Surface materials - The Ecology of Building Materials - page 308

Table 15.1: The potential electrostatic charging of
different materials

Material Electrostatic charging (V/m)

Timber:
treated with oil 0

varnished -20 000

Fibre board +50

Veneer -110

Chipboard -250

PVC -34 000

Synthetic carpets -20 000

Floor covering is the surface in the building which is most exposed to wear. It
is also the part of the building with which the occupants have most physical con-
tact, so comfort factors such as warmth and hardness must also be taken into
account. Technical properties required in a floor material are:

• low thermal conductivity

• should not be too hard and stiff

• should not be slippery

• low risk of electrostatic charge

Table 15.2: Cleaning factors for floor materials

Material Cleaning factor

Timber 5

Parquet flooring 4

Timber cube flooring 6

Concrete slabs 5

Terrazzo 3

Asphalt 5

Linoleum 4

PVC (vinyl) 2

Cork 7

Ceramic tiles 2

Stone slabs 3

Bricks 5

Note:
In the evaluation of the ease of cleaning different surfaces, the
lower the cleaning factor, the more easily the surface is
cleaned.