Henkel products ... used for the flooring at Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Henkel flooring is kind to interiors
With most of its Ceresit flooring technologies being EC1 certified, Henkel says these high-quality products pave the way for better indoor air quality and safer and healthier environments.
01 December 2017
Considering that the average adult spends 14 hours a day indoors, the quality of indoor air is of vital importance. The use of low-emitting building products on applications such as walls and floors can therefore play a major role in reducing the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air that can significantly affect our comfort of living and health, says Henkel.
Most of Henkel’s Ceresit flooring technologies are Emicode EC1 certified, which is regarded as the highest quality seal for low-emitting building products among professional craftsmen, planners and tenderers, according to Sujit Chandra, senior product manager at Henkel Polybit Industries, a UAE-based manufacturer of flooring and waterproofing products and construction chemicals.
The Emicode issued by the GEV (Gemeinschaft Emissionskontrollierte Verlegewerkstoffe, Klebstoffe und Bauprodukte) has evolved into an internationally recognised guidance and quality standard for low-emission products, he explains.
The Emicode EC1 is the greatest possible assurance of indoor air quality, ensuring long-term health protection, and high environmental compatibility, he adds. To date, over 2,500 products from the flooring installation, adhesives and construction materials categories have been tested.
“Before 1997, the total amount of emissions from commercially available dispersion adhesives was around 10,000 µg per cu m. However, the TVOC (total volatile organic compounds) emissions from EC1-certified adhesives must not exceed 500 µg per cu m after 10 days,” Chandra says.
Following the introduction of the Emicode standard, he says, both retailers and the industry experienced a significant reduction in the number of complaints.
After being awarded the EC1 label, manufacturers commit themselves to produce their products under quality-controlled conditions so they comply with the Emicode requirements at all times.
Chandra points out that stringent quality control in development and production, and continuous process optimisation is the essential basis for Ceresit’s success in the market.
Ceresit now brings together two of Henkel’s major flooring brands, Ceresit and Thomsit, following their recent merger. “The rebranding was an easy and logic step for us in order to grow as a brand and as a company,” he remarks.
Ceresit is internationally recognised as a leading brand offering a wide range of high-quality product systems in flooring as well as many other categories like tiling, waterproofing or ETICS (external thermal insulation composite systems).
Ceresit technologies offer a complete flooring system comprising primer, substrate repair, levelling compound and bonding/fixing adhesive for various types of floor coverings such as wood, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), rubber, linoleum and carpet.
Chandra says the company is committed to providing floor covering works that are safer, easier and healthier by optimising indoor air quality with Ceresit.
He continues: “An important pillar of Ceresit’s success is our key values – quality, technical expertise, sustainability and innovation – which allow us to best serve our clients. This is how Ceresit meets the demands of the construction industry and professional craftsmen worldwide, and sets the highest standards.
“A commitment to leadership in sustainability is one of our core corporate values. As sustainability leaders, we aim to pioneer solutions for sustainable development while continuing to shape our business responsibly and increase our economic success. This is also shown in our certifications like the EC1.”
Germany-headquartered Henkel’s extensive research and development generates a constant flow of innovative products and system solutions based on new technologies. “Being more than just technical innovations, our products and technologies provide our professional users with tangible added value. And since their needs are subject to constant change, we always stay close to the market. As a result, we base our activities on a research and development approach, whereby experienced chemists and engineers translate all pertinent market research findings into customised products that make hands-on work easier, faster and healthier,” he concludes.
A pioneer in the field of adhesives, Henkel was founded over 140 years ago by Fritz Henkel. Henkel is now present worldwide via strong brands such as Ceresit, Pattex and Polybit, in the field of building construction.
