References

Materials – Interior

244 sources in the library on materials – interior. Each one says what the document covers and what it is good for. Name a source to see which document it is and where to read it. One at a time. Page 4 of 7.

1. good RN-MTT7ZB

   Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)

   FIS is an affiliate of the British Standards Institution and maintains a collated live list of the British Standards that apply to fit-out and finishes work, which is the quickest route to the correct standard number for a stud wall, dry lining or suspended ceiling detail. It also records that BSI licenses selected trade associations to give qualifying SME members, defined as enterprises with fewer than 250 employees, free access to specific standards, so a small contractor need not buy every standard a note cites.

   Name this source
2. good RN-SYJKS7

   Furniture Industry Research Association

   The UK research association for the furniture supply chain, the body behind furniture testing, ergonomics and compliance guidance that a note on fitted or built-in furniture would cite for standards and flammability compliance. Membership is open to retailers, manufacturers and international organisations, and it publishes reports, guides and business templates through its bookshop, with testing and consultancy delivered through its service provider Fira International Ltd. Use it as the route to furniture test standards rather than as a source of prices.

   Name this source
3. good RN-IRI3A3

   The Tile Association

   The trade body's paid inspection service, and one of the few places a real published price exists for resolving a botched tiling job. A desktop inspection based on submitted photographs costs £898.00 plus VAT, though the TTA warns such reports may not suffice as court evidence. Site inspections are priced by area: up to 25 square metres £1,086 plus VAT, 26 to 50 square metres £1,431 plus VAT, 51 to 100 square metres £1,892 plus VAT, and over 100 square metres on application, with a 20 per cent member discount, travel expenses payable and extra charges where tiles must be removed or where the dispute reaches court proceedings. Inspectors assess workmanship against the relevant British and European Standards and produce a written report usable as court evidence and expert witness.

   Name this source
4. good RN-PI3QII

   The Tile Association

   The Tile Association's 28-page Tiling Guide, produced by its Technical Committee, giving practical guidance on the key installation issues tilers meet day to day, and cross-referencing the TTA's wider range of Technical Publications, which are free to download for members and registered architects. The TTA was formed in 2000 and is the trade association for the entire UK and Irish tiling sector, covering tiling contractors, fixers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers, based at 1 Rutherford Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford ST18 0GP. Its site also carries a Tiling standards section, technical FAQs, a technical inspections service and a Find a Tiler directory, plus training routes through apprenticeships, NVQs and CSCS cards, heritage tiling and the Master Craftsman Award.

   Name this source
5. fair RN-C7QJJ1

   Age UK

   Route into funded adaptations for an older or disabled occupant. The first step is a free care needs assessment from the local council, to which everyone is entitled regardless of income or savings. Where the assessment recommends minor adaptations costing £1,000 or less, such as grab rails, a dropped kerb or outside lights, the council must provide and fit them free of charge. Larger adaptations go through a Disabled Facilities Grant. Points to non means tested disability benefits, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance depending on age, as a further source of funds, and gives the free Age UK advice line 0800 678 1602, open 8am to 7pm, 365 days a year, plus specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.

   Name this source
6. fair RN-Z0WR6K

   Asthma + Lung UK

   The domestic sources of indoor air pollution and allergens and what removes them. States a carbon monoxide alarm should be sited in the same room as the boiler, cooker or wood burning stove, and that a landlord must fit one in a rented home. For house dust mites, a 60 degree C wash of bedding and soft furnishings kills them. Covers damp and mould, gas cookers and open fires, wood burning stoves, cleaning products, scented candles and air fresheners, pets and pollen as the main household triggers, and what each means for a renovation specification.

   Name this source
7. fair RN-38OZDF

   Asthma + Lung UK

   What to change in a home to protect the occupant's lungs. Heat the home to at least 18 degrees C in colder months to prevent condensation, damp and mould. Ventilate by opening windows for a couple of minutes through the day, checking outdoor pollution and pollen first where those are triggers, and keep trickle vents, the small openings in a window or door that admit air while the window is shut, open as much as possible. Clean bathroom and kitchen extractor fans regularly so they keep working. Dry washing outside, or in a well aired room, airing cupboard or tumble dryer. Fix leaks and water damage promptly. A dehumidifier helps but can over dry the air and cause coughing, so choose one where the humidity level can be set. On finishes and cleaning products: use sprays and aerosols with a window open, prefer pump sprays over aerosols because aerosols emit more VOCs, look for Air Label certification, and choose unscented products. Notes a GP can write to a landlord where the home is judged harmful to health.

   Name this source
8. fair RN-WM5BR0

   Electrical Safety First

   Electrical design rules for a kitchen fit out. Socket outlets and switches must be fitted a safe distance from the sink, which where possible means at least 30cm horizontally. Large appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and washing machines installed under worktops leave their sockets unreachable, so each should be controlled by a switch placed above the worktop. Notes that many accidental house fires start in the kitchen, usually from incorrect use or damaged cooking appliances, and that the combination of water, hot surfaces, trailing cables and high power appliances is what makes the room hazardous. Maintenance rules include keeping the oven and grill free of built up fat and grease, a major fire cause, and defrosting the fridge and freezer at least once a year.

   Name this source
9. fair RN-QRARF3

   Electrical Safety First

   Safety and maintenance of a fixed extractor fan. The wiring regulations require a readily accessible and easily operated means of isolation for maintenance of a fixed fan, and divide a bathroom into three zones by proximity to water, with different fan types permitted in each zone. On maintenance: dust and grime clog the air intake, which slows or stops the blades, trips the thermal cut out, raises power consumption and noise, and leaves moisture in the room, increasing damp and promoting mould that can spread to adjacent rooms. Warning signs to switch off and call an electrician are a burning smell, unusual noise, buzzing or crackling arcing, or a tripping circuit breaker.

   Name this source
10. fair RN-IGP04U

    HomeOwners Alliance

    Bathroom refurbishment budgets. The average new bathroom costs £6,000. Self managing the project typically lands between £3,000 and £6,000, with the advice to put the bulk of the budget into tiling and plumbing and sacrifice finishing detail. A cheap bathroom suite can be found for as little as £200, but accessories, shower fittings, taps, tiles and grouting can double the price. Fitting the bathroom yourself can save up to 60% of the cost, but gas and electrical work must go to a professional, and an electric shower must be installed by a registered electrician. A simple home sauna starts at around £5,000.

    Name this source
11. fair RN-Z9ZEG1

    Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Sustainability Institute

    Review of measured in-use indoor air quality in more than 600 Passive House or PH-like newly built or retrofitted dwellings (Rojas, Fletcher, Johnston and Siddall, Energy and Buildings 306, 2024). Findings: pollutant and CO2 concentrations are generally lower than in naturally ventilated homes, attributed to the required balanced MVHR system, and the quality assurance of PH certification measurably improves ventilation and IAQ performance. The paper adopts CO2 up to 1400 ppm as the indicator of acceptable ventilation from a health perspective, assuming low-emitting materials, and notes typical steady-state figures of 1350 to 1800 ppm for standard occupancy assumptions. Numbers a specifier can use: PH ventilation criteria require MVHR heat recovery efficiency above 75 per cent, specific fan power including controls below 0.45 Wh/m3, supply and extract air flows balanced to within 10 per cent, and internal leakage of the MVHR unit limited to under 3 per cent. Filter grade moved to ePM1(50 per cent) or better in November 2018. The named weakness of the standard is the lack of a cooking fume capture requirement, combined with efforts to avoid the energy losses of extraction.

    Name this source
12. fair RN-DQNN2W

    Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Sustainability Institute (for BEIS)

    Measured comparison of thin internal wall insulation (TIWI) against conventional internal wall insulation on solid brick walls, using coheating tests for the whole-house heat transfer coefficient in W/K plus dynamic simulation for bills. Findings with numbers: TIWI is only 20 to 30 per cent of the thickness of conventional IWI and gives U-values between 0.8 and 1.4 W/m2K on solid brick, yet delivers between 40 and 70 per cent of the fuel bill savings conventional IWI achieves. Diminishing returns are stark: conventional IWI was in some cases four times thicker than TIWI yet gave only 22 per cent more benefit. TIWI can take up to a third less floor area than conventional IWI, and TIWI products needing no decoration were the cheapest to install, though some require multiple visits which raises labour cost. Moisture caution stated plainly: neither IWI nor TIWI removes moisture risk, both can increase condensation risk on adjacent surfaces and in neighbouring homes, and both must be fitted to walls in good repair. Policy context: solid wall insulation appears in only around 7 per cent of ECO retrofits and IWI accounts for less than 1 per cent of ECO measures; the report argues the 0.3 W/m2K target for solid walls deters uptake, noting cavity wall retrofits are allowed 0.55 W/m2K.

    Name this source
13. fair RN-CY4QJ9

    London Fire Brigade

    Where to put detection in a home and which type. Smoke alarms go in every room where a fire may start, not just the hall and landing, but never in a kitchen or anywhere with excess smoke or steam; a heat alarm, which triggers on a rapid rise in temperature, goes in the kitchen instead and is not set off by cooking fumes. States around 60% of home fires start in the kitchen. Recommends alarms with a 10 year or long lasting sealed battery, and interlinking battery or mains alarms so that one detection sounds them all, which matters most where someone's escape may be delayed. Mains powered alarms must be installed by a qualified electrician. Domestic fire suppression such as sprinklers is raised as an option where quick escape is unlikely. LFB offers a free Home Fire Safety Visit and will fit free smoke alarms where existing ones are inadequate.

    Name this source
14. fair RN-6FNQGJ

    NHS

    Health background for anyone disturbing asbestos in a renovation. Asbestosis is a rare but serious incurable lung condition caused by asbestos exposure, with treatment aimed only at symptoms. The NHS dates asbestos as a building material used from the 1950s to the 1990s and identifies building and construction work in that period as the main exposure route. Symptoms are shortness of breath, persistent cough, wheezing, extreme fatigue, chest or shoulder pain and, in advanced cases, clubbed fingertips, and it can take 20 to 30 years from exposure before any symptoms appear, with some people having none. Notes that compensation may be claimable.

    Name this source
15. fair RN-FLS3GY

    NIE Networks

    The meter board is the wooden (sometimes other material) board carrying the electricity meter and main fuse, mounted on a wall or inside an outdoor meter box; the meter cubicle is the outdoor box that protects the equipment. A board that is old, worn, damp, rotten or vandalised must be replaced by the homeowner's own electrician, who removes and re-attaches the electrical equipment and fits a new board, while NIE Networks temporarily removes and re-attaches the meter and its own equipment, quoted through a connection application for an alteration. Critical warning repeated twice: under no circumstances may an electrician or electrical contractor remove NIE seals or equipment to do this work, as it is illegal. Replacement meter box doors and keys can be bought from most builders merchants, electrical wholesalers or online. If NIE Networks finds a defect such as a damaged or missing door or a wet or damp backboard it writes to the customer requiring repair. A meter that has come loose from the backboard should be reported immediately on 03457 643 643 as it may be a dangerous situation.

    Name this source
16. fair RN-5L7RTO

    UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering and UCL Energy Institute

    Measured overheating in 122 London dwellings across the summers of 2009 and 2010, with dry bulb temperature and relative humidity logged in the main living and sleeping area at 10 minute intervals and assessed against the ASHRAE Standard 55 adaptive comfort method. Results: in 2009, 29 per cent of living rooms and 31 per cent of bedrooms had more than 1 per cent of summertime occupied hours outside the comfort zone for 90 per cent acceptability; in 2010 that rose to 37 per cent of living rooms and 49 per cent of bedrooms. The conclusion is that London dwellings already face a significant overheating risk under the current climate, before any warming, and that exposure will worsen unless adaptation is built into Building Regulations, design and retrofit. Pathan, Mavrogianni, Summerfield, Oreszczyn and Davies.

    Name this source
17. supplier figure RN-Q940O5

    Aico

    Manufacturer data sheet for the Ei3014 mains powered heat alarm, the correct device for a kitchen where a smoke alarm would false-alarm on cooking. Sensor type is a Class A1 thermistor that activates at 58C, with a small thermal mass for a faster response. Supply is 230V AC 50Hz with a 10 year plus rechargeable lithium back-up cell and a 10 year alarm life. Standby power consumption is 0.25 W. Sound output is 85 dB(A) at 3 metres. Operating temperature range is 0C to 40C. Weight is 312g, or 378g boxed. Warranty is 5 years limited. The 58C trigger is the number that explains why a heat alarm will not warn you early in a smouldering fire and must be interlinked with optical alarms elsewhere.

    Name this source
18. supplier figure RN-8179JP

    Aico

    Manufacturer data sheet for the Ei3016 mains powered optical smoke alarm. Sensor is a high performance optical type with automatic dust compensation to reduce false alarms, so it responds fastest to smouldering fires and is the type intended for hallways, landings, bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. Supply is 230V AC 50Hz with a 10 year plus built in tamper proof rechargeable lithium cell as mains failure back-up, and the alarm itself has a 10 year life. Sound output is 85 dB(A) at 3 metres. Operating temperature range is 0C to 40C. Weight is 336g, or 402g boxed, with a package size of 180 x 155 x 62 mm. Warranty is 5 years limited, which is shorter than the 10 year alarm life. AudioLINK+ lets installation and activation data be read out of the alarm through its sounder to a phone app.

    Name this source
19. supplier figure RN-EWGU13

    Aico

    Manufacturer data for a mains powered multi-sensor fire alarm combining a heat and an optical sensor in one unit so it detects both slow smouldering and fast flaming fires. It is mains powered with a 10 year rechargeable lithium cell back-up and carries a 10 year guarantee, twice the 5 year warranty on Aico's single sensor alarms. Sound level is 85 dB(A) at 3 metres. Operating temperature range is -10C to 40C, wider at the cold end than the 0C floor on the single sensor optical and CO models, which matters for a hallway near an external door. Weight is 346g, or 412g boxed. It interconnects over hard-wired, RadioLINK radio or hybrid systems and is compatible with the rest of the 3000 Series, which covers both fire and carbon monoxide from one range.

    Name this source
20. supplier figure RN-IC67AT

    Amtico

    Manufacturer product data for an Amtico Signature Safety LVT plank. Plank sizes are 76.2 x 914.4 mm, 114.3 x 914.4 mm and 152.4 x 914.4 mm, which are imperial 3, 4.5 and 6 inch widths by 36 inches long, useful when planning a laying pattern against a room dimension. Slip resistance is R10 and Amtico states this enhanced slip resistance lasts for the lifetime of the product rather than being a surface treatment that wears off. The Signature range is 2.5mm overall thickness with a 1.0mm wear layer, finished with Quantum Guard Elite ceramic surface treatment and is ortho-phthalate free.

    Name this source
21. supplier figure RN-FJ58MR

    ARDEX UK

    Manufacturer data for a rapid drying white tile adhesive formulated for moisture sensitive natural stone wall and floor tiles, where a normal cement adhesive would stain the stone as it dries. Tiles can be trafficked and grouted 2 hours after fixing regardless of bed thickness, which is the significant claim because most rapid adhesives qualify their cure time by bed depth. Coverage is up to 6.4 m2 per bag at 3mm bed thickness.

    Name this source
22. supplier figure RN-BZFNAF

    ARDEX UK

    Manufacturer data for a rapid setting deformable S1 tile adhesive. Tiles can be grouted and trafficked just 3 hours after fixing. The S1 classification means the adhesive is deformable under BS EN 12004, the grade required for floors that move or warm up such as timber substrates and underfloor heating, so this product combines the deformability of an S1 with a same day grouting time.

    Name this source
23. supplier figure RN-OTAW6M

    ARDEX UK

    Manufacturer data for a fibre reinforced flexible tile adhesive. Pot life is 3 hours and open time is 60 minutes, both far longer than the 15 to 45 minutes typical of standard and rapid adhesives, which is what allows mixing and fixing in larger batches. Coverage is up to 8 m2 from a single 20 kg bag, and ARDEX claims this goes up to 40 per cent further than leading competitors, comparing published coverage and mixing data for 20 kg cement based adhesives. Embodied carbon is 0.49 kg CO2 eq per kg for the grey version and 0.96 kg CO2 eq per kg for the white, so the white adhesive carries roughly double the embodied carbon of the grey.

    Name this source
24. supplier figure RN-QSBDQN

    BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)

    Manufacturer coverage table for an SBR primer and admixture, the numbers behind a preparation estimate. As a primer, coverage is 12 m2 per litre undiluted (60 m2 from a 5 litre tub), 36 m2 per litre diluted 1:2 with water (180 m2 per 5 litres) and 40 m2 per litre diluted 1:4 (300 m2 per 5 litres). As a bonding and gauging additive, coverage is 5 m2 per litre for 12mm plastering, 1.5 m2 per litre for 12mm rendering and 0.25 m2 per litre for 50mm screeding, the latter two quoted at 10 litres per 50 kg of OPC. As a slurry coat with Portland cement it covers 3 m2 per litre, mixed 1 part sand to 1 part cement by weight. Drying time is 15 to 30 minutes at 20C. Pack sizes are 1 litre and 5 litres. Approved backgrounds include plasterboard, rendering and shower areas. For an integral plaster mix the dose is 2 to 4 litres of SBR.

    Name this source
25. supplier figure RN-2QGLR2

    BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)

    Manufacturer technical data for a flexible cementitious tile grout. Coverage depends entirely on tile size and joint width: 6.05 m2 per kg for 200 x 200 x 6mm tiles with a 2mm joint, 4.03 m2 per kg for 300 x 300 x 9mm tiles with a 3mm joint, and 8.01 m2 per kg for 600 x 600 x 9mm tiles with a 3mm joint, which shows that larger tiles need far less grout for the same area. A 2.5 kg pack takes 0.512 litres of water. It sets in 2 to 3 hours at 20C. Classification exceeds BS EN 13888 CG2WA, an improved cementitious grout with additional characteristics. Service temperature range is -15C to 70C. BAL states the grout must not be used below 5C, that porous tiles should be dampened when grouting above 25C, and that a new shower must not be used for at least 2 weeks after grouting. The key warning for a bathroom note: the grout is water resistant but NOT impervious to water and is not a substitute for a waterproof tanking system.

    Name this source
26. supplier figure RN-47MI4P

    BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)

    Manufacturer technical data for a rapid setting tile adhesive usable in a thick bed. Bed thickness is 2 to 25mm with a typical application of 2 to 6mm, and a minimum 3mm for floor tiling. Open time is more than 30 minutes with 60 minutes adjustment and a 3 hour set, and it can be grouted after just 3 hours at any thickness. Coverage from a 20 kg bag is 0.5 m2 per kg with a 4mm notched trowel on dry wall, 0.4 m2 per kg with a 6mm notch on dry wall, 0.3 m2 per kg with a 6mm notch on wet wall, 0.25 m2 per kg with a 10mm notch solid bed on exteriors and floors, and 0.125 m2 per kg with a 20mm notch, so a thick bed roughly doubles the adhesive needed for the same area. Service temperature range is -30C to 100C. All open and setting times extend in colder temperatures and when fixing low porosity tiles, and external tiling needs protection against inclement weather.

    Name this source
27. supplier figure RN-0M6HXA

    BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)

    Manufacturer technical data for a rapid setting flexible tile adhesive, with the numbers a tiling estimate needs. At 20C and a 2-6mm bed the open time is 20 minutes, adjustment time 45 minutes and set time 3 hours, and tiles can be grouted after 3 hours. Coverage depends on trowel and background: 1.0 m2 per kg with a 4mm notched trowel on dry wall, 0.8 m2 per kg with a 6mm notch on dry wall, 0.64 m2 per kg with a 6mm notch on wet wall, and 0.42 m2 per kg with a 10mm notch on exteriors and floors. A minimum 3mm bed is required for floor tiling. All times extend in colder temperatures, on impervious backgrounds and with low porosity tiles. Service temperature range is -30C to 100C. Critically for a bathroom job, BAL states a maximum 20 kg/m2 tile weight when tiling onto plaster and a maximum 32 kg/m2 onto the heavier background, which is the limit that decides whether large format porcelain can go on an existing wall at all.

    Name this source
28. supplier figure RN-1WL47I

    BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)

    Manufacturer technical data for a very fast setting tile adhesive. At 20C in a 2 to 10mm bed the open time is 10 minutes, adjustment 15 minutes and set 30 minutes, and it can be grouted after 30 minutes, which is the trade-off for the speed. Minimum bed for floor tiling is 3mm. Coverage is 0.5 m2 per kg with a 6mm notch on dry wall, 0.4 m2 per kg with a 6mm notch on wet wall and 0.26 m2 per kg with a 10mm notch on exteriors and floors. Service temperature is -30C to 100C. Maximum tile weight including adhesive is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard. It can be used with BAL Rapid-Mat or BAL Flexbone 2Easy uncoupling mats. A significant restriction the manufacturer notes: as of May 2024 plywood and timber is no longer an approved background. A new shower must not be used for at least 2 weeks after completion.

    Name this source
29. supplier figure RN-GILWR7

    BAL (Building Adhesives Ltd)

    Manufacturer technical data for an adhesive recommended for large format tiles of uneven thickness. Bed thickness is 3 to 25mm, typical application 2 to 6mm, minimum 3mm on floors. Open time is 45 to 60 minutes with 90 minutes adjustment and a 6 hour set, grouting after 6 hours at 20C. Coverage is 0.5 m2 per kg at 1.5mm bed depth, 0.25 m2 per kg at 3mm and 0.125 m2 per kg at 6mm, so doubling the bed depth halves the coverage exactly. It exceeds BS EN 12004 for a C2E adhesive. Service temperature range is -30C to 70C. The background must be no more than 75 per cent relative humidity and the top surface mechanically abraded where required. A shower must not be used for at least 2 weeks after completion, and swimming pool work follows BS 5385 Part 4.

    Name this source
30. supplier figure RN-FL9VK5

    C-Tec (CT1)

    Manufacturer datasheet for an all in one filler and caulk. Application temperature range is +5C to +40C, and the manufacturer states explicitly that it should not be applied below 5C, which is the constraint that stops exterior decorating work in a cold snap. Service temperature range once cured is -20C to +70C. Storage is in dry conditions between +5C and +25C. The +5C floor applies to both the environment and the substrate, not just the air.

    Name this source
31. supplier figure RN-9EA2FC

    C-Tec (CT1)

    Manufacturer technical data for CT1 hybrid polymer sealant and construction adhesive. Cure rate is 3 to 6 mm in 12 to 48 hours. Hardness to DIN 53505 is 55 degrees Shore A, with a 42 degrees Shore A variant listed. Substrate bonding tensile force is 3.07 N/mm2, equal to 31.3 kg/cm2. Fully cured tensile strength is quoted at 22 kg/cm2 and shear strength at 11 kg/cm2. The manufacturer claims three times stronger bonding and 250 per cent more elongation than traditional alternatives. It carries EC1 Plus certification and A+ Indoor Air Comfort GOLD for low emissions. As a universal adhesive CT1 bonds to all metals.

    Name this source
32. supplier figure RN-FIBV4P

    Dunlop (ARDEX)

    Manufacturer technical data for a deformable S1 tile adhesive. Coverage from a 20 kg bag is approximately 2 kg/m2 on dry walls and approximately 4 kg/m2 on floors, exterior and wet areas, so one bag covers roughly 10 m2 of wall or 5 m2 of floor. Open time is 30 to 45 minutes and bed thickness 2 to 6mm. Mix ratio is about 3 parts powder to 1 part water by volume, with 5.4 litres of clean water per 20 kg bag, stood for 1 to 2 minutes then remixed for 30 seconds, and used within 3 hours at room temperature. Application temperature is around 20C and it must not be used below 5C. Storage is 5C to 30C off the ground. It exceeds BS EN 12004 for a C2TES1 adhesive. The critical loading limits: maximum weight of tiling including adhesive is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard, and the manufacturer's remedy where those are exceeded is to overlay with a tile backer board.

    Name this source
33. supplier figure RN-HVB1D6

    Dunlop (ARDEX)

    Manufacturer technical data for a standard water resistant floor and wall tile adhesive, useful as the baseline against a flexible adhesive. At 3mm thickness a 20 kg bag covers approximately 2 kg/m2 on dry wall areas and 3.5 kg/m2 on floors, exterior and wet areas. Open time is 15 to 20 minutes, noticeably shorter than the 30 to 45 minutes of the S1 grade. Bed thickness is 3 to 6mm. Mix ratio is about 2.5 parts powder to 1 part water by volume, roughly 5.6 litres of cold water per 20 kg bag. Application is at about 20C and never below 5C. It exceeds BS EN 12004 for a C1T adhesive, and the manufacturer states it is not suitable for porcelain tiles or exterior areas unless a flexible additive is used. Maximum weight of tiling including adhesive is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard, with plasterboard requiring fixing at 300mm centres or as the board manufacturer directs.

    Name this source
34. supplier figure RN-TWBLVQ

    Dunlop (ARDEX)

    Manufacturer coverage table for a standard cementitious floor and wall grout, showing how strongly tile size and joint width drive quantity. Coverage is 0.21 kg/m2 for a 200 x 300 x 7mm tile with a 2mm joint, 0.25 kg/m2 for a 300 x 300 x 7mm tile with a 3mm joint and 0.45 kg/m2 for a 300 x 600 x 10mm tile with a 5mm joint, so a large format tile with a wide joint needs more than twice the grout of a small tile with a narrow one. Joint width range is 2 to 12mm. It is not recommended for soft glazed decorative tiles or tiles with a metal decor, and unglazed floor tiles should be test grouted first because the pigment can stain the face, in which case a protective sealer is applied. Tiles must be fixed with a water resistant adhesive. The method is to work in small areas, fill joints with a rubber squeegee or float and compact well, then wait about 15 minutes for the grout to firm up before cleaning off diagonally with a damp sponge. Dunlop products carry a 10 year guarantee subject to conditions.

    Name this source
35. supplier figure RN-3BGBQE

    Dunlop (ARDEX)

    Manufacturer technical data for a water and frost resistant flexible powder grout. Coverage is approximately 0.38 kg/m2 based on a 300 x 300 x 7mm tile with a 3mm joint, with separate figures tabulated for other tile sizes and joint widths such as 200 x 300 x 7mm at 2mm. Application temperature is around 20C and never below 5C. The method sequence: the adhesive must be fully set and dried before grouting; work in small areas filling joints with a rubber squeegee or grout float and compacting well; allow about 15 minutes for the grout to firm up before cleaning off excess with a damp sponge. Tiles can be subject to normal conditions after a minimum of 24 hours, and external work must be protected from weather and frost during application and for at least 24 hours after. The critical instruction for a heated floor: after grouting over underfloor heating the heating must not be turned back on for a minimum of 14 days. Highly polished tiles, soft decorative glazes and metal lustres need a test area first, and a protective sealer where staining occurs.

    Name this source
36. supplier figure RN-AA158V

    Dunlop (ARDEX)

    Manufacturer technical data for a ready mixed waterproof wall tile adhesive, and the source for why a tub adhesive is limited. Coverage is approximately 2 kg/m2 in dry areas and 3 kg/m2 in wet areas. Open time is 30 minutes and maximum bed thickness is 3mm. Application is at about 20C and never below 5C. The limitation that matters: tile size must not exceed 300mm x 300mm for glazed or unglazed ceramic, because a ready mixed adhesive dries by evaporation through the tile joints and a larger tile traps it. Drying time increases to a minimum of 3 days on backgrounds such as certain boards. Maximum weight of tiling is 20 kg/m2 onto plaster and 32 kg/m2 onto plasterboard, with plasterboard fixed at 300mm centres and of suitable thickness. New plaster needs a minimum 2 weeks drying and bonding or browning plaster must not be used.

    Name this source
37. supplier figure RN-RRNGAP

    EGGER

    Manufacturer technical data sheet for water resistant laminate, and the source for what water resistance actually means on a laminate floor. 24 hour water resistance to ISO 4760 gives a qualitative rating after re-drying of less than 3 and a quantitative rating after re-drying of 0.3 mm or less with no water leakage, so the joint swells slightly and recovers rather than being waterproof. Use classes are 32 and 33 with manufacturer warranties of 20 and 25 years in a living area but only 5 years commercial in both cases. Impact resistance to EN 17368 and EN 13329 Annex C is at least 35 mm small ball and 600 mm big ball at class 32, and at least 70 mm and 750 mm at class 33. Thickness swelling to ISO 24336 is 18 per cent or less at class 32 and 15 per cent or less at class 33. Castor chair resistance to EN ISO 4918 is 15,000 cycles at class 32 and 20,000 at class 33. Dimensional tolerances are plus or minus 0.5 mm on length, plus or minus 0.1 mm on width and plus or minus 0.5 mm on thickness.

    Name this source
38. supplier figure RN-V8YMQW

    EGGER

    Manufacturer technical data sheet showing what a laminate use class actually buys. Class of use 31, 32 and 33 carry manufacturer warranties of 15, 20 and 25 years in a living area but only 5 years commercial in every case. Impact resistance to the small and big ball tests is at least 10 mm / 1.8 lbf at class 31, 35 mm / 2.7 lbf at class 32 and 70 mm / 3.37 lbf at class 33. Thickness swelling to ISO 24336 is no more than 18 per cent at classes 31 and 32 and no more than 15 per cent at class 33. Castor chair resistance to EN ISO 4918 is 10,000 cycles at class 31, 15,000 at class 32 and 20,000 at class 33. Total thickness across the listed decors is 7 mm and 8 mm with a thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.02 inches. EGGER recommends use class 32 and 33 products from 8 mm thickness upwards, and states EGGER AC4 laminates have abrasion resistance of at least 4,000 revolutions, achieving class 32 to EN ISO 10874.

    Name this source
39. supplier figure RN-AMWIK2

    Everbuild (Sika)

    Manufacturer data sheet for a bath and kitchen silicone sealant. Curing time is 3 to 5 days depending on bead thickness, ambient temperature and humidity, and Everbuild specifies protecting the joint from water for a minimum of 24 hours after application, which is the answer to how soon a newly sealed bath can be used. Shore A hardness after cure is approximately 30. The bead should be smoothed down within 20 minutes of application and the nozzle held at an angle to the surface. Storage is 5 to 30C in dry conditions, protected from frost. Test data is quoted on a 20 mm by 10 mm joint profile.

    Name this source
40. supplier figure RN-L2BGAW

    fermacell (James Hardie Europe)

    Manufacturer technical properties for fermacell gypsum fibreboard, a homogeneous gypsum and recycled paper fibre board with no separate paper liner. Thicknesses are 10, 12.5, 15 and 18mm weighing 11.5, 14.5, 17.5 and 21 kg/m2, so 12.5mm fermacell at 14.5 kg/m2 is nearly twice the 8.0 kg/m2 of standard 12.5mm plasterboard. Density is 1150 plus or minus 50 kg/m3. Thermal conductivity (lambda) is 0.32 W/mK. Expansion or contraction from a 30 per cent change in relative humidity at 20C is 0.25 mm per metre, the figure that governs joint detailing on long runs. Reaction to fire is classified to DIN EN 13501-1 and thickness swelling after 24 hours soaking in water is quoted, which is why it is used in wet areas and on floors. The high density is the reason it holds direct fixings and resists impact where plasterboard would not.

    Name this source