A MODERN SOLUTION FOR TODAY’S FLOORS

THINK OF MASTIC ASPHALT AND MOST PEOPLE TEND TO ASSOCIATE IT WITH ROOFING, TANKING, PAVING AND SCREEDING PROJECTS. LARGELY DUE TO ITS ABILITY TO OFFER THE ULTIMATE IN WATERPROOFING PROTECTION

But increasingly, mastic asphalt is being specified for flooring projects across innovative applicationsboth refurbishment and new build, internal and external projects.

Not only is mastic asphalt an ideal underlay to receive subsequent floor finishes such as carpet, vinyl or tiles, it is also an excellent flooring finish in itself, offering many benefits for the overall construction process.

It is increasingly being used for flooring applications from light domestic to heavy industrial use, where a seamless, dust-free surface is required for highly trafficked areas. Polished, decorative grades of mastic asphalt are also proving increasingly popular.

Mastic asphalt comprises of suitably graded limestone aggregates bound together with an asphaltic cement - primarily refined bitumens - to produce a dense, voidless material. It cannot be compacted, and is spread by means of a hand float, rather than rolled.

Easily installed with no joints, no additional water is added to the building, making the overall drying time of the construction drastically shorter.

Mastic asphalt can be put into use directly after cooling - usually within a few hours - reducing construction time considerably. It does not require compaction to reach its final stability and can absorb temperature variations and slow settlement without cracking.

Odourless during application, it does not create any dust and is non-flammable. When tested to the European fire classification standard EN 13501-1, it successfully achieves a fire classification rating of Bfl-s1, confirming the product is flame-retardant with very limited smoke development.

With high vapour resistivity in excess of 100,000 MN/g, it is listed as an approved radon and methane barrier and is non-toxic with no tar.

Case Study: Royal College of Art

MAC contractor member Bell Asphalt completed a stunning mastic asphalt flooring project at the Royal College of Art’s new £135m campus in Battersea, London, within the Battersea Creative Quarter. The 500m2 project was so impressive that it was shortlisted for the ‘Best Development and Hybrid’ Project at the MAC Awards 2022.

The new building was designed by Herzog & de Meuron and the mastic asphalt flooring system was chosen to reflect the college’s creativity, whilst ensuring a highly durable, low maintenance flooring solution. Bell Asphalt installed a bespoke ‘terrazzo-style’

Installed by trained craftspeople who are approved members of the Mastic Asphalt Council, mastic asphalt is 100% recyclable and it is often specified on the basis of its sustainability values as the UK mastic asphalt industry was the first in the world to achieve the CarbonZero standard.

Mastic asphalt flooring is typically graded according to its usage, namely Grade I - Special hard flooring, Grade II - Light duty flooring, Grade III - Medium duty flooring and Grade IV - Heavy duty flooring. Most forms of solid construction will provide a suitable base for mastic asphalt flooring applications and further guidance on substrates can be found in the MAC Flooring Technical Guide at https://masticasphaltcouncil.co.uk/flooringtechnical-guide/ flooring system featuring decorative stone chippings within the mastic asphalt. The finished surface was then expertly polished to create the distinctive terrazzo appearance.

New CPD Flooring Presentation Available

Want to learn more about mastic asphalt flooring? MAC has introduced a new CPD presentation entitled ‘Mastic Asphalt: Flooring Solutions’ which is now available to be delivered online or in person. To arrange, please contact Malcolm Grinstead by emailing info@masticasphaltcouncil.co.uk