Manuals+

Laying Guide for Hardwood Floors

Technical Guide for the Building Site

Together with nature we can build the future.

Standards, Regulations, Certificates and Labelling

European Standards and Regulations

EN standards are technical specifications adopted by CEN, the European Committee for Standardisation, which define the requirements of a product. When harmonised, they are used for compliance assessment, classification and compulsory CE marking of products.

EU regulations are binding legal documents that must be applied in all parts, throughout the European Union, to apply these standards.

CE directives are legal documents that establish a goal that all EU countries have to implement and put into practice.

Examples of harmonised standards mentioned in the guide are: EN 13813: substrate preparation coats.

Regulations

For example, EU regulation No 305/2011 sets the conditions for marketing of building products, setting the description of their performance based on essential characteristics and the use of CE marking.

Directives

For example, directive 2004/42/CE defines and regulates the maximum solvent content in primers, paints, varnishes, etc., both solvent-based and water-based, setting specific limits for individual categories and involving the need for marking.

Example of CE label for a substrate preparation coat: Direttiva 2004/42/CE - Categoria H, sottocategoria BS < 750 g/l (2010) SLC ECO EP21 < 1 g/l COV. Directive 2004/42/EC - Category H, subcategory SB < 750 g/l (2010) SLC ECO EP21 < 1 g/l VOC.

National Standards and Regulations

Every country has national technical standards, technical rules, codes of practice, regulations, etc., that need to be assessed before using the options proposed.

Examples of this may be: BS for Great Britain, DIN for Germany, CSTB for France, UNI for Italy, SIA for Switzerland, etc.

GEV-EMICODE Certification

The EMICODE® classification system issued by GEV (the German Association controlling volatile organic compound emissions) defines products according to the quantity of VOC emitted. Products are classified as EC1PLUS (very low emission), EC1 (very low emission), EC2 (low emission).

Hardwood Floors Laying Systems Index

  • Hardwood Floor Laying on Cement-Based Screed: Guarantees safe laying of solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring on traditional sand and cement screeds. Ideal for new builds and renovations. System with very low VOC emissions. (Page 6)

  • Hardwood Floor Laying on Anhydrite Screed or Gypsum Panels: Guarantees safe laying of hardwood flooring on anhydride screeds, gypsum panels, plasterboard, substrate dry-lining sheets. Ideal for new builds and renovations. System with very low VOC emissions. (Page 8)

  • Hardwood Floor Laying on Existing Ceramic Tile Floors: Guarantees safe laying of solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring on existing ceramic tile floors. Protects the hardwood floor from possible residual humidity. Ideal in renovation work, avoids demolition and reconstruction. System with very low VOC emissions. (Page 10)

  • Hardwood Floor Laying on Timber Substrates: Guarantees safe laying of solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring on existing wooden floors and on wooden panels. Ideal in renovation work, avoids demolition and reconstruction. System with very low VOC emissions. (Page 12)

  • Hardwood Floor Laying on Timber Substrates with Heating System: Guarantees excellent heat diffusion. Optimises heating system performance. Insensitive to changes in temperature. System with very low VOC emissions. (Page 14)

  • Quick System for Hardwood Floor Laying: Simple and versatile, ideal for renovation work. Fast and safe in all conditions. Specific for localised operations and repairs. System with very low VOC emissions. (Page 16)

Hardwood Floor Laying on Cement-Based Screed

  • Guarantees safe laying of solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring on traditional sand and cement screeds.
  • Ideal for new builds and renovations.
  • Easy and simple long-term hardwood floor finishing that respects and enhances the natural qualities of the wood.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • System with very low VOC emissions, improves the quality of air and increases the level of health protection for operators.

System Layers (from bottom to top): 1. Substrate (e.g., concrete slab). 2. Preparation of substrate (e.g., Keracem® Eco Pronto screed). 3. Humidity barrier/consolidation (e.g., Slc® Eco EP21). 4. Adhesive (e.g., Slc® Eco L34 Flex New). 5. Hardwood flooring. 6. Finishing varnish (e.g., Slc® Eco Aqua-Pur HPX).

Finishing of Hardwood Floors