MEEF - Flooring Material Selection

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Materials selection guide

Whether you are referring to metallic, mineral, steel, or iron ore aggregates, it is important to remember that they can be used to strengthen industrial floor surfaces. The material is broadcast onto and worked into the surface of wet concrete. One thing that separates them from dry shake hardeners is grain size. Dry shakes are well graded, and generally smaller than these aggregates. The coarseness, up to pea gravel or larger, adds to their durability.

Trap rock is a familiar example of mineral or metallic aggregate. It is usually a basaltic or diabasic aggregate known for being dense and wear resistant. It tends to be usually locally derived. Iron ore aggregate is also dense and wear resistant, and is available in the north central part of the United States. Colorquartz Accent Stone by 3M and its Indag product would also qualify as metallic aggregate. These heavier (or denser) aggregates are similar to those used in heavyweight concrete or radiation shielding applications. For a description of how to use trap rock (and other mineral or metallic aggregates) see "Trap Rock Aggregate for Floor Construction" (CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, October 1988).

Floor Classifications (adapted from Table 2.1 ACI 302.1R-04)

Class Usual traffic	Use

Exposed surface--foot traffic - decorative	Offices, churches, commercial
Covered surface--foot traffic with floor coverings	Office, churches, commercial
Exposed or covered	Unbonded or bonded topping
Exposed or covered--light vehicular traffic	Institutional or commercial,
Exposed surface-- industrial vehicular traffic	Industrial floors,
Exposed surface--heavy duty	Hard wheels, heavy loads
Exposed surface--heavy duty	Bonded two-course floors, for heavy traffic and impact
Exposed surface--heavy duty	Unbonded topping
Exposed surface--superflat	Narrow-aisle, high-bay warehouse


Class Special consideration	Final finish
Uniform finish, nonslip or colored aggregate	Normal steel--troweled finish
Flat slabs for applied coverings	Light steel--troweled finish
Unbonded: bondbreaker on slab Bonded: properly sized aggregate	Normal troweled finish for topping
Level slab for covering, nonslip aggregate for specific areas	Steel--troweled finish
Uniform subgrade, joint layout, abrasion resistance, curing	Hard steel--troweled finish
Uniform subgrade, joint layout, load transfer, abrasion resistance, curing	Metallic or mineral aggregate repeated hard steel troweling
Mineral or metallic aggregate surface hardener applied to high-strength plain topping	Power floats are optional, hard steel-troweled finish
Bondbreaker on slab, abrasion resistance	Hard steel-troweled finish
Various special procedures	Place in strips

                  
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