Floor standards and how to achieve them: Ask the experts with Ross Verity, the director of ForceDry Ltd.
Q - British Standard BS8204-7 for screeds and in situ flooring – what is it?
“Basically, it means a screed floor laid with underfloor heating must be commissioned and conditioned to a working temperature in a controlled fashion.”
Q - How is it achieved?
“Using a set programme, the floor is gradually heated over a period of time. This allows the floor to expand and contract as it experiences heat for the first time. Then the cycle is reversed cooling the floor down gradually in a controlled manner.”
Q – What do you need to achieve it?
"With the right system it’s simple, you just needs to run through a set programme. Depending on the type and depth of the screed it can be done in as little as 16 days. You can run these systems on a limited electrical power supply. If a site doesn’t have first or second fix plumbing or even a live core it doesn’t matter either. Even during the programme, you’re able to continue working, the heat also benefits other trades in drying materials like plastering and paint work etc.”
Q – Why do it?
“BS8204-7 is a quality benchmark to achieve and an opportunity to ensure the floor really is ready for floor finishes as well as fit for purpose. When you take a moment to really consider it, by not achieving this standard before you sign off your part in a project, you’re taking a huge risk. If it goes wrong remedial work is very expensive.
The most common issues we see as a result of not meeting this standard is warping, bulging, cracking and de-bonding of floor finishes. This typically happens once residents have moved into a building and turned on the UFH for the first time. The floor is suddenly shocked by the heat and any moisture in the screed is then forced out through the floor finishes. It can cause a real mess.
Companies have started to join the dots on projects more and more and realise the true cost of remedial work. One client came to us because a single project cost them north of £500k in floor remedial work! For a lot of companies, it’s not just their already tight profit margins that feel the bite, it’s their reputation. It’s a competitive market so you have to take care of yourself.”
Q – Are there any other benefits?
“The standard programme can complete in 16 days but, you can run the same equipment for 4 more days more and it’ll force dry the screed at the same time. Quick dry screed with the perfect environment takes at least 60 days to dry. You can dry, commission and condition screed in 21. That is a great insurance policy and a huge amount of time saved on a project. For most of our clients time and especially overrun, can be one of the biggest bills on a job.”