ASTM F710-98
(Practice)Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring
Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the acceptability of a concrete floor for receiving the installation of resilient flooring.
1.2 This practice includes suggestions for the construction of a concrete floor to ensure its acceptability for installation of resilient flooring.
1.3 This practice does not cover the adequacy of the concrete floor to perform its structural requirements.
1.4 This practice covers the necessary preparation of such floors prior to the installation of resilient flooring.
1.5 This practice does not supersede in any manner the resilient flooring manufacturer's instruction. Consult the individual manufacturer for specific recommendations.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 710 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 710; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Used In Contact With Soil or Granular Fill Under Concrete
Slabs
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the acceptabil-
E 1486 Test Method for Determining Floor Tolerances Us-
ity of a concrete floor for the installation of resilient flooring.
ing Waviness, Wheel Path, and Levelness Criteria
1.2 This practice includes suggestions for the construction
F 141 Terminology Relating to Resilient Floor Coverings
of a concrete floor to ensure its acceptability for installation of
F 1869 Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emis-
resilient flooring.
sion Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium
1.3 This practice does not cover the adequacy of the
Chloride
concrete floor to perform its structural requirements.
1.4 This practice covers the necessary preparation of con-
NOTE 1—Specifications and test methods for cements and other related
crete floors prior to the installation of resilient flooring.
materials are found in ASTM Volume 04.01. Specifications and test
methods for concretes and related materials are found in ASTM Volume
1.5 This practice does not supersede in any manner the
04.02.
resilient flooring or adhesive manufacturer’s written instruc-
tions. Consult the individual manufacturer for specific recom-
2.2 ACI Guides:
mendations.
302.1R Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
117R Standard Tolerances for Concrete Construction and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Materials
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2.3 Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI):
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Recommended Work Practices for the Removal of Resilient
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Floor Coverings
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
2.4 Other Standards:
as standard. The values in parentheses are mathematical
MASTERSPEC Guide Spec Section 03300, “Cast-In-
conversions to SI units and are provided for information only.
Place Concrete”
SPECTEXT Guide Spec Section 03346, “Concrete Floor
2. Referenced Documents 9
Finishing”
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3. Terminology
C 33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates
C 109/C 109M Test Method for Compressive Strength of
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of terms used in this
Hydraulic Cement Mortars
practice, see Terminology F 141.
C 309 Specification for Liquid Membrane-Forming Com-
4. General Guidelines
pounds for Curing Concrete
C 472 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Gypsum 4.1 Concrete floors to receive resilient flooring shall be
Cement
permanently dry, clean, smooth, and structurally sound. They
D 4259 Practice for Abrading Concrete shall be free of dust, solvent, paint, wax, oil, grease, residual
E 1155 Test Method for Determining FF/FL (Floor Flatness
adhesive, adhesive removers, curing, sealing, hardening, or
and Floor Levelness) parting compounds, alkaline salts, excessive carbonation or
E 1745 Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders
laitence, mold, mildew, and other foreign materials that might
prevent adhesive bond.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-6 on Resilient
Floor Coverings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F06.40 on Available from American Concrete Institute, 19150 Redford Station, Detroit,
Practices. MI 48219.
Current edition approved November 10, 1998. Published March 1999. Originally Resilient Floor Covering Institute, 966 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD
published as F 710 – 81. Last previous edition F 710 – 92. 20850.
2 8
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. Available from MASTERSPEC, AIA Master Systems, King Street Station, 225
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01. Reinekers Lane, Suite 215, Alexandria, VA 22314-2875.
4 9
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02. Available from SPECTEXT, National Institute of Building Sciences, 1090
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.04. Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005-4905.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 710
4.2 Surface cracks, grooves, depressions, control joints or 5.3 Alkalinity Testing—Concrete floors shall be tested for
other non-moving joints, and other irregularities shall be filled alkalinity prior to the installation of resilient flooring. Levels of
or smoothed with latex patching or underlayment compound pH shall not exceed the written recommendations of the
recommended by the resilient flooring manufacturer for filling resilient flooring manufacturer or the adhesive manufacturer, or
or smoothing, or both. Patching or underlayment compound both.
shall be moisture-, mildew-, and alkali-resistant, and, for 5.3.1 To test for pH at the surface of a concrete slab, use
commercial installations, shall provide a minimum of 3500 psi wide range pH paper, its associated pH chart, and distilled or
compressive strength after 28 days, when tested in accordance deionized water. Place several drops of water on a clean
with Test Method C 109 or Test Method C 472, whichever is surface of concrete, forming a puddle approximately 1 in. (25
appropriate. mm) in diameter. Allow the puddle to set for 60 6 5 s, then dip
4.2.1 Joints such as expansion joints, isolation joints, or the pH paper into the water. Remove immediately, and com-
other moving joints in concrete slabs shall not be filled with pare to chart to determine pH reading. Readings in excess of
patching compound or covered with resilient flooring. Consult 9.0 have been known to affect resilient flooring or adhesives, or
the resilient flooring manufacturer regarding the use of an both. Refer to resilient flooring manufacturer’s written instruc-
expansion joint covering system. tions for guidelines on acceptable pH levels. See X1.4 for more
4.3 The surface of the floor shall be cleaned of all loose information about pH levels in concrete slabs.
material by scraping, brushing, vacuuming, or other methods,
6. Preparation of New Concrete Floors
or a combination thereof, as recommended by the resilient
flooring manufacturer, immediately before commencing instal-
6.1 New concrete slabs shall be properly cured and dried
lation of resilient flooring.
before installation of resilient flooring. Drying time before
4.4 Many resilient floorings may not be installed over
slabs are ready for moisture testing will vary depending on
concrete when residual asphalt adhesive residue is present.
atmospheric conditions and mix design. See X1.3 for more
Consult the resilient flooring manufacturer’s written recom-
information. Floors containing lightweight aggregate or excess
mendations concerning use of resilient flooring products in
water, and those which are allowed to dry from only one side,
these situations.
such as concrete on metal deck construction, may need a much
4.5 Concrete floors shall be smooth to prevent irregularities,
longer drying time and should not be covered with resilient
roughness, or other defects from telegraphing through the new
flooring unless the moisture vapor emission rate meets the
resilient flooring. The surface of concrete floors shall be flat to
manufacturer’s installation specifications.
within the equivalent of ⁄16 in. (3.9 mm) in 10 ft, as described
in ACI 117R, or as measured by the method described in Test 7. Preparation of Existing Concrete Floors
Method E 1155 or any industry-recognized method specified.
7.1 The resilient flooring manufacturer shall be consulted
See X1.7 for more information regarding flatness measurement
regarding the necessity of removal of old resilient flooring,
methods.
adhesive residue, paint, or other surface contaminants. If old
resilient flooring, paint, or adhesive residue is to be removed,
5. Testing Procedures
follow Note 3 and Note 4:
5.1 Concrete floors to receive resilient flooring shall be free
of sealers, coatings, finishes, dirt, curing compounds, or other
NOTE 3—Warning: Do not sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw,
beadblast, or mechanically chip or pulverize existing resilient flooring,
substances which may affect the rate of moisture dissipation
backing, lining felt, paint, asphaltic cutback adhesives, or other adhesives.
from the concrete or the adhesion of resilient flooring to the
These products may contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica. Avoid
concrete. Non-chemical methods for removal, such as abrasive
creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract
cleaning or bead-blasting, including methods described in
hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly
Practice D 4259 may be used on existing slabs with deleterious
increases the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the
residues to achieve an appropriate state for testing. Cleaning
product is a nonasbestos-containing material, presume that it contains
shall take place a minimum of 48 h before testing. asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be tested to determine
asbestos content. The Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s (RFCI’s)
NOTE 2—Warning: Hydraulic cement used in concrete construction
recommended work practices for removal of existing resilient floor
may contain trace amounts of free crystalline silica. Prolonged exposure to
coverings should be consulted for a defined set of instructions addressed
airborne free crystalline silica may be a health hazard. Avoid actions that
to the task of removing all resilient floor covering structures.
cause dust to become airborne. Use local or general ventilation to control
NOTE 4—Caution: Certain paints may contain lead. Exposure to ex-
exposures below applicable exposure limits.
cessive amounts of lead dust presents a health hazard. Refer to applicable
federal, state, and local laws and guidelines for hazard identification and
5.2 Moisture Testing— In accordance with Test Method
abatement of lead-based paint published by the U.S. Department of
F 1869, the moisture emission from the concrete floor shall not
Housing and Urban Development regarding appropriate methods for
2 2
exceed 3 lb/1000 ft (170 μg/m ) per 24 h at the time of testing,
identifying lead-based paint and removing such paint, and any licensing,
unless otherwise specified by the flooring or adhesive manu-
certification, and training requirements for persons performing lead
facturer. In addition to Test Method F 1869, other test methods
abatement work.
may be acceptable to the resilient flooring manufacturer. These
methods include, but are not limited to, the rubber mat test,
moisture meter testing, hygrometer, or adhesive bond test.
Lead-Based Paint: Interim Guidelines for Hazard Identification and Abate-
Consult the resilient flooring manufacturer’s written instruc-
ment in Public and Indian Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
tions for acceptable test methods. Development, Washington, DC, 1990.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 710
7.2 Adhesive Removers—There are a number of commercial slabs providing the maximum temperature of the surface of the
adhesive removers that will properly remove adhesive residue slab does not exceed 85°F (29°C) under any condition of use.
from a subfloor, however, there are concerns that these prod-
Consult the resilient flooring manufacturer for specific recom-
ucts may adversely effect the new adhesive and new floor
mendations.
covering. The Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s (RFCI’s)
recommended work practices for removal of existing resilient
9. Keywords
floor coverings and the resilient flooring manufacturer’s writ-
9.1 adhesive removers; cement; concrete floors; installation;
ten instructions should be consulted for a defined set of
moisture; moisture vapor emissions; pH testing; preparation;
instructions which should be followed if existing adhesives
resilient flooring; rubber; slabs
must be removed.
8. Installation on Radiant Heated Floors
8.1 Most resilient flooring can be installed on radiant heated
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. CONCRETE COMPOSITION AND PRACTICES
X1.1 General—This brief information on concrete compo- Moderate to moderately low water-cement ratios (0.40 to 0.45)
sition and practices is provided to help specifiers, resilient can be used to produce floor slabs that can easily be placed,
flooring installers, and resilient flooring manufacturers under- finished, and dried, and which will have acceptable permeabil-
stand the properties of concrete. A concrete slab is not an inert ity to moisture. Floor slabs with water-cement ratios above
substrate. It is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic 0.60 take an exceedingly long time to dry and cause adhesives
substances whose properties and condition will affect the or floor coverings, or both, to fail due to high moisture
performance of a floor covering placed on its surface. Surface permeability.
flatness, strength, joints, alkalinity, permeability, and many
X1.3 Curing and Drying New Concrete:
other concrete properties will have a significant effect on the
long-term appearance and performance of resilient flooring.
X1.3.1 Freshly placed concrete sets and gains strength by
X1.1.1 Concrete used for most floors is a mixture of the chemical reaction of water with the silicate and aluminate
materials in the cement. As long as water is available during
hydraulic cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate
(stone), water and admixtures. In addition to these batch the planned curing period, the concrete will continue to gain
strength and decrease its permeability. A minimum of 7 days
ingredients, chemical admixtures can be used to control the
wet curing is usually required. Two alternative approaches to
setting time, rate of strength development, workability, air
entrapment, and other properties of concrete. For example, curing concrete are wet curing and the use of curing com-
pounds. Wet curing is accomplished by keeping the top surface
water-reduci
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