Frequently asked questions
Is a higher content of EPDM-Polymer a sign of better quality of the granule?
A higher content of EPDM-Polymer is not necessarily a sign of better quality. An EPDM-Polymer looks like a piece of soap and fails to have most of the properties required in an EPDM granule for its use in high performance sports or safety flooring.
Characteristics like tear resistance, energy return, weathering resistance or long lasting elasticity are granted through a combination of prime quality EPDM-Polymer and various chemicals, oils, UV-protection agents among others. The right choice of mineral fillers, plays also an important role in granting the elastic module.
For the production of high-quality EPDM granules an EPDM rubber content between 20% and 22% is recommend . A higher proportion does not necessarily have a positive effect on the quality and stability of the product.
What compliance has GEZOFLEX and/or GEZOFILL in terms of toxicity and environmental regulations?
GEZOFLEX and GEZOFILL are manufactured with non-toxic chemicals. GEZOFLEX has been approved according to the high demanding EN 71-3 ("Safety of toys"). GEZOFILL complies with the current environmental standards in Europe. None of the products contain heavy metals, phthalates, halogens or Polyaromatic Hidrocarbons (PAH).
How much material do I need to install a certain amount of square metres?
The necessary amount of rubber to build a specific area depends on the chosen flooring system and the rubber granule size. If both parameters are fixed, the required amount of EPDM granules can be calculated essentially on the basis of density and bulk density, expressed in grams per litre (g/l).
Typically a given bulk density will indicate the consumption per square metre and millimetre of thickness in a conventional EPDM rubber flooring installed with clear PU binder.
For other systems this formula may not work 1:1 due to other factors like particle distribution or others.
The standard consumption given from most of the system houses in specific flooring systems, take into consideration their tested and approved rubber supplier, as well as an allocation for recollected rubber after installation.
What is the colour stability of the product?
The colour stability is the resistance to fade from the EPDM rubber original colour. This stability is typically measured with a method called “grey scale”. The scale spans from 1 to 5, being 5 the original colour and 1 a completely faded colour tone.
The current standards require a ≥3 value after 1’000 hours of exposure to an approved Q-UV tester.
What is the difference between colour stability and colour consistency?
The colour stability is explained in detail in the earlier paragraph. Colour consistency is the variation grade between different production lots.
In a conventional batch production system, there is a high probability of a colour tone difference between different production lots. This is a critical issue when you have material left over from earlier installations and want to use them with new acquired rubber.
In our patented continuous manufacturing process, this is minimised to a close to nil difference. This way you can work with different production lots without having to think in blending together all the material.
What is the ideal PU-binder mix ratio?
Although this is a value that will be given from the system houses, it is not too daring to say that a safe PU-binder ratio for an upper layer of EPDM flooring would be around 20% of binder in relation to the EPDM rubber weight.
Is EPDM rubber suitable for its use in water parks, swimming pools and wet areas in general?
GEZOFLEX is suitable for this use. Typically the crucial weak point in a rubber flooring in a wet environment is the PU binder. Important is the resistance to high concentration of chlorine. Constant immersion of the product in water with high chlorine concentration may affect several colours.