by Brianna Crandall — January 9, 2015—Of interest to facilities managers in the market for sound-masking flooring products, W.F. Taylor Co. recently announced what it says is a breakthrough product for the flooring industry—Acous-Tec Sound Reducing Liquid Underlayment Patch and Leveler, patent pending. Taylor Acous-Tec is designed for all floating floor systems (vinyl tile/plank, laminate, and wood), to reduce sound transmission.
Taylor says its Acous-Tec technology is not a new science; it currently exists in Taylor MS-Plus Resilient Adhesive as a feature and benefit for the installer. Because of MS-Plus Resilient’s “phenomenal” success with lowering sound transmission, installers reportedly led Taylor to see the need for a stand-alone liquid sound barrier product that did not previously exist on the market.
“It is a perfect product for both commercial installers and retail D.I.Y’ers,” says Barry Wright, vice president of Taylor. “Simply trowel the low-VOC and UL GREENGUARD-certified liquid underlayment, watch it self-level and rapidly cure, then install the floating floor on top of the underlayment, all in the same day. Whether it is used in a high-rise apartment building or a consumer’s home, it will dramatically reduce sound and quiet your floor.”
As a “superior” replacement to sound-reducing rolled felt, foam, rubber or other composite underlayments on the market, the liquid is reportedly easy to install, fitting any shaped room, and has a rapid one-hour cure time. When fully cured it is engineered to cover the floor as a completely sealed, leveled, and flat durable membrane.
“No need for measuring, cutting or taping rolled underlayments, we are offering a liquefied alternative that has a higher sound rating than most rolled underlayments. Acous-Tec will also not lose density over time, like most rolled underlayments,” says Bob Ddamulira, vice president of Operations and Research and Development of Taylor.
Acous-Tec Sound Reducing Liquid Underlayment Patch and Leveler is a multi-functional product that has added features to help shorten installation time by assisting to fill minor subfloor imperfections, according to Taylor. It patches up to 1/8″ cracks (ANSI A118.12 crack isolation “high-performance classification”) and levels substrate unevenness.
Requirements to use this liquid underlayment are said to be simple; it is unaffected by concrete slab alkalinity, can be installed on porous or non-porous surfaces, and has extremely low permeability ratings. As the product cures, it uses its formulated cross-linking modified silane polymer-base to build a tenacious but elastic resilient membrane.
Acous-Tec is designed to benefit the consumer by reducing sound transmission, enhancing the thermal insulating properties of the floor while controlling moisture levels, and contributing to better indoor air quality with its low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Acous-Tec offers ASTM E492/ASTM E-986-06 impact rating up to IIC of 71, reducing the resistance to transmission of impact noise or structure-borne noise, and ASTM E90-04/E413-10 sound transmission loss rating up to STC 67, reducing airborne sounds.
This liquid underlayment is engineered to be a moisture inhibitor up to 10lbs./1000 sq. ft./24 hrs. (ASTM F-1896), up to 90 percent relative humidity (ASTM F-2170). It has the added benefit of Taylor’s Meta-Sept Antimicrobial agent, made to protect the adhesive and coating films from the growth of micro-organisms that can damage flooring materials and contribute to flooring failures. Meta-Sept is incorporated in all W.F. Taylor products.
Taylor says Acous-Tec is free of solvents, hazardous chemicals (per OSHA Regulation CFR 1910.1200), water, and isocyanates. This product is a one-component, 100% solids, non-flammable and low-odor liquid underlayment with negligible VOC content that meets federal, state, and local governmental indoor air quality regulations, and has achieved the coveted UL GREENGUARD Certification.
W.F. Taylor Co. is a family-owned company that was founded in 1977 by Wallace F. Taylor, a well-respected chemist. Taylor has been serving the flooring adhesive industry through innovative science and applied technology for over three decades, focusing on designing high-performing flooring adhesives with the environment, health and safety in mind.
