Resin Floor Paints & Coatings
As outlined in our introduction these resin flooring materials are classified according to BS 8204-6 Resin Floor Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Sealers & Coatings. These are used as clear and coloured, thin resin floor paint coatings with dry film thicknesses from less than 100 microns, or built-up in multiple layers to several mm for different flooring applications. The relevant categories according to the standard are as follows:
BS 8204-6 Resin Floor Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Sealers & Coatings
– These clear and coloured, thinner resin coating film Floor Types are generally referred to as, and/or built-up from ‘Resin Floor Paints & Coatings’.
Type 1 - Floor seal - Applied in two or more coats. Generally solvent or water-borne/ dispersed resin paint/coating products. For Light Duties (LD) with a dry film thickness total up to 150 µm (often completely with the concrete surface)
Type 2 - Floor coating - Applied in two or more coats. Generally solvent-free resin paint/coating products. For Light to Medium Duties and exposure (LD/MD), with a dry film thickness from 150 µm to 300 µm, penetrating and bonding with the substrate and leaving a thin film on the surface.
Type 3 – High-build Floor coating -Applied in two or more coats. Generally solvent-free. For Medium Duties and exposure (MD), penetrating and bonding with the substrate and producing a significant film thickness of wearing layer on the surface, usually from 300 µm to 1000 µm (0.3 – 1.0mm).
Type 4 - Multi-layer flooring –Applied in at least 3 layers with a priming first coat of Floor coating and with aggregates broadcast into one or more of the freshly applied layers of solvent-free, Type -2 Floor coatings or thinly applied Type -5 Flow-applied (SL) floorings, used to build-up this type of multi-layer resin floor system. These resin flooring build-ups are sometimes also called ‘dressed’ or ‘sandwich’ resin flooring systems. Suitable for Medium to Heavy Duty (MD/HD) and exposure, depending on the total thickness and service requirements, usually designed to create a 2+mm total thickness on the floor (max 2 – 4mm).
Case Studies - Resin Floor Sealers & Coatings
These Resin Floor Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Sealers & Coatings, are by far the most widely used type of resin flooring, as they can provide protection and meet project demands, whilst generally also lower cost per square metre. This is because these resin floor paint and coating systems are applied in thinner layers and contain less of the expensive resins of whatever technology, than in the thicker, resin rich layers of the Types 5 and 7 self-levelling (SL) / self smoothening resin floors that are applied from 2-3mm upwards, or the Types 6 and 8 Trowel Applied systems that are applied in much thicker layers from 6mm to 9mm or more. The reason being simply the higher resin consumption. This also explains why the higher resin content and higher cost floor types 5, 6, 7 and 8 are used for higher performance demanding and more specialist flooring applications e.g. ESD electrically conductive resin flooring, where the higher cost is justified and often in fact, much cheaper than other types of floors for these environments and exposure levels.
However, as stated previously, the resin floor types 1 to 4 are the most commonly used types of resin flooring and for many different applications they are ideally suited and provide cost effective solutions for many industries. This is because resin floor paint coating systems meet the most common requirements that are to:
- Prevent concrete surface dusting
- Seal the concrete surface against water ingress
- Increase the surface resistance to impact and abrasion
- Increase the surface resistance to chemicals, especially acids
- Provide a decorative coloured finish
- Provide area demarcation by colours e.g. traffic aisles or pedestrian walkways
As can be seen from this listing that is by no means exhaustive, these characteristics of Resin Floor Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Sealers & Coatings can be advantageous for many different applications and areas in many different industries and facilities. The best specific resin floor type, and the best resin technology for that type will vary according to the specific project requirements. These different Resin Floor Technologies can include acrylic (PMMA), epoxy, polyurethane, polyurea/polyaspartic and/or vinyl ester resin flooring. You can follow this links to the pages of this website that discuss these alternative technologies, products and systems. This is all intended to provide more detailed information about each of these, together with their key performance characteristics and limitations, as well as advantages, for your review and consideration in relation to your projects. At NCC our experts are also available to assist you.
We hope the information relating to your area of interest and projects is useful and of initial assistance. You can also call us for our FREE support at any time on: 01257 266696 Alternatively, you can email us technical@resinflooringsite.co.uk and we will get back to you just as soon as we can.