Scientific Analyses

Apart from routine standard analyses run in faktum-laboratories, the following analyses are performed to determine the relation of cause and effect:

Floor Surfaces

  • Measuring of surface smoothness and slip resistance of floors
  • Measuring of coating thicknesses (sealing thicknesses) by means of ultrasonic sound including calibration by microscopic analysis
  • Microscopic determination of layer structures of surface treatments (undercoat, sealer and protective coats according to type of material, penetration depth, number and thickness of coatings)
  • Measuring of adhesion strength of coatings (sealers)
  • Brinell hardness testing applied to coated and uncoated materials
  • Mobile hardness testing according to steel ball indention method on installed floors
  • Accelerated ageing of parquet in a test environment using intensive radiation of light similar to sunlight in order to achieve the final colour shade of aged wood and coatings

Wood Properties

  • Identification of wood species by microscopic analysis
  • Microscopic analysis of wood imperfections, mould, damage due to wood-destructive fungi and insect attack
  • Cause studies in case of discolouration and staining by microscopic analyses, wet-chemical analyses and gas analyses
  • Determination of residual ammonia content in fumed oak
  • Determination of the sorption isotherm of exotic woods and modified materials
  • Measuring of equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of materials in a standard climate (constant climate) and determination of installation moisture content of exotic woods, modified woods and wood-based engineering materials

Flooring Elements

  • Determination of adhesion quality of top layers of multi-layer parquet
  • Determination of the differential degree of swelling and shrinking
  • Determination the differential transverse curvature (warping gradient)
  • Determination of suitability of underfloor heating and cooling
  • Microscopic analysis of causes for top layer delamination, problems with glueing and coating, cracks, splits and mechanical damages

Underfloors

  • Surface tensile strength and tensile bond strength according to DIN (German Institute for Standardisation) 1048 part 2, testing methods for concrete or DIN EN 13892 part 8, testing methods for screed grout and screed materials for tensile bond strength
  • Microscopic measuring of coat thickness and effectiveness of moisture vapour barriers on screeds (e.g. coatings with epoxy resin)
  • Microscopic cause analysis of delamination from underfloors, analysis of fracture patterns and microstructures
  • Measuring of equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of materials in a standard climate (constant climate) and determination of readiness for laying of screeds of unknown formulation as well as of screeds modified with drying accelerators or other additives
  • Quality Control, calibration service and evaluation of humidity and temperature data loggers (fidboxes) and other devices for the relative humidity and temperature measurement
  • Screed slab extraction and drill core extraction for testing of thickness, tensile bond strength values and flexural strength values
  • Testing of surface strength and shear strength of screeds to determine their readiness for laying
  • Testing of flatness tolerance and angular tolerance by means of laser levels, tube levels and straightedges with measuring wedge
  • Testing of slip resistance according to DIN – 51131 “Regulation on slip resistant properties, procedures to measure the coefficient of sliding friction”
  • Testing of moisture content according to DIN EN 13183 (oven dry method) for the testing of wood
  • Testing of moisture content according to DIN 1048 testing procedure for concrete
  • Hardness testing according to DIN EN 667-Shore A, Shore D (chair-to-floor contact surfaces, furniture castors and coatings)
  • Testing of off-odour complaints under clean room conditions and according to the Swiss standard procedure SNV 195651 “Regulation on odour emission due to evaporation from textiles”