Installation Instructions

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Safety for yourself and others on the job site is your responsibility as
a professional ooring installer. Read and observe the following safety
precautions.
• Read and follow the safety precautions and warnings printed on the
label of the installation accessory products being used. Obtain the
appropriate MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS) for information
that may be required for products which may contain hazardous mate-
rials. MSDS are available for the adhesive, joint sealer, and grout. You
may obtain an MSDS for these products by calling or writing to your
Congoleum distributor or contacting Congoleum at the address
or phone number listed on this page.
• Wood and concrete: If working on wood or concrete suboors, use
proper safety precautions when sanding or grinding. Avoid creat-
ing dust. Concrete and cementitious patching compounds contain
crystalline silica, which is a known carcinogen. Wood dust is classified
as a nasal carcinogen in humans. Airborne wood dust may also be an
explosive hazard.
• Resilient Flooring
WARNING
Do not sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, beadblast, or mechani-
cally chip or pulverize existing resilient flooring, backing, lining felt,
asphaltic “cutback” adhesive, or other adhesive. These products may
contain asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica. Avoid creating dust.
Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard.
Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases
the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the
product is a non-asbestos containing material, you must presume
it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be
tested to determine asbestos content and may govern the removal
and disposal of material. Whenever possible, existing flooring should
be left in place and the new floor installed over the top. If you must
remove old flooring material, contact your retailer or Congoleum
Corporation, Installation Department, P.O. Box 3127, Mercerville, NJ
08619, for a copy of recommended work practices for the removal
of resilient floor coverings. These practices should be followed.
NOTICE
Various federal, state and local government agencies have regulations
covering the removal of in-place asbestos containing material. If you con-
template the removal of a resilient floor covering structure that contains
(or is presumed to contain) asbestos, you must review and comply with
all applicable regulations. Regulations outside the United States may vary.
Copies of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) Recommended Work
Practices for the Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings are available from:
Resilient Floor Covering Institute
115 Broad Street
Suite 201
La Grange, GA 30240
Please note that the RFCI Recommended Work Practices are subject to
change as new practices are incorporated. It is your responsibility to de-
termine that the recommended work practices you use are those in effect.
CAUTION: PAINTS CONTAINING LEAD
Certain paints may contain lead. Common renovation activities like
sanding, cutting, removal of trim and demolition can create hazardous
lead dust and chips which can be harmful. Beginning April 22, 2010
contractors performing renovation projects, including preparation of
an area to receive floor covering, that disturb lead –based paints in
pre- 1978 homes, child care facilities and schools must be certied
and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
Detailed information on training and certification is available through the
EPA at the following web site www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/toolkits.htm.
MOLD AND MILDEW ISSUES
Prior to removing an existing oor following the RFCI Recommended Work
Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings (unless state or local
law requires other measures), if there are visible indications of mold or
mildew or the presence of a strong musty odor in the area where resilient
flooring is to be removed or installed, the source of the problem should
be identied and corrected before proceeding with the ooring work. In
virtually all situations, if there is a mold issue, there is or has been an
excessive moisture issue. Visible signs of mold or mildew (such as discol-
oration) can indicate the presence of mold or mildew on the subfloor, on
the underlayment, on the back of the flooring, and sometimes even on the
oor surface. If mold or mildew is discovered during the removal or instal-
lation of resilient flooring, all flooring work should stop until the mold or
mildew problem (and any related moisture problem) has been addressed.
In areas where ooding has occurred, it is recommended that damaged
ooring be removed following the RFCI Recommended Work Practices for
Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings (unless state or local law requires
other measures). Any underlayment and subfloor should be allowed to
thoroughly dry and, if necessary, cleaned, disinfected, and otherwise re-
mediated consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
guidelines referenced below. Any structural damage or signs of mold or
mildew must be corrected before reinstalling resilient flooring. This may
include, for example, replacement of the underlayment and/or suboor.
For water damage caused by leaking fixtures, the source of the moisture
leak must be located and corrected. Any structural damage must be
repaired and any signs of mold or residual moisture must be addressed
before replacing the resilient flooring in the affected area.
To deal with mold and mildew issues, you should refer to the EPA guide-
lines that address mold and mildew. Depending on the mold and mildew
condition present, those remediation options range from clean up mea-
sures using gloves and biocide to hiring a professional mold and mildew
remediation contractor to address the condition. Remediation measures
may require structural repairs such as replacing the underlayment and/
or subfloor contaminated with mold and mildew as a result of prolonged
exposure to moisture.
The EPA mold guidelines are contained in two publications “A Brief Guide
To Mold, Moisture and Your Home” (EPA 402-K-02-003) and “Mold
Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” (EPA 402-K-01-001).
Appendix B of the “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial
Buildings” publication describes potential health effects from exposure
to mold, such as allergic and asthma reactions and irritation to eyes, skin,
nose and throat. These publications can be located on EPA’s website at
www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/
• Keep work areas free of obstructions, such as tools and scrap or loose
tiles, and dispose of scrap materials promptly and properly to eliminate
a slip or trip hazard.
• Always use the correct lifting practices.
• Use heavy-duty extension cords and keep them in good repair.
• If using minerals spirits as suggested in this guide, CAUTION: Minerals
spirits is a ammable material. Read and follow cautionary instructions
on the labels of these products.
• Wear protective equipment when appropriate such as safety glasses,
respirators, NIOSH-designated dust masks, kneepads, gloves, etc.
2
May 2015