Frequently Asked Questions - Access Flooring

Why use Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesive?

Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesive provides a high performance, high strength, cost-effective means of installing Access Flooring Pedestals. Seal Bond has supplied the Raised Access Flooring industry with consistently high-quality products and performance for over 15 years.

How strong are Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesives?

Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesives have been used for many years due to their ability to provide the strength necessary to replace more expensive mechanical fasteners. The actual strength values will depend on the type and size of Access Flooring Pedestal that is used. Please refer to the guidelines supplied by a Structural Engineer or the Access Flooring Manufacturer for expected strength with Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesives.

What packaging is Seal Bond available in?

Seal Bond 95 is available in 1 and 2 gallon pails as well as 10.3 ounce and 28 ounce cartridges. Envirotec 105 is available in 1 gallon pails.

Where can I buy Seal Bond Adhesives?

Seal Bond Adhesives can be ordered directly by contacting Seal Bond at 1.800.252.4144, through your Raised Access Flooring manufacturer or on Amazon.

What is the shelf life of Seal Bond? How can I tell how old my container is?

The recommended shelf life is 10 months, however; Seal Bond adhesives may have a practical shelf life that greatly exceeds one year depending on storage conditions. Of course, it is completely at the option of the user to evaluate and use material that has exceeded the recommended shelf life.

Is Seal Bond safe to use?

Both Seal Bond 95 and Envirotec 105 are very safe to use. Neither contains solvents, thus are very low or contain virtually no VOC’s. While new Safety Data Sheets require specific industry-wide “warning statements” based on the ingredients, users that follow common precautions such as protection of skin and eyes will enjoy easy and safe use of these products.

What concrete sealers are compatible with Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesive?

For a detailed answer, see our blog post here on this topic.

Most concrete sealers when properly installed and cured will be completely chemically compatible with Seal Bond 95 and Envirotec 105 Adhesives. The real question is how will the system (which is comprised of the actual concrete floor, sealer, adhesive and specific pedestal) perform relative to the engineering specification of a particular project. If sufficient force is applied (Overturning Moment Test) will the adhesive be stronger than the coating to the concrete and pull the sealer off the floor? Since there are literally hundreds of sealers on the market the only answer is to test the actual components for each job (yes, concrete varies). In many cases, adhesion of the Seal Bond Pedestal Adhesive can be improved by scuffing the floor sealer. This activity will modify the surface of the sealer and promote anchoring of the adhesive.

Common concrete sealers used in Access Flooring can be divided into two categories. The first category is topical sealers, which form a continuous membrane on top of the concrete. An example of a topical sealer is a two-part epoxy coating, such as our MA-200 High Build Epoxy Color Coat. The second category is penetrating sealers that penetrate the pores of concrete the concrete substrate rather than forming a membrane on the concrete surface. When Seal Bond Adhesive is applied over a penetrating sealer it can bond to the surface of the concrete directly (preferred) rather than to the membrane which is present with a topical sealer. Silicone concrete sealers should always be tested, prior to installation.

When using Seal Bond 95 or Envirotec 105 we always recommend performing a field test to determine the final performance of the access flooring system.

What kind of preparation should be done to the concrete surface before using Seal Bond?

To improve adhesion performance make certain that all surfaces are clean and free of dirt, grease, oil, frost, curing compounds and other contaminants. Certain concrete sealers may leave a very smooth difficult to bond to profile. Abrasion of these surfaces may improve adhesion results.

How do you apply Seal Bond to the access flooring pedestal?

Apply adhesive to pedestal using method preferred by professional installer of access flooring. Pedestal should be pressed firmly onto the floor to ensure complete coverage of the pedestal base. Optimally, adhesive should exude from all four sides of the pedestal base.

Seal Bond® 95 will typically reach full cure in 7-10 days. If concrete is sealed or coated, full cure of the adhesive may be delayed and adhesion performance may vary. Contact the manufacturer for additional information regarding concrete sealers and the use of Seal Bond® 95.

Adhesive performance requirements for job specific floor installations need to be determined by the Access Floor Manufacturer or designated Engineering Company.

Adhesive manufacturer recommends that the responsible party performs a CISCA approved overturning moment test at the actual job site to verify that the “system strength” is met.

How much adhesive should I apply to the bottom of a pedestal?

Seal Bond recommends that for optimal performance the pedestal bottom is completely covered by the adhesive which is typically indicated by adhesive exuding from all four sides of the installed pedestal. The amount of adhesive applied to the bottom of the pedestal can vary by pedestal size and professional installer preference.

How long does it take for Seal Bond adhesives to cure?

The basic rule is 10-14 days for Seal Bond 95 and 30 or more days for Envirotec 105. Both are dependent on the specific installation. Seal Bond 95 requires atmospheric moisture complete its curing process and it will cure faster in higher temperatures. Envirotec 105 needs to allow for moisture to evaporate in order to cure.

What is the industry approved test method for Access Flooring products?

CISCA (Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association) – Recommended Test Procedures for Access Floors Section 6 – Pedestal Overturning Moment Test. Visit www.cisca.org for more information.

Will Seal Bond 95 adhere to other access flooring materials such as plate steel, aluminum, and wood?

Yes. Seal Bond 95 adheres to many common construction materials. However, since surfaces vary in most situations you will want to test for adequate adhesion.

What is the lowest temperature that Seal Bond can be used?

Envirotec 105 should not be installed below 50° F and will also cure more slowly at lower temperatures.  Seal Bond 95 should not be installed below 40° F.   Seal Bond recommends that both adhesives be conditioned a targeted room temperature of 72° before use.

Seal Bond 95 can be stored as low as 30° F.

If pedestals bonded with Seal Bond are submerged in water from a rain/snow storm will the adhesive bond fail?

If pedestals bonded with either Seal Bond formula are exposed to water for a couple of hours after they are fully cured there would not typically be any reason for concern with their ongoing performance. If exposure exceeds a couple of hours, a determination would need to be made on a case by case basis if the performance of the adhesive has been compromised. This might include performing sample Overturning Moments Tests with the pedestals in question.

Is Seal Bond 95 chemically resistant?

Since chemical resistance includes an extremely long list of potential chemicals, please contact a Seal Bond representative to discuss specific chemicals.

How do I remove a pedestal that has been bonded with Seal Bond without harming the concrete?

This can be accomplished by heating the pedestal with a torch.