By Paul Nutcher, President of Green Apple Group, LLC
More sustainable concrete coatings are being specified on building projects as the LEED Green Building Rating System has gained acceptance, a trend that is expected to continue as greener schools and workplaces become the rule rather than the exception.
The most environmentally advanced Polished Concrete Floor System currently available includes the dry or mechanical grinding method of installation. This process, offered by the Omaha-based L&M Construction Chemicals under the brand name FGS/PermaShine, is for concrete floor or concrete surface restoration.
According to Greg Schwietz, President of L&M, polished concrete floors have a lot of potential for inclusion in green buildings, especially compared to other flooring options.
“Due to new advances, including the FGS/PermaShine patented ‘dry-grind’ application method, polished concrete floors are a cost-effective alternative to terrazzo, vinyl, carpet, tile and other floor surface finishes,” Schwietz said.
The latest FGS/PermaShine process begins by grinding and smoothing a concrete floor with diamond-impregnated abrasive discs fitted to a heavy floor grinder, progressing through a series of steps using progressively finer diamond pads that increase the smoothness of the floor.
The final step involves applying two coats of a high-performance chemical densifier which penetrates, densifies and hardens the exposed cement paste located in the floor’s top 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.
Earlier systems required heavy water use during the grinding process and ended up producing concrete slurry, a wet – ultimately costly – paste due to stringent EPA disposal regulations.
Furthermore, the use of more sustainable products are fast becoming a requirement as the voluntary LEED standards become mandated by federal agencies such as the GSA and military forces, as well as state and local governments across America.
The polished concrete floor system provides especially good opportunities for increasing a building’s energy efficiency. A polished floor allows for a reduction in interior lighting fixtures because of the floor’s high gloss and resulting reflectivity. The concrete slab in this type of flooring system also has LEED potential for reuse and recycled content.
The following are three excellent examples of how a polished concrete floor has assisted project teams in gaining points for LEED building projects.
Three Case Studies on Polished Concrete Floors
A polished concrete floor was installed in various common areas of the Cardel Place Recreational Center, Calgary’s first project to achieve LEED Gold certification.
The building’s main feature is a dramatic oversized athlete’s ramp, which connects the upper and lower levels, providing a functional walking and stretching zone, enhanced by large windows on both sides to take full advantage of the natural sunshine.
The floor of the ramp, as well as the floors throughout the facility, utilize the FGS/PermaShine System, which adds to the brightness of the natural light along the approximately 40,000 square feet of polished concrete in a facility that includes three gyms, two regulation-size hockey rinks, a sports clinic, a public library and an array of restaurants and offices.
The maintenance process saves as much as 65% over the maintenance costs of other flooring materials and sealers. All told, the building is designed to consume 30 percent less energy than expected by the Canadian Model National Energy Code.
Award Winning LEED Platinum Design for Polished Concrete Interior Surfaces
A developer in Oregon will collaborate with L&M Construction Chemicals on potentially the “greenest” polished concrete floor ever designed for a LEED Platinum project.
Independence Station is a 57,000 sq. ft. building complex with 15 condominiums, a restaurant, retail and office space, and a research lab and classroom.
The project, the brainchild of developer Steven Ribeiro with Aldeia LLC, could gain 64 LEED points, well beyond the minimum total for Platinum certification.
The project is designed to optimize energy performance with a radiant heating system, utilizing the concrete slab for its thermal properties.
L&M will supply the FGS/PermaShine system, including the slab densifier and the L&M VividDye coloring system.
Architect Specifies FGS/PermaShine on LEED Gold Certified School
When it came to going green, Scarborough, Ontario’s Brookside Public School got in on the ground floor. From inception to completion, this 65,000-square-foot elementary school was a testament to the benefits of sustainable design.
Brookside was designed to set a green benchmark for both the Toronto District School Board and the entire Canadian educational system, and now stands poised to earn a LEED Gold Certification from the Canadian Green Building Council.
A gold rating takes planning and that’s where FGS/PermaShine polished concrete system came in, providing its process for the school’s 10,000-square feet of hallways, complementing the school’s other eco-friendly features.
“This system fit the school’s needs perfectly from a budgetary perspective,” said Project Manager Myles Craig of Teeple Architects of Toronto. “It’s a very durable, long-lasting system. And that’s all part of being a good green citizen.”
The Specific LEED Categories Design Teams Hope To Achieve Points In Through Specifying Polished Concrete Surfaces
There were many elements throughout these buildings that helped the project team gain points toward LEED certification. The category where the most potential points are to be gained is the Materials & Resources credits, which includes points for recycled content, the reuse potential of a Polished Concrete System, including the concrete slab, and regional materials.
Optimized Energy
The Energy & Atmosphere, Optimized Energy Performance Credit 1, also has LEED potential. The thermal mass of a concrete floor can reduce the cooling and heating loads within a building envelope.
Building Reuse
One intention of LEED is to extend the life span of existing buildings through the reuse of a building’s structural and interior elements. The polished concrete floor utilizes the foundation slab and bare concrete treatments for other interior surfaces can also lead to reuse under LEED Credits 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, depending on the surface area available for reuse.
An FGS/PermaShine floor will last the lifetime of a building, accommodating a variety of future occupant requirements. In projects where the flooring comprises 75 to 95 percent of the materials in the original building, the FGS/PermaShine process may assist a team with points toward LEED-certification.
Recycled Content
The polished concrete floor can contribute to the overall recycled content of a building with the addition of fly ash to the slab. The addition of fly ash to concrete is considered to be a green practice because its use recycles the ash.
Regional Materials
The maker of polished concrete floor densifers offers the potential for LEED points in Regional Materials. L&M Construction Chemicals is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and has satellite manufacturing plants in Pottstown (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania and Portland, Oregon. Building projects within the LEED-prescribed 50-mile radius of this area could potentially qualify for this credit.
Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coatings
To gain points in the EQ Credit 4.1 category, the building team must specify that all adhesives and sealants used internally comply with the requirements of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1113, Architectural Coatings. The FGS/PermaShine densifier does not contain solvents giving it LEED potential.
The FGS/PermaShine process can also reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants of a building, as required by the USGBC.
The L&M Vivid Dye is a post-hardening concrete coloration system for building projects that specify a color scheme.
Additionally, concrete finish floors are a good choice for allergy relief because concrete does not hold dust, mold, dust mites or pollens compared to carpeting.
Paul Nutcher is President of Green Apple Group, LLC, located in Palmetto, Fl., which specializes in strategic marketing programs for manufacturers of building materials. He can be reached at pnutcher@greenappleconsult.com.