FLOORING
GAINING GROUND
Facilities managers are always looking for building materials and techniques which can provide added value for their spaces, whether that’s improved functionality, easier maintenance or enhanced sustainability credentials. Here, Donna Hannaway, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, discusses how adhesive free flooring can meet these needs and more.
A 21st century addition to flooring solutions, adhesive free flooring takes many different shapes, from sheet and tile solutions, with extremely stable backings that ensure that the flooring stays in place without adhesive, to specialised double-sided tapes or magnetic tabs. This means facilities managers are presented with a wide array of options when looking to utilise adhesive free flooring in their buildings. But what makes adhesive free so great?
Faster refurbs One major benefit of adhesive free flooring is the faster installation it offers. In fact, going down the adhesive free route can reduce installation time by as much as 50% in some cases, allowing twice as much work to be completed in the same amount of time as using traditional adhesives. With minimal subfloor preparation required, adhesive drying and curing times also do not have to be accounted for.
Without the need to factor in the additional steps associated with glue, adhesive free flooring can be walked on immediately after installation. This can minimise downtime and ensure your spaces are returned to normal operations even quicker – especially critical for refurbishments in education, healthcare or office spaces where disruption must be kept to an absolute minimum.
Sustainability and wellbeing Sustainability is a key focus for facilities managers across all sectors, with embodied carbon and circularity crucial considerations in the spaces you manage. With this in mind, finding alternative products, materials and
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installation methods that promote enhanced sustainability can be vital. Adhesive-free flooring does just this.
The absence of adhesive means that each tile, plank or sheet solution can be easily uplifted at the end of its in- use life and either reused in other projects or recycled. Contributing to a more circular economy, this can reduce the amount of waste unnecessarily sent to landfill.
Another advantage of adhesive free installations is that there are no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), commonly associated with traditional adhesive, left lingering in the air. As well as promoting indoor air quality and positive health and wellbeing for end users, it again allows a space to be used promptly after the completion of a refurbishment or install.
Diverse range of solutions Recognising the benefits of adhesive free flooring, many manufacturers are now investing in the development of new adhesive free solutions. As a result, there are a multitude of options available to suit all needs and applications, ranging from safety flooring and general- purpose vinyl to barrier matting, carpet tiles and acoustic solutions. This is perfect for commercial interiors, where different products will be required to meet the functionality of each individual area within the building.
For example, if you’re looking to complete a refurbishment in a school, you may need a hard-wearing, easy to clean and comfortable floor covering for a classroom, making carpet tiles ideal. Alternatively, for the healthcare sector,
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