describing coverings’ behaviour in case of fire. Such information is provided in conformity certificate or in CE certificate, which each of the coverings should absolutely be equipped with. There are two distinguished classes describing safe materials: Bfl-sl and Cfl-sl. Both types guarantee the safest possible parameters of generated fumes and controlled spread of flames. In case of coverings with lower classes or coverings without fire tests, the basic safety of people in the building in case of fire will not be secured and so it will be impossible to obtain a technical acceptance certificate. For that reason it is essential to check required attests and certificates of floor coverings at the very beginning of selection process.

Surface protection layer

Most PVC coverings are impregnated with agents protecting them against scratches or other, e.g. fungicidal agents. Depending on class and type of covering, these are usually layers described as so-called PUR (polyurethane), Protectsol or SparClean. Foor coverings of good quality have protection of higher class, such as PUR Protect hardened with UV radiation as e.g. Gerflor floor covering from Mipolam series. Due to appropriate protection of the surface it is possible to avoid frequent application of additional maintenance agents, which is necessary in case of unprotected coverings. Application of PUR Protect coverings should be standard in each school, hospital or any other frequently attended building, in which, apart from exploitation parameters, are also important low long-term costs of exploitation and cleaning of huge areas.

Additional features

For selected rooms, e.g. operating theatres, server rooms, use coverings with special features – e.g. carrying away electrostatic charges, sound attenuating, with higher antislip class, installed glueless, etc.

 We have 20 years of experience and knowledge to help us to select for you suitable coverings from our offer– come and try us!