AmeriWorx: Precision Milled Conductive FloorinG

Die-cut tile has irregular edges, resulting in uneven seams.

Die-cutting is an imperfect procedure. By nature, it creates slight irregularities in the edges of the tiles. A die slams down on a 1/8″ piece of solid plastic. As the die cuts the tile, it also fractures the edges. The fractured edges may be only a couple of degrees off from a perfect right angle. On one tile, such variation is insignificant, often invisible to the naked eye. During installation, even infinitesimal variations can create unsightly gaps between tiles, compromising appearance and increasing installation time and cost.

Beveling weakens tile seams, creating high susceptibility to seam deflection.

To minimize fractures, some manufacturers cut the tile on a slight angle, or bevel. Bevels between adjacent tiles create voids, or air pockets. After installation, these air pockets become the weak link in the floor. Once the tiles are set in place, the air pockets cannot be filled. On the surface, the tiles butt against one another, rendering air pockets or voids inaccessible from above. Variations in the concrete substrate prevent installers from controlling the millage of the adhesive, so air pockets cannot be filled from below, either.

Point loads can crush any floor at its weakest point. Adhesive is far softer than solid vinyl. When heavy loads rest on seams that are filled in with adhesive, seam deflection can occur, crushing tiles or popping the seams. The only way to avoid this potential problem is by creating a perfect 90-degree angle on all four tile edges, through the entire thickness of the tile. Perfectly milled tile rests snugly against adjacent tile, eliminating any possibility of unsightly gaps, while providing extreme resistance against heavy loads.

Regular SVT is prone to dimensional instability and shrinkage.

Lack of squareness creates uneven joints between tiles. Over a 50 foot span, these small variations grow cumulatively to as much as ½”.

Solid vinyl tile is pressed, cut, processed and polished at high temperatures. As hot tiles move through the automated system, they begin to cool. Next, tiles are chilled by a series of water baths (filtered, recycled and reused water), in a process called annealing, used to inhibit dimensional changes. After this step, the tile is die-cut and prepared for shipment.

As with all polymers, the dimensions of SVT change slightly after manufacturing. This dimensional instability, caused by post-production temperature trauma and curling, can last for up to 72 hours. Because these changes are never perfectly proportionate, the size of die-cut tile varies. During shipment and storage, pressure and temperature changes can cause further dimensional instability, changing the size of a tile by as much as 1/16 of an inch, depending on tile composition, temperature, pressure and shipping distance.

Imperfect tile costs you time and money and creates ugly installations.

All StaticWorx AmeriWorx ESD vinyl tile meets ESD Association (ESDA) standards. 

During a recent survey of large flooring contractors we asked them to list the biggest complaints they have with the recent influx of offshore conductive and static dissipative vinyl flooring. Every response included major concerns about:

• Squareness, and shrinkage which create seam gaps – and call backs
• Economic liability for the contractor, the janitorial service and ultimately the owner, because of shrinkage and lack of squareness

Less than perfect vinyl tile costs time and money for the installer

The installer has to sort tiles and cut them in order to make them fit properly; they also need to buy extra tile to compensate for the tiles they can’t use. After installation, the owner is harnessed with permanent maintenance problems, including gaps in seams and ongoing shrinkage. Gaps collect dirt and compromise the visual appeal of a floor that was supposed to look like an operating room in a hospital.