School Flooring and old asbestos tiles

Most importantly, and of particular relevance to any school built before the mid 1970’s, we have seen a large number of schools that still have the classic old thermoplastic floor tiles. Chances are that these tiles will include asbestos and the HSE guidelines that such tiles should be covered and not lifted whenever possible but in the vast majority of jobs we have looked at it was the schools intention and usually the flooring contractors advice to lift the tiles, which is definitely not a good idea, especially within a school!

 

Furthermore it is generally accepted that the use of materials with high VoC emissions which includes most flooring adhesives should be avoided in a school in environment as it may have a detrimental effect on both students and teachers health. A number of local authorities have already adopted the European EMICODE guidelines and will only allow materials with an EC1 rating to be used within school premises but knowledge of the guidelines and the harmful effects that some flooring adhesives, screeds and repair compounds is still patchy.