WITH a variety of realistic wood and natural finishes, on-trend colours and graphic designs that can add the ‘wow’ factor to any space, it is no surprise that the use of sheet vinyl is on the rise. What’s more, thanks to state-of-the-art manufacturing, there are now solutions available with high tech wear layers which guarantee products retain their ‘as-new’ appearance even after years of intensive use, as well as completely adhesive free solutions for quick and easy installations.
Forbo Flooring Systems is proud of its large portfolio of sheet vinyl solutions, which have been designed to meet the needs of various applications. Here’s an overview of its most popular solutions.
Modul’up adhesive free sheet vinyl
Production techniques are continually advancing, and some vinyl floor solutions now no longer need adhesive; Forbo’s Modul’up is proof of this. Launched in 2018, the ‘lay flat, stay flat’ technological innovation is designed for quick and easy installation. Requiring no adhesive or tackifier, Modul’up reduces installation time by over 50% and saves over 20% on costs (compared to the use of standard, glued down products), meaning contractors can complete more jobs, quicker.
Modul’up is available in three high performance constructions:
Compact – perfect for high traffic areas
19 dB – ideal for environments where impact noise needs to be kept to a minimum
T.E. – for subfloors with up to 97% RH floor covering
Suitable for both new build and renovation applications in healthcare facilities, schools, offices and residential buildings, the Modul’up range consists of a palette of over 90 colours, from striking natural oak woods and elegant stone or concrete effects, to brighter colour choices and digitally printed items.
Thanks to its double structural stabilisation system, which incorporates two layers of fibre glass fleece within the construction (compared to only one layer in standard vinyl), the sheet vinyl will not curl, ruck or roll once installed with the Modul’up tape system. This is a unique single sided tape system that works by being fitted underneath the joints between the sheets. The non-slip surface on one side ensures the product stays in place without sticking to the subfloor, while the adhesive side adheres to the vinyl to keep it firmly in place. There is no need to perimeter tape the room either, delivering further time and cost savings.
As there is no adhesive, setting and drying times are removed meaning there is no associated potential adhesive failure issues and the product can be installed directly over most existing floor coverings . In fact, Modul’up often does not require any specific substrate preparation before installation in renovation projects, which can save on both time and costs.
And for clients, the floor is ready for occupation immediately after installation – ideal for jobs where minimal downtime is required. But that’s not all. Modul’up adhesive free sheet vinyl can be fitted overnight, over the weekend or even whilst the premises are still in use as there is little or no noise, dust or odours.
One project that recently reaped the benefits of Modul’up was Ormskirk District General Hospital, where the refurbishment took place during the A&E department’s out of hours, between midnight and 8am.
Speaking of the Modul’up installation at the hospital, Dominic Gillies, Account Manager at Crown Flooring, commented: “We completed the Modul’up installations overnight, Monday to Thursday, while the department was closed. The adhesive free solution saved us a lot of time as we did not need to prepare the subfloor and it was really easy to lay it over the existing vinyl. Due to the nature of hospitals, and particularly in the current climate, it’s important that tradespeople are able to get in and out as quickly as possible, and Modul’up enabled us to do this whilst still completing the job to an excellent standard.”
Furthermore, Modul’up was also installed at Edinburgh College. Commenting on the project, Mark Edwards, Partner at Gordon and Halliday Flooring, said: “The installation at Edinburgh College went very well. My team enjoy using Forbo’s Modul’up because it truly is a hassle-free solution. For contractors, it saves on costs and reduces installation times by half, allowing floors to be completed in a quicker timeframe and for more areas to be completed. And when the time comes for the floor covering to be replaced, with Modul’up being adhesive free, it can be easily uplifted, recycled or re-used again elsewhere.”
Modul’up also benefits from Forbo’s new XtremPURTM finish, which is an extremely high-performance lacquer protection that provides the best possible resistance against stains, scuffs and scratches and provides a natural matte aesthetic. This new finish also enhances the slip resistance of the collection to R10 and delivers a fire performance of Bfl-s1.
At the end of its long service life, the vinyl is instantly ready for recycling, as once lifted, there is no adhesive residue stuck to the back of the material, and the subfloor is left clean and sound for repeat installation.
For more information about Modul’up, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/modulup
Sphera homogeneous sheet vinyl
In 2017, Forbo invested over £17 million in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art production facility to manufacture its premium homogeneous vinyl collection: Sphera. With the ability to build a factory from scratch, Forbo was able to invest in the most up to date equipment and technology available to produce a solution that offers unique opportunities for installers, designers and end users.
Developed in-house by Forbo’s European design team, Forbo’s Sphera homogeneous vinyl floor coverings add character and style to floors across numerous applications. Whether in demanding, hygienic healthcare environments, in flexible, multi-purpose modern public buildings or in education facilities and offices, where durability and colour are key, Sphera will never disappoint.
In fact, there are four ranges available within the Sphera collection: Sphera Element which comprises a fresh, light and contemporary colour palette; Sphera Evolution, an expressive design where a mixture of spheres, granules and colour pigments deliver a vibrant visual; Sphera SD | EC which has conductive properties, making it the perfect solution for sensitive areas; and refreshed for 2021 is Sphera Energetic.
Sphera Energetic is the second generation of Forbo’s premium homogeneous vinyl sheet collection. The dynamic new range now consists of four design families, with each one offering an array of beautifully balanced designs to help architects and specifiers create fresh, contemporary interiors, whilst still retaining its exceptional durability properties. The four new design families are Uni, Vivid, Shimmer and Confetti.
Uni is a compendium of 20 trending colours, which feature transparent chips throughout the design to create depth, whilst the bolder, Vivid design is available in 12 vibrant shades comprising colourful chips from the Uni design family – making it easy to seamlessly combine the two together.
Shimmer and Confetti are two brand new designs: Shimmer has a modern terrazzo aesthetic thanks to its angular chips, and as the name suggests, Confetti is a design that features a mixture of coloured chips from the entire range, providing a playful, random confetti look.
The chips throughout each design add a new dimension to homogeneous vinyl, while also helping to effectively hide dirt in areas where heavy footfall is expected. W
hat’s more, the colour palette of the entire range offers high Light Reflectance Value (LRV) ratings, which will help to maximise light within a building.
Although the designs have been refreshed, Sphera Energetic still retains its impeccable durability characteristics. Thanks to its SMART-top surface protection, it combines excellent stain and scratch resistant properties, with superior appearance retention to ensure the floor looks and performs well for the end users of today and the future.
Forbo’s new Sphera Energetic collection is manufactured using 100% renewable electricity and with minimal waste, thanks to Forbo’s efficient state-of-the-art production process. In fact, any waste that may be produced is re-used in Forbo’s other premium products. The collection also has low emissions and is phthalate free to help contribute to a healthy indoor environment.
All of the colourways within each family have been developed to work alongside each other, but also with other collections in the Forbo portfolio, such as Eternal general purpose and Step safety sheet vinyl collections, to create a fully integrated flooring scheme.
For more information about Sphera, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/sphera
Eternal & Step
In addition to the Modul’up and Sphera collections, Forbo also offers a general-purpose vinyl option for all application areas, as well as safety vinyl for areas that require excellent slip resistance and are prone to spillages.
Forbo’s Step safety flooring collection provides a complete range of solutions designed to meet safety demands across a wide range of applications, from general areas to more extreme areas, such as commercial kitchens, wetroom (barefoot) and industrial applications.
The collection consists of 11 individual ranges, all of which offer true design freedom and cover all relevant slip ratings. In fact, all products found within the Step collection are tested using the preferred test method of the HSE: the TRRL Pendulum test, in accordance with BS7976 Part 2 and UK Slip Resistance Group Guidelines.
For an everyday attractive and functional solution, Forbo’s trusted Eternal collection has been the ‘go-to’ general purpose sheet vinyl collection for over 17 years. With a total of 96 items now available, the Eternal collection is split into three categories: Wood, Material and Colour, and features a selection of colourways and designs that reflect the latest trends, including a popular terrazzo and marble aesthetic, as well as an improved digitally printed offer.
Eternal’s high tech PUR Pearl finish and PVC wear layer underpin the collection’s ability to maintain its as-new appearance – even following years of intensive use.
Furthermore, each range found within the Eternal collection all have a selection of designs that can be co-ordinated with the Step safety flooring range, meaning that contractors don’t need to compromise on integrated design, when it comes to ensuring safety underfoot.
For more information about Forbo’s Eternal or Step ranges, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/eternal or www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/step
Forbo Flooring Systems
01773 744 121
info.flooring.uk@forbo.com
www.forbo-flooring.co.uk