Installation Instructions

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Installation & Maintenance Instructions

SMART STEP RUBBER STAIR TREAD

NOTICE TO OWNER & INSTALLER

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AS WELL AS CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS. PLEASE

MAKE CERTAIN THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE FLOOR OWNER. VPI WARRANTY WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE ONLY IF

THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED IN EVERY ASPECT.

IN SITUATIONS WHEN A WARRANTY CLAIM IS DEEMED VALID BY VPI, VPI’S LIMITED WARRANTY LIMITS VPI’S LIABILITY TO PARTIAL OR TOTAL

REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, CREDIT OR OTHER, AT VPI’S SOLE OPTION, FOR VPI FLOOR PRODUCTS FOR WHICH A CLAIM, VALIDATED BY VPI, HAS

BEEN MADE ACCORDING TO VPI’S CLAIM PROCEDURE.

CLAIMS FOR SURFACE DEFECTS OR VARIATIONS IN COLOR OR PATTERN MUST BE MADE TO VPI PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE MATERIAL.

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LABOR COSTS AND ALL OTHER NON-PRODUCT COSTS ARE NOT COVERED BY VPI OR THIS WARRANTY AS A

CONDITION OF SALE.

IN PARTICULAR, NOT USING VPI RECOMMENDED ADHESIVE AND NOSE CAULK IN ALL INSTALLATIONS OR FAILURE TO SAND (ROUGH UP) THE

BACK OF EACH TREAD AND NOSE PRIOR TO INSTALLING ON NONPOROUS INSTALLATIONS, ALONG WITH ANYTHING THAT DEVIATES FROM

THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS, VOIDS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE

FOR A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF VPI’S EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY, CONTACT: VPI CUSTOMER SERVICE. DO NOT USE VPI PRODUCTS IF

UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE WARRANTY.

VPI, CUSTOMER SERVICE, P.O. BOX 451, SHEBOYGAN, WI 53082-0451.

Website: www.vpiflooring.com

Please note: In all cases, installations should comply with procedures outlined in ASTM Standards for installation, at a minimum. For procedures

specific to VPI products, please refer to the instructions below or check our website for the most current recommended installation techniques.

General Setup

VPI stairwell management system and adhesive should be stored on the job site for 48 hours prior to the start of the installation.

Remove the treads from the cartons or pallet to ensure the treads are acclimated to the ambient temperature. Stair treads must be

stacked squarely on top of one another and never be stored on edge. Always protect the treads from damage while they are

acclimating to ambient temperature. Ambient and the product temperature should be maintained between 65° F and 85° F during

the installation, as well as for 48 hours before and after the installation.

SUB-FLOOR PREPARATION

All staircases must be structurally sound, dry, clean and free

of dirt, dust, wax, grease, paint, polishes, oil, curing

compounds, sealers and all other materials that would

interfere with good adhesion. The sub-floor surface must be

smooth and flat with a maximum variation of 1/8” in 10 feet.

All cracks, depressions and other imperfections must be

repaired with a high quality, cementitious or epoxy leveling

compound or appropriate underlayment. Any uncorrected

sub-floor irregularities may telegraph through the stair tread

and be visible on the surface of the finished installation.

Additional information regarding the sub-floor installation and

requirements can be found in ASTM F710.

NOTE: Gypsum-based underlayment products

should not be used.

Adhesive Bond Test: In addition to, and not in lieu of,

any relevant moisture tests, perform the Adhesive Bond Test

in several locations throughout the area to receive the stair

tread. Glue down, at minimum, a 3’ long stair tread with the

adhesive, roll with a hand roller, then allow to set for 72

hours. A sufficient amount of force should be required to

remove the stair tread. Bond tests should be done across

the recommended open time spectrum so that the optimal

working time can be determined. Working times vary

depending on substrate, environment and many other

factors.

**IMPORTANT**

Without dated documents showing pH, RH,

calcium chloride and bond test results, no

warranty claim will be accepted for

consideration.

CONCRETE

Moisture testing: It is essential that moisture tests be

performed on all concrete sub-floors regardless of the grade

level or whether or not the concrete is freshly poured or is

classified as an older slab. Moisture testing MUST be

performed by either:

ASTM F1869: Moisture Vapor by Calcium Chloride

ASTM F2170: Relative Humidity in Concrete Using

Probes

Moisture levels, when measured by these methods, are not

to exceed requirements below. If the test results exceed the

limitations, the installation should not proceed until the

problem has been corrected.

Adhesive Moisture Requirements:

VPI 503 MVER 6 lbs. maximum, RH 85%

It is recommended that new concrete slabs on or below

grade should be treated with a permanent moisture barrier

such as six mil polyethylene film. Any concrete in contact

with earth or with less than 18” of cross-ventilated air space

under it is considered to be on grade.

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
Installation & Maintenance Instructions SMART STEP RUBBER STAIR TREAD NOTICE TO OWNER & INSTALLER THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AS WELL AS CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE FLOOR OWNER. VPI WARRANTY WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE ONLY IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED IN EVERY ASPECT.
PAGE 2
SUB-FLOOR PREPARATION CONCRETE(cont) New concrete staircases must be properly cured. A drying time of one month per inch of concrete is generally required after a slab is poured and protected from the weather. Lightweight aggregate concrete floors, and floors with steel or plastic pan construction, and floors poured over a permanent moisture barrier usually require an extended drying time.
PAGE 3
ADHESIVE INSTRUCTIONS(cont) Nose Caulk VPI NC-2 is a solvent-free, two-component Epoxy NoseCaulk designed for use with rubber stair treads. It’s a nonflammable, high-performance epoxy adhesive, recommended for indoor stair installations over porous and non-porous substrates. It is recommended for all stair treads to provide support to the nose.
PAGE 4
SMART STEP INTREGRATED 1 PC (RISER INCLUDED) RUBBER STAIR TREAD INSTALLATION (cont) Option 2 – Lapping the riser under the nose. • If the riser extends beyond the top of the step, trim the riser to ¼”-1/2” below the top of the step. If the substrate is porous: • Ensure substrate surface has been prepared properly. • Spread VPI 503 adhesive on tread, nose, riser and cove stick, using specified trowel, leaving between ½” to ¾” free of adhesive at the nose for application of nose caulk.
PAGE 5
REGULAR RUBBER STAIR TREAD AND RISER INSTALLATION --NOT USING VPI BRANDED ADHESIVE AND NOSE CAULK IN ALL INSTALLATIONS, OR FAILURE TO SAND (ROUGH UP) THE BACK OF EACH TREAD BEFORE INSTALLATION ON NONPOROUS SUBSTRATES, ALONG WITH ANYTHING THAT DEVIATES FROM THESE INSTRUCTIONS, VOIDS WARRANTY COVERAGE. • • • • • • • • • Regular rubber stair tread must be trimmed to fit and dry laid on each step prior to any adhesive application. Each step in the staircase may have a different width and depth.
PAGE 6
REGULAR RUBBER STAIR TREAD AND RISER INSTALLATION (cont) If the substrate is nonporous: • Ensure substrate surface has been prepared properly • Backside of treads must be sanded in all nonporous applications. Not sanding voids warranty. • Spread VPI 503 adhesive on tread and nose, using specified trowel, leaving between ½” to ¾” free of adhesive at the nose for application of nose caulk. Allow the adhesive to dry to the touch.