Just how low the VOC level needs to be for a given product to qualify for inclusion in GreenSpec depends on the product category. For most products, we require certification to California’s health-based emissions standard, CDPH Std Method v1.1 standard (also referred to as California Section 01350), which tests a product’s resultant VOC concentrations in the space after a given period of time. For wet-applied products like paints, caulks, and adhesives, we still also look for VOC content instead of, or in addition to, verified low emissions; this is because emissions testing doesn’t adequately test initial offgassing, and VOC content is currently the only widely available proxy.
FGS Hardener Plus
FGS Hardener Plus is an odorless, zero-VOC, penetrating concrete hardener, densifier, dustproofer, and sealer for use on concrete floors.
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While resilience—the ability to weather natural disasters and maintain livable conditions in the aftermath of disruptive events—is mostly an issue of building design and community preparedness, certain products can help. For example, almost all heating systems require electricity to operate even if their primary fuel is oil, gas, or wood pellets; systems that allow operation even if grid electricity is not available are more resilient in the event of power outages. Rainwater harvesting, water storage, composting toilets, and waterless urinals contribute to resilience not only in drought-prone areas but also during power outages in any home dependent on well water. Solar water heating systems that can operate without utility power, and back-up power systems that are more energy-efficient than standard generators, may have this attribute.
FGS Hardener Plus is an odorless, zero-VOC, penetrating concrete hardener, densifier, dustproofer, and sealer for use on concrete floors. Silicate-based FGS Hardener Plus chemically bonds with concrete through a chemical-ion exchange process that continues for six months following application.
07 19 00: Water Repellents
Water repellents are clear liquid products that are usually solvent- or water-based silicone, acrylic, silane or siloxane based.
Products listed by GreenSpec have VOC content below the limit of 400 grams per liter adopted by California and a number of other states for this category of products.
03 35 00: Concrete Finishing
Installing and maintaining common flooring materials—such as vinyl composite tile, carpeting, and terrazzo—add significant environmental and financial costs to a structure over its lifespan. Structural concrete that is already in place can double as finish surface, creating attractive flooring that mitigates those life-cycle impacts.
Polished concrete floors combine diamond stone-polishing technology and silicate chemical treatment to create a highly durable, nearly maintenance-free surface that does not require repeated applications of VOC-laden waxes or other potentially hazardous coatings. Pioneered in Sweden in the 1990s, polished concrete is created by grinding concrete until level and smooth, adding silica-based densifiers, and polishing using increasingly finer abrasives. The silicates fill the pores and react with the concrete to make it dense and less porous. This concrete can then be polished to the desired sheen to create a finished product. Low long-term maintenance costs—no maintenance beyond regular cleaning should be needed—help make polished concrete among the least expensive flooring options available.
Three of the most common densifiers in North America are sodium and lithium silicates and colloidal silica. Sodium silicate is inexpensive but requires rinsing after densification, generating alkaline wastewater that has to be disposed of appropriately. Lithium silica requires no rinsing and cures quickly. Colloidal silica (nanoparticles of amorphous silica suspended in solution) penetrates deeply and is more reactive than either sodium or lithium.
GreenSpec generally does not encourage the use of nanomaterials, but colloidal silica is approved by the FDA as an anti-coagulant in food and has been used extensively in industry since the 1950s. It should react completely with the concrete and not present a hazard. Overall, evidence suggests it is relatively safe, though all densifiers have to be handled and applied appropriately.
GreenSpec lists concrete polishing systems and supporting products, including water-based, zero-VOC densifiers.
GreenSpec also lists pigments, including recycled materials and mineral byproducts of industry, and concrete stains—typically a blend of acrylic polymers and pigments; surface-applied dyes that can be mixed or diluted to create custom colors; and color hardeners, blends of pigments, silica sand, wetting agents, and portland cement that are worked into freshly placed concrete to densify and color the surface.
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Manufacturer Information
L&M Construction Chemicals, Inc.
14851 Calhoun Rd.
Omaha, NE
Toll-Free: 800-362-3331
www.fgs-permashine.com
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Is this product suitable for residential use? Radiant & colored concrete slabs?
The company clearly intends it for commercial applications; that said, it's available in 5-gallon buckets as well as drums. Take a look at the following PDF... applying it inside a residential shell may be problematic (though not impossible). It does seem doable as part of residential new construction.http://www.lmcc.com/products/download.asp?dir=PDF&file=Sealhard.pdf&type...
Can this be used over stained concrete? Can it be used outside? Decks, patios
Sorry for the delay in answering your questions. I was not aware that SEAL HARD had been posted. Here are some answers to your questions.
Seal Hard can be appled to residential applications, though it is not common. This product is odorless and safe to use, but is difficult to apply by the average homeowner. The end result of the treatment is a hardened, densified, and dustproof concrete floor surface. With SEAL HARD there is no film build up on the concrete, so no surface enhancement should be expected. The treatment is permanent to the concrete. On small areas, one coat is all that is necessary, and instructions on label for installation should be followed closely.
Installation briefly involves application of a liberal coat to the surface to keep the floor wet, allow to penetrate and dwell on the surface for approx 30 minutes, then carefully pick up residue with wet vacuum and flush the floor repeatedly with water to remove all residue. All residue can be safely disposed of in a sanitary sewer.
Protect wall surfaces and wall/floor joints from getting from wet during the process. SEAL HARD residue will dry white and extremely hard if not completely removed during the flushing steps.
SEAL HARD can be applied over radiant floor surfaces and leaves a durable, non-slip, no-mark floor. Application requires great attention to detail, see above.
Application of SEAL HARD over color. Seal Hard cannot be applied over a painted surface. Seal Hard reacts with concrete ingredients and needs to be able to penetrate the surface in order to do that. We have good success with application of Seal Hard over acid stained concrete and penetrating dyes. Acid Stained concrete must be thoroughly cleaned of residue and neutralized with diluted ammonia solution and allowed to completely dry before application. Application of penetrating dyes (see Vivd Dye by L&M at www.lmcc.com) should be done before applying SEAL HARD.
Seal Hard may be used both inside or outside.
For more information, please contact L&M. Greg Schwietz