Impact on Inhabited Space
Another driver for alternative solutions is the desire to reconfigure an area or to use the space immediately after installation. Whereas traditional options are literally stuck in place, these technologies allow flexibility.
Like click systems, BioFelt can be placed over existing floors and removed without leaving residue, presenting myriad choices for reconfiguring spaces.
“If a tile is stained or damaged, you can pop it up and replace it right away,” Sultan says, adding this makes it ideal for use in trade shows. It was used during the London Olympics this summer at a temporary facility in the Design Museum. For about a month, the BioFelt tile system covered 2,200 square feet of floor space, then was removed without a trace.
“It costs two to three times more than normal adhesives,” Sultan says. “But if you need to replace a floor quickly or remove it entirely, it’s a great solution.”
Peel-and-stick systems are permanent, but they also impact the space positively, especially if you have a time-sensitive project. Without requiring time to dry, systems like this can immediately accommodate foot traffic and furniture, Migliore says.
“We see EnviroSTIX being used a lot in healthcare settings,” Schlisner explains. “If you need to redo floors, an epoxy adhesive could take 72 hours to dry. That’s three days without an area of the hospital, which is a lot of money lost.”
Although at a premium now, these new technologies are fast becoming more common.
“We’re going down a path where adhesives out of a bucket are going to be used less and less,” Migliore says. “People need to know which new system works for their application and how it affects operations.”
Chris Curtland christopher.curtland@buildings.com is assistant editor of
BUILDINGS.