Zero Charge® Static Dissipative Floor Coating
Application Guide

Introduction
Tech Spray's Zero Charge® Static Dissipative Floor Coating System will give a high gloss, UL approved non-slip floor finish with humidity independent static dissipation. This Technical Bulletin is designed to give some additional information and tricks of the trade to help apply the coating and keep it working optimally.

Stages
The coating is applied in three simple stages:

1. Stripping - all the old coatings, waxes, dirt and the rest must be removed.
2. Neutralising - the stripper must then be neutralised.
3. Coating - finally, coating is applied onto the clean floor.

After these stages, the coating must be correctly maintained. For example, you will realise that the application of a conventional floor wax or the use of a detergent will leave a non-conductive film over your static dissipative floor coating, precluding its normal function. Most maintenance is by dry mopping or spray buffing. Regular surface resistivity checking is a recommended quality control procedure.

Preparation

• Read carefully and follow the enclosed instructions closely.
• Clean equipment must be used.
• New rayon or nylon mops must be used for each procedure (3 or 4 are needed). Do not use cotton mops as they leave lint behind.
• Take your time!

Stripping
Using TEC 1721 Zero Charge® Floor Stripper, diluted 1 part to 15 parts water, strip off the old floor coating. Spread a liberal coat of stripper on the floor and leave for about 15 minutes. Coverage is approximately 5,000 sq ft (465 sq m) per gallon (see Note 1 below). Do not let the product dry - keep the floor wet. For large areas, work in 100-150 sq ft (9-14 sq m) increments. You can aid the process by using a black or brown pad on a buffer.

Remove stripper. The easiest way to remove the stripper from the floor is a wet vacuum cleaner. Mops can be used, but it will take longer and the potential for problems is higher (for example, stripper drying). Make sure that all the stripper is off the floor (check for shiny versus dull spots). Do not use this mop for anything other than stripper.

Rinse
Rinse the floor thoroughly with clean water, using a new mop.

Then, rinse the floor with TEC 1722 Zero Charge® Cleaner/Neutralizer, diluted one part to 128 parts water. Use DI (de-ionised) water if available. Coverage is approximately 10,000 sq ft (930 sq m) per gallon. Pick up any excess with a wet vacuum cleaner or mop.

Rinse the floor twice with a clean new mop and clean water. Let the floor dry completely.

Floor Coating
Using a new mop and clean equipment (pails, etc), apply TEC 1720 Zero Charge® Static Dissipative Floor Coating. Coverage is approximately 1,000-1,500 sq ft (90-140 sq m) per gallon.

• 1st coat - apply thin coat to floor (i.e. 3/4 way down on the wringer).
• Let dry to touch, about 45 to 60 minutes.
• 2nd coat - apply a little thicker coat (i.e. 1/2 way down on the wringer).
• Let dry to touch, about 45 to 60 minutes.
• 3rd coat - apply the same thickness as second coat.

Three thin coats are sufficient. Care must be taken to ensure that the coats on the floor are dry before adding another coat, so leave about an hour between coats.

Once the third coat is applied and dry (about 1 hour), the floor space may be occupied. After at least 2-4 hours, buff the floor with a white pad, which will help to harden the coating and put a shine to it.

Application Problems
Leaving streaks - coating too thin
Bubbles - coating too thick

Thickness of the coating is critical. Too thick a coating will allow moisture entrapment in the lower coats, inhibiting drying and causing the coating to flake.

Maintenance
Dust mop nightly with dry, untreated mop. Do not use any kind of sweeping compound. Wet mop with clean water one or twice per week as required.

Wet mop with TEC 1722 Zero Charge® Cleaner/Neutralizer solution (1:128 water) once a week maximum. Use cool water in the solution, DI water if available.

To remove scuff marks and dirt, the floor can be buffed with a red pad. Approximately every third buffing with the red pad, apply a thin coating of TEC 1720. It is recommended that no more than 4 or 5 additional coatings are applied, before consideration being given to stripping the floor and starting over.

In high traffic areas, spray buff as required. Use a 1:4 solution of TEC 1720 Floor Coating to water and apply a very fine mist to the floor. While still wet, buff with a white pad until dry.

If the surface resistivity reading goes above 10⁹ ohms/sq, try dry buffing with a white pad. This should bring the readings down. If there are any rough areas. spray buff as described above. Once the floor has returned to room temperature after the buffing, take your surface resistivity reading. If the reading is not coming down to within the specified 10⁶ - 10⁹ range, it is time to consider re-coating.

General Notes

• Each mop may be maintained in its original solution (stripper, cleaner/neutralizer, coating) for maintenance purposes.
• Do not use mops for any other application other than its original use. Cross contamination can cause serious problems.
• Clean pails and buckets thoroughly. If possible, avoid using the stripper pail for the cleaner/neutralizer and definitely not for the floor coating.
• When starting from scratch, use new mops.
• It is essential to set up a quality program to take regular surface resistivity readings from appropriate test sites. It is the best way to get to know the longevity of the floor coating, and to monitor the maintenance program. All surface resistivity readings should be taken when the floor is at room temperature.
• Do not use any other materials on the floor coating. Sealers or ammonia based cleaners will destroy the desired surface resistivity.
• The Tech Spray Zero Charge® Static Dissipative Floor Coating system is often used in addition to and on top of conductive floor tiles, to enhance and improve their efficacy. In these cases, it is recommended that a maximum of two thin coats of floor coating be applied.
• As successful implementation and use of the Zero Charge® Static Dissipative Floor Coating system hinges on its maintenance, it is recommended that the floor cleaning staff be fully trained in the use and care of it.

Slippery Floors
Sometimes, vinyl tile can be slippery after application of the Tech Spray Zero Charge® Static Dissipative Floor Coating system. The reasons are:

• The stripper (TEC 1721) had not been completely removed from the floor.
• The floor was not completely neutralised after stripping and before coating.
• The coating was applied too thick.
• The coating was not completely dry before application of the subsequent coatings.
• Sometimes with conductive floor tiles, more than two coats of TEC 1720 may result in a slippery floor.

There are several remedies for a slippery floor:

• High speed buffing.
• Mop the floor with cold water.
• Spray buff with a 1:15 solution of TEC 1722 Zero Charge® Cleaner/Neutralizer and water (DI water if possible).
• If these do not help, then consider starting from scratch - strip, neutralise and coat again.

Notes
1) The Tech Spray Floor Coating chemicals are normally supplied in 1 US gallon and 5 US gallon containers.