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the aggregate which fractures and creates a non-slip surface. This process involves gradual and steady surface deterioration, which is not a desirable characteristic of an industrial floor.

Far superior to this method is the use of an iron-armoured surface with a swirl-trowelled final finish. The swirl- ing effect develops small ridges of high strength matrix reinforced by malle- able iron aggregate. This surface is both durable and non-slip, and it does not depend on wear for effectiveness. Swirl trowelling of plain concrete will also produce ridges, but these are brit- tle and disintegrate rapidly. This re- sults in a hazardous surface that short- ens life of material handling equip- ment.

Which floor surface gives the greatest service life?

Tests by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards and investigations report- ed in the Journal of the American Concrete Institute, show conclusively that iron-armoured floors typified by Master Builders Masterplate - far out. perform all others. Standard abrasion testing apparatus used consisted of three steel abrading discs rotating at

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180 rpm, attached to a circular steel plate which in turn revolves at 2 rpm. Steel discs, as opposed to stone wheels, closely approximate the actual wear on industrial floors from steel and plastic wheels, steel skids and other surface abrading equipment.

The tests showed wear resistance up to 8 times greater for the iron- up to 8 times greater for the iron- armoured floor than for plain, well cured, high strength concrete, and 4 times greater than for the best con- crete toppings.

Perhaps the most striking examples of the effectiveness of iron-armoured surfaces can be found in warehouses handling rapid turnover goods with continuous tow conveyor systems. Here, heavily loaded trucks travel the same paths hundreds of times daily, re- presenting as much as 30 years heavy traffic in one year. In such service, iron-armoured floors have shown ex- tremely long, serviceable life. How to prepare specifications?

Prior to writing formal specifica- tions, you should consult the plant engineer, maintenance superintendent, and others experienced in the plant flooring of the industry-type involved.

These men will be familiar with the performance, maintenance, and other characteristics required by a floor in their type of plant.

With all the service facts in hand, specify by name all materials and sup- pliers known to be capable of pro- ducing this particular type of floor. Use of the term "or equal" can open the door to trouble when, as is all too often true, the final choice of mate- rials and labour is placed with some- one whose main interest is in hidden profit or in getting the bid.

A firm stipulation protects the specifier and forces the supplier of in- ferior materials to improve his pro- ducts. It also avoids forcing higher quality products to lower standards. If alternates are required, all products named should naturally be bound by the same quality and performance re- strictions. The actual bidding competi- tion among qualified contractors must be limited to true costs and not in- volve quality compromises to meet a set of figures. Quality contractors pre- fer material specifications clearly defined, so that the job will be awarded on the basis of skill, experi- ence, integrity and equipment.

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LOT 61 TASEK INDUSTRIAL SITE, IPOH, MALAYSIA. TELEPHONE: 71175, 73901-3

Far East BUILDER, August 1971