Add a Splash of Imagination - Congoleum.com

1 Add a Splash of Imagination DuraCeramic . DuraCeramic Dimensions . Ovations . Installation and Technical Guide SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. pre- 1978 homes, child care facilities and schools must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Safety for yourself and others on the job site is your responsibility as Detailed information on training and certification is available through the a professional flooring installer. Read and observe the following safety EPA at the following web site precautions.

2 Mold and Mildew Issues R ead and follow the safety precautions and warnings printed on the Prior to removing an existing floor following the RFCI Recommended Work label of the installation accessory products being used. Obtain the Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings (unless state or local appropriate MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS) for information law requires other measures), if there are visible indications of mold or that may be required for products which may contain hazardous mate- mildew or the presence of a strong musty odor in the area where resilient rials.

3 MSDS are available for the adhesive, joint sealer, and grout . You flooring is to be removed or installed, the source of the problem should may obtain an MSDS for these products by calling or writing to your be identified and corrected before proceeding with the flooring work. In Congoleum distributor or contacting Congoleum at the address virtually all situations, if there is a mold issue, there is or has been an or phone number listed on this page. excessive moisture issue. Visible signs of mold or mildew (such as discol- Wood and concrete: If working on wood or concrete subfloors, use oration) can indicate the presence of mold or mildew on the subfloor, on proper safety precautions when sanding or grinding.

4 Avoid creat- the underlayment, on the back of the flooring, and sometimes even on the ing dust. Concrete and cementitious patching compounds contain floor surface. If mold or mildew is discovered during the removal or instal- crystalline silica, which is a known carcinogen. Wood dust is classified lation of resilient flooring, all flooring work should stop until the mold or as a nasal carcinogen in humans. Airborne wood dust may also be an mildew problem (and any related moisture problem) has been addressed.

5 Explosive hazard. In areas where flooding has occurred, it is recommended that damaged Resilient Flooring flooring be removed following the RFCI Recommended Work Practices for Warning Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings (unless state or local law requires Do not sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, beadblast, or mechani- other measures). Any underlayment and subfloor should be allowed to cally chip or pulverize existing resilient flooring, backing, lining felt, thoroughly dry and, if necessary, cleaned, disinfected, and otherwise re- asphaltic cutback adhesive, or other adhesive.

6 These products may mediated consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). contain asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica. Avoid creating dust. guidelines referenced below. Any structural damage or signs of mold or Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard. mildew must be corrected before reinstalling resilient flooring. This may Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases include, for example, replacement of the underlayment and/or subfloor.

7 The risk of serious bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the For water damage caused by leaking fixtures, the source of the moisture product is a non-asbestos containing material, you must presume leak must be located and corrected. Any structural damage must be it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be repaired and any signs of mold or residual moisture must be addressed tested to determine asbestos content and may govern the removal before replacing the resilient flooring in the affected area.

8 And disposal of material. Whenever possible, existing flooring should To deal with mold and mildew issues, you should refer to the EPA guide- be left in place and the new floor installed over the top. If you must lines that address mold and mildew. Depending on the mold and mildew remove old flooring material, contact your retailer or Congoleum condition present, those remediation options range from clean up mea- Corporation, Installation Department, Box 3127, Mercerville, NJ sures using gloves and biocide to hiring a professional mold and mildew 08619, for a copy of recommended work practices for the removal remediation contractor to address the condition.

9 Remediation measures of resilient floor coverings. These practices should be followed. may require structural repairs such as replacing the underlayment and/. or subfloor contaminated with mold and mildew as a result of prolonged NOTICE. exposure to moisture. Various federal, state and local government agencies have regulations covering the removal of in-place asbestos containing material. If you con- The EPA mold guidelines are contained in two publications A Brief Guide template the removal of a resilient floor covering structure that contains To Mold, Moisture and Your Home (EPA 402-K-02-003) and Mold (or is presumed to contain) asbestos, you must review and comply with Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (EPA 402-K-01-001).

10 All applicable regulations. Regulations outside the United States may vary. Appendix B of the Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Copies of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) Recommended Work Buildings publication describes potential health effects from exposure Practices for the Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings are available from: to mold, such as allergic and asthma reactions and irritation to eyes, skin, nose and throat. These publications can be located on EPA's website at Resilient Floor Covering Institute 401 East Jefferson Street Suite 102 Keep work areas free of obstructions, such as tools and scrap or loose Rockville, MD 20850 tiles, and dispose of scrap materials promptly and properly to eliminate a slip or trip hazard.