ASTM F3311-19

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3311 − 19
Standard Practice for
Mat Bond Evaluation of Performance and Compatibility for
Resilient Flooring System Components Prior to Installation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3311; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope F710 Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive
Resilient Flooring
1.1 This practice is designed to provide a short-term quali-
F1482 Practice for Installation and Preparation of Panel
tative evaluation of the effectiveness and compatibility of the
Type Underlayments to Receive Resilient Flooring
composite layers for flexible and fully adhered resilient floor-
F1869 Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission
ing installation(s).Aspects of the resilient flooring assembly to
Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium
be evaluated may include concrete surface profile (CSP),
Chloride
surface preparation, a topical moisture mitigation system,
F2170 Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in
underlayment product(s), primer(s), application and the instal-
Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes
lation of the resilient flooring material itself. Aspects such as
F2419 Practice for Installation of Thick Poured Gypsum
surface profile, surface cleanliness, surface porosity, the appli-
ConcreteUnderlaymentsandPreparationoftheSurfaceto
cation method(s), and the open, curing, and drying times of
Receive Resilient Flooring
each layer of the flooring system can be assessed using this
F2471 Practice for Installation of Thick Poured Lightweight
practice prior to the actual full-scale installation taking place.
Cellular Concrete Underlayments and Preparation of the
1.1.1 This practice is not intended for use with liquid
Surface to Receive Resilient Flooring
applied, loose laid or perimeter fixed, or rigid resilient flooring
F2659 Guide for Preliminary Evaluation of Comparative
products.
Moisture Condition of Concrete, Gypsum Cement and
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Other Floor Slabs and Screeds Using a Non-Destructive
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Electronic Moisture Meter
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
F2678 Practice for Preparing Panel Underlayments, Thick
and are not considered standard.
Poured Gypsum Concrete Underlayments, Thick Poured
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Lightweight Cellular Concrete Underlayments, and Con-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the crete Subfloors with Underlayment Patching Compounds
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
to Receive Resilient Flooring
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- F2873 Practice for the Installation of Self-Leveling Under-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
layment and the Preparation of Surface to Receive Resil-
See Section 6 for specific Hazards statements. ient Flooring
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
F3010 Practice for Two-Component Resin Based
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- Membrane-Forming Moisture Mitigation Systems for Use
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Under Resilient Floor Coverings
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- F3191 Practice for Field Determination of Substrate Water
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Absorption (Porosity) for Substrates to Receive Resilient
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. Flooring
2. Referenced Documents
3. Terminology
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1 Definitions:
F141 Terminology Relating to Resilient Floor Coverings
3.1.1 See Terminology F141 for definitions of the terms:
mat, bond, subfloor, substrate, resilient, pull, and peel.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F06 on Resilient
4. Summary of Practice
Floor Coverings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F06.40 on
Practices.
4.1 This practice comprises a procedure whereby a number
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019. Published December 2019. DOI:
10.1520/F3311–19. of mat bond evaluation area(s) are selected, prepared, and
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3311 − 19
installed in exact accordance with the associated manufactur- dust: Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract
er(s) written instructions. hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers
greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless
4.2 The preparation of the mat bond evaluation area(s) may
positively certain that the product is a non-asbestos containing
include a partial or extensive combination of subfloor material,
material, presume that it contains asbestos. Regulations may
preparation and application/installation method(s) of the prod-
require that the material be tested to determine asbestos
ucts being considered, which may include moisture mitigation
content. The Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s (RFCI) rec-
systems, leveling or patching compounds or various adhesives.
ommended work practices for removal of existing resilient
The perimeter of each flooring sample is to be sealed to the
floor coverings should be consulted for a defined set of
substrateusinga2-in.(51-mm)wideducttape(orsimilar),and
instructions specific to the task of removing all resilient floor
if required, left to cure prior to its evaluation.
covering structures.
4.3 After any specified curing time has elapsed, the flooring
6.2 Lead Warning—Certain paints may contain lead. Expo-
sample is removed following one of the methods (typeAor B,
suretoexcessiveamountsofleaddustpresentsahealthhazard.
see 8.10 or 8.11), and the results are assessed and recorded.
Refer to applicable federal, state, and local laws and guidelines
for hazard identification and abatement of lead-based paint
5. Significance and Use
published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
5.1 Any individual performing a mat bond evaluation
Development regarding appropriate methods for identifying
should either be a qualified installer or a trained and experi-
lead-based paint and removing such paint, and any licensing,
enced evaluator of resilient flooring and adhesive bond
certification, and training requirements for persons performing
strength.
lead abatement work.
5.2 This practice should not be considered mandatory,
except when required or specified by the end user, general
7. Conditioning
contractor and architect, flooring contractor, adhesive
7.1 Confirm the required ambient conditions (temperature,
manufacturer(s), underlayment manufacturer(s) or flooring
relative humidity, and dew point) and substrate surface tem-
manufacturer(s).
perature and verify at each evaluation area that they are within
5.2.1 Typically, this practice is only recommended or re-
the manufacturer(s) specified requirement. The dew point shall
quired if products from a different manufacturer(s) are being
not be within 10 °F (~ 5 °C) of the recorded substrate surface
used in combinations not experienced before or if the substrate
temperature.
preparation or application method is in question.
7.2 If required by a manufacturer(s), the surface of the
5.3 The number of mat bond evaluation(s) should be se-
substrate shall be tested for pH using a detailed test method
lected that is appropriate for the project and be representative
defined by that manufacturer(s). The exact methodology shall
of each type of substrate, including trenches, grade, type of
be recorded, including any dwell time (pooling) for the water
flooring, and ambient conditions. The number may also be
and the amount and type of abrasion performed.
determined by the responsible party or specified by the end
7.3 Ifaporous/absorptivesubstrateisrequired,thentestand
user, general contractor and architect, flooring contractor,
record the results in accordance with Practice F3191.
adhesive manufacturer(s), underlayment manufacturer(s) or
flooring manufacturer(s).
7.4 If required, by any of the manufacturer(s) including the
resilient flooring and adhesive manufacturer(s), then moisture
5.4 All mat bond evaluation(s) conducted shall have the
testing shall be performed with all results recorded. This may
results recorded within report, including photographs (see
be in accordance with Test Methods F2170, F1869, or Practice
A1.11).
F2659, or combinations thereof. The moisture readings shall
5.5 There are many factors that may influence the outcome
meet the specified requirements of all manufacturer(s) prior to
of mat bond evaluation(s). Therefore, it is required to follow
installation of any samples or consider allowing the subfloor to
each manufacturer(s) installation/application instructions for
dry sufficiently or use a recommended and warrantied surface
everyproductusedincludingopen,curing,dryingtime,andthe
moisture mitigation system.
length of time required prior to evaluation(s)s.
7.5 If required, prepare the subfloor or substrate following
5.6 Each step of the process must be conducted only at a
the written instructions of the manufacturer(s).
time when the subfloor and ambient conditions comply with
the requirements defined by all of the relevant manufacturer(s)
8. Procedure
written installation instructions or Practices F710, F1482,
8.1 Verifyandrecordtheambienttemperatureandhumidity,
F2419, F2471, F2678, F2873, F3010, or combinations thereof.
date and time, applicator and any witnesses of each test and
6. Hazards typeofapplicationalongwithadetailedmethodofapplication,
substrate preparation, adhesive and flooring used within the
6.1 Silica and Asbestos Warning—Do not sand, dry sweep,
mat bond evaluation(s), with photographs/videos.
dry scrape, drill, saw, bead blast, mechanically chip or pulver-
ize existing resilient flooring, backing, lining felt, paint, 8.2 Select either the amount of mat bond evaluation(s)
asphalticcutbackadhesives,orotheradhesives.Theseproducts requiredorenoughthatrepresenteverysubstrate,flooringtype,
may contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica.Avoid creating and ambient condition found within the project (including
F3311 − 19
trenches, and grade) or that are being considered. The selected 8.8 The entire perimeter of each resilient flooring sample
mat bond evaluation area(s) should typically be away from shall be covered with 2-in. (51-mm) wide duct tape (or
doorways, walkways, and windows. similar).
8.9 All samples shall be left to cure or dry for as long as
8.3 Each flooring sample should measure at least 24-in.
required, according to the manufacturer(s) written instructions.
(600-mm) by 24-in. (600-mm). However, it is recommended to
In the absence of any specified cure time, use a minimum of 72
use a size that best accommodates the flooring material size(s),
h.
as an example; for 6-
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