- Where is ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring manufactured?
ECOsurfaces commercial rubber flooring is manufactured by
ECORE International at their plants in Lancaster and York, Pennsylvania.
- How is ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring produced?
ECOsurfaces recycled rubber flooring is manufactured using post-consumer SBR tire rubber and ColorMill® EPDM. These materials are bound together in an elastomeric network produced with a low-embodied energy manufacturing process that requires minimal water, avoids heat, and reuses in-line scrap to decrease waste. The result is a stunning environmentally sustainable surfacing collection that passes the most stringent tests for VOC emissions and indoor air quality. For more information on FloorScore please
click here to read our release.
- What is SBR?
SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber) is the most widely used type of synthetic rubber. Its manufacturing involves copolymerization of butadiene and styrene monomers. Perhaps, the most widely used application is tires. SBR is
ECORE International's chief raw material. The SBR used in the production of ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring is recycled black scrap tire. The scrap is cleaned to remove fiber, metal and other impurities. Additionally, the SBR is ground to specified sizes for use in manufacturing.
- What is EPDM?
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is an organic synthetic elastomer which, when cured, has many properties equivalent to or better than those of natural virgin rubber.
Our ECORE scientists have designed the ColorMill product using state of the art light stabilizers and additives to insure color stability, wear characteristics, durability, flexibility and UV resistance over the life of the product.
The color for ECORE’s EPDM originates primarily from carefully selected dyes and pigments to offer the most abundant and attractive colors in the industry.
- From where do your tires originate?
Our scrap rubber is supplied from locations within 500 miles of ECORE’s manufacturing site in Lancaster, PA 17603.
We receive two types of tire rubber: whole tire from passenger vehicles, which comes in round granules; and truck retreads, which comes in shredded form. The blend of rubber (round or shredded) utilized varies by each product. The rubber is triple distilled in order to ensure all dirt, fiber and metal is removed from ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring recycled rubber flooring products.
- How do your rubber flooring products do in terms of IAQ/emission of VOCs?
ECOsurfaces rubber flooring and rubber flooring systems conform to the criteria established by the State of Washington for indoor air quality.
Our adhesive, E-Grip III is a revolutionary zero-VOC adhesive. The low odor, one-component urethane adhesive is formulated specifically for use with ECORE’s family of surfacing products. It features excellent trowelability and improved tack properties, making it easy to apply and create flat, concealed seams. E-Grip III has been specifically engineered to be solvent-free. With a moisture-cured, no-mix, non-sag and permanently elastic formula, it provides excellent adhesion to elastomers, concrete, and wood in both indoor and outdoor applications. E-Grip III flooring adhesive also meets the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria (section 01350) for indoor air quality in classrooms, as described in the state of California’s Department of Health Services Standard Practice. The emission test followed the California Department of Health Services “Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers,” commonly referred to as the CA Section 01350 protocol. Due to its zero-VOC content, E-Grip III adhesive meets all indoor environmental quality standards for low emitting materials and can potentially contribute 1 point toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Our recommended cleaner and sealer from Taski meets criteria established by SCAQMD.
Our flooring products do NOT contain PVC or formaldehyde.
- Can you describe the “Green” properties of your manufacturing process?
- We use minimal water
- All Scrap is reused to eliminate waste
- Our process does not include “heat” to cure the rubber, it is cured at room temperature
- Air quality of our plant is good – minimal odor
- No smoke stacks
- What is the percentage breakdown of recycled content of your rubber flooring product?
- SBR tire rubber is 100% post-consumer content.
- EPDM chips are 30% post-industrial.
- The exact composition of post-consumer/post-industrial make up varies on the particular product (nights/earth/stone/rocks/max) and color. Please see our green technical data sheet entitled ECOsurfaces and LEED for a detailed breakdown of recycled content.
- Can ECOsurfaces rubber flooring contribute to obtaining LEED credits?
YES! ECOsurfaces rubber flooring can assist in obtaining a total of 7 points in 2 out of the 6 categories of LEED-NC (LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations) and 12 points in 2 out of the 6 categories of LEED-EB (LEED for Existing Buildings). Please refer to our
ECOsurfaces and LEED document.
- How do ECOsurfaces rubber flooring products test in terms of slip resistance?
The higher the coefficient of friction, the less slippery the surfacing will be. The coefficient of friction for ECOsurfaces rubber flooring products range from .85 -.9 for rubber on concrete
- The ADA standard for coefficient of friction is .5
- The higher the coefficient of friction, the better
- The coefficient of friction for ECOsurfaces rubber flooring products range from .85 -.9
- For SBR and EPDM
- For both leather and rubber soles
- Wet and dry
- With coatings (both Derma and Taski) still had a minimum of .9
- Overall our coefficient of friction is 80% better than the minimum standard
- What are the basic installation steps?
- Dry lay the rubber flooring; acclimate overnight
- Overlap and double cut to ensure a nice, tight seam
- Lift rubber flooring, apply glue, re-lay
- Blue tape or weigh down the seams wherever gaps may appear (no duct tape)
- Allow glue to set 24 hours before traffic
- Clean
- Apply (buff) recommended sealer to the rubber flooring – 2-3 coats (Taski is a thinner sealer, more suitable for dirty environments; Derma is a non-porous “skin”)
- 5 year warranty
- How do you clean your rubber flooring product?
- Vacuum/sweep
- Damp mop using our own ECORE Green Solutions E-Cleaner
- Pereriodic extraction cleaning/strip/reapply coatings
- In what sizes is ECOsurfaces rubber flooring offered?
ECOsurfaces rubber flooring is available in standard 4’ wide rolls, up to 50’ feet in length, and 36” x 36” or 18” x 18” tiles in a variety of thicknesses. Custom roll sizes are also available.
- How much is your rubber flooring product?
- Where is ECOsurfaces rubber flooring used?
ECOsurfaces rubber flooring and rubber flooring systems are appropriate for a wide variety of applications:
- Retail/mercantile – check outs, sales floors, specialty areas, fitting areas
- Hospitality – vending areas, health clubs, entrances, stairways
- Offices/corporate environments – meeting rooms, cafeterias, mail rooms, common areas
- Educational facilities/libraries/museums – throughout
- Parks/recreation – water parks, exhibits, outdoor fountain areas, pool areas
- Hospitals/healthcare – entrances, day care centers, nursing homes
- Apartment buildings/condos – entrances, stairways, sound underlayment between floors, pool areas
- Child play areas/malls – indoor play areas, child care areas
- Are there any areas where ECOsurfaces rubber flooring should NOT be used?
- Garages (petroleum based solvents break down rubber causing it to swell)
- Kitchens/food prep areas
- “Clean” rooms
- What is your turn around time for: Standard orders, custom color, custom logos?
- Standard: If product is in stock – as little as 1 week; non-stocked item – 2-3 weeks
- Custom: 2-6 weeks – (largely depends on time for client approval)
- Logos: 2-6 weeks
- How dry will the concrete need to be before I install my ECOsurfaces flooring?
Concrete should be given a minimum of 28 days to dry before applying our single component urethane adhesive. ECORE recommends the concrete be tested using either the ASTM F-1869 Calcium Chloride test method or the ASTM F-2170 test for Relative Humidity. Calcium Chloride results should not exceed 5.5 lbs and RH should not exceed 75%. If levels exceed these parameters than an approved vapor retardant should be utilized.
- Can I apply a sealer to the concrete?
ECORE’s recommendation has always been to prepare the concrete according to ASTM F-710 standards. We recommend the substrate be clean, dry, smooth, level and structurally sound. The surface should be free of dust, solvents, paint, wax, oil, grease, curing and hardening compounds, sealers, alkaline salts, old adhesive residue and any other extraneous materials that may affect the adhesive bond. If a sealer is used it should be removed prior to installation of our materials by mechanical means. Chemical methods for removal are not recommended.
- Do I have to allow the materials to acclimate before installation?
Yes, all rolls, tiles and adhesive should be staged in the area to be installed for a minimum of 48 hours prior to the installation. Please refer to ECORE’s Technical and Installation manuals for specific instructions on installation.
- When installing product indoors, at what temperature should the rooms be set?
Ideally, areas to receive our flooring products should be weather tight and maintained at a minimum uniform temperature of 65° for 48 hours before, during and after the installation.
- Can I install ECOsurfaces over wood?
Yes, wood subfloors should be double constructed with a minimum thickness of 1”. The floor must be rigid, free from movement and have at least 18” of air space below. The preferred underlayment panel is an APA approved plywood with a fully sanded face.
- Can I use LUAN or Waferboard as a substitute for plywood?
No, these types of underlayment’s can be problematic with both the adhesive bond and structural integrity. The preferred wood underlayment is an APA approved plywood with a fully sanded face.
- How do I remove adhesive bleed-through at the seams or from the top side of ECOsurfaces flooring?
EGRIP III is a single component moisture cured urethane adhesive. It is important to remove any adhesive from the surface while it is still wet. Once the adhesive dries it can only be removed by mechanical means which can damage the surface of our product. To remove wet adhesive use a rag dampened with mineral spirits to gently wipe away the adhesive. Do not scrub the wet adhesive into the pores of the surface or it may become a permanent part of the flooring.
- How much overlap of the seam do I need when double cutting ECOsurfaces flooring?
Generally 1-2 inches will suffice. The overlap is often enough that the straight edge used while cutting can be lined up evenly with the top edge of the ECOsurfaces. This procedure eliminates the need to make measurements the entire length of the roll goods prior to your cut.
- Why is it necessary to overlap and double the ECOsurfaces?
Sometimes at the jobsite or during shipping the material is stored on end which can create a slight memory curl at the seam edge. Contaminants can also come into contact with the rolls causing some slight discoloration on the bright colored surfaces. It is recommended to double cut the seam to insure a tight seam that is free from curl or color disparity.
- Why is it necessary to lay the product in roll number sequence?
As with all types of flooring products there are batch and roll numbers. Different batches can be slightly different in shade. To maintain the highest level of shade consistency it is important to install rolls sequentially.
- Why is it necessary to keep rolls running in the same direction?
When ECOsurfaces product is manufactured it will have a directional texture similar to the nap of carpeting which will reflect the light differently. If rolls are turned or flipped they can appear darker or lighter than the sequenced roll beside it.
