AITN Newsletter

AITN Newsletter
Armstrong Installation Training Network
Manager’s Message
Here is to a happy, healthy and
prosperous 2013. We at Armstrong
want to take a moment to thank you for
your commitment and dedication to our
network. We also would like to
increase the frequency of our
communication to you regarding new
products, changes to the network and
certification processes, and new
knowledge that may help you do your
job better. This newsletter is our first
attempt at fulfilling this need. As a
member of the AITN, you can expect to
see these newsletters on a quarterly
basis.
As we continue to develop and mold
the format of this newsletter into the
most useful publication we can, we will
need your feedback on what you would
like to see included, or what works and
what does not work. Feel free to
communicate this to Rick Herr
(reherr@armstrong.com), Tim
Provence
Ar ms t r o n g
World
Industr ie s, Inc .
(trprovence@armstrong.com) or myself
(bwbeakler@armstrong.com).
We are excited about the content of
this first issue, as it highlights a lot of
the exciting new products and product
changes that were developed and
launched to market in 2012. We also
recognize our good friend, Michael
Roettele, for the AITN Lifetime
Achievement Award he was presented
in 2012. As you read, please pay
attention to the recent updates to the
ACIP certification process. This issue
is packed with good information you
can use to help you install Armstrong
floor products.
Regards,
Brian Beakler
Manager, AFP Installation and
Technical Services
Volume 1, Issue 1
February 7, 2013
Inside this issue:
S-761 Seam Adhesive 2
Update
New Armstrong
American Scrape
3
New Summit Wood
Adhesive
4
Michael Roettele
Lifetime Achievement
5
ACIP Certification
Changes
6
Environmental Effects
on Wood Flooring
7
When Laminate “Talks 9
Back”
New Use for S-289 Adhesive
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is excited to
announce that our current S-289 releasable
adhesive is now also approved for permanent use
for residential lay-flat vinyl sheet floors, including
fiberglass floors and StrataMax. Permanent bond is
achieved by utilizing a fine-notch trowel and
installing the floor after 10 minutes, while the
adhesive is wet. The releasable bond continues to
be installed utilizing a short nap roller, with a 45- to
60-minute open time.
The following are some key benefits of this product:






Can be used as both a
releasable AND permanent
adhesive for lay-flat sheet floors
Releasable installation allows for easy removal
and repairs
Permanent installation creates a strong,
permanent bond to the floor
The releasable installation is also approved for LVT
(Natural Living & Natural Personality)
Strong initial grab
Backed by the Armstrong Guaranteed Installation
System
Page 2
Safety First:
Cutting Basics
Whether cutting wood or laminate
flooring, linoleum or Strata Max
always keep your blade(s) sharp!
When cutting more rigid materials
like linoleum let the blade do the
work, avoid using excess pressure.
Besides producing a jagged cut,
increased pressure greatly increases
the chance of a slip.
If your hand is shaking you are
pushing too hard! Use a notched or
hook blade to finish relief and fit cuts
at the wall.
Keep your free hand out of the path
of the blade.
REMEMBER: Always use your PPE;
safety glasses, NIOSH approved
dust mask and hearing protection.
The Training Corner: 2012 Recap
In 2012, 6,107 installers were trained and 577
Installers were certified through the ACIP. J.J. Haines
led the way with 815 installers trained and 84 installers
certified in 2012. Thank you to all who participated in
training and congratulations to those who achieved
certification status last year! For more information
regarding the certification process, please see page
six.
AITN Newsletter
Page 3
AITN Newsletter
New Product: Armstrong American Scrape
Armstrong Floor Products, a leader in the design and
manufacture of residential flooring, introduces American
Scrape, a new American-made genuine scraped
hardwood. American Scrape features richly textured solid
and engineered hardwood floors, inspired by the rugged
beauty of the American landscape. This special collection
is offered in domestic hickory, known for its rustic
character and superior hardness, and oak, an American
classic. Everything about these floors has an American
stamp – wide width planks (5”) and dramatic colors
named for diverse regions around the country.
American Scrape leverages Armstrong’s industry-leading
scale and a new technology to deliver beautiful, genuine
scraped wood products at very appealing prices. Each
floor is made in the USA.
1900s to planting hardwoods to replace the wood it uses
to make floors today.
A portion of the sales from the American Scrape
collection will be dedicated to supporting Homes for Our
Troops (HFOT), a national nonprofit, non-partisan
organization that builds specially adapted homes for the
nation’s severely injured veterans.
Installation Tip: Heat Welding
When heat welding inside and outside corners, use two
small pieces of blue tape on the floor to prevent
scorching/burning when starting or stopping the weld.
Leave the tape approx 1/8” from the starting and
stopping point of the groove, and weld right onto the
tape. This helps achieve a strong weld at the starting
and stopping point without damaging the floor and the
tape comes off easily with no residue.
-Provided by Tim Provence
American Scrape, Engineered Hardwood, Hickory
American Quality, Guaranteed to Last
Over 90% of all Armstrong hardwood flooring is
manufactured in the U.S., including the new American
Scrape collection, using local raw materials. As the
leading manufacturer of flooring in North America,
Armstrong is committed to sustaining natural resources
and reducing its environmental impact. Armstrong has a
long history of recycling and environmental stewardship –
from re-using cork waste for linoleum floors in the early
Meet the Trainer: Rick Herr
Rick is starting his 45th year with Armstrong. Rick spent his first 30 years in new product
development for resilient and carpet products. He was involved in the development of
Designer Solarian II and the Cleansweep coating as well as the seam coater for residential
sheet products. Rick has four U.S. Patents on products and coatings. In the past 15 years,
he has served as the Installation and Technical Services Representative for the eastern
U.S. and Canada. Rick currently resides in Lancaster, PA.
AITN Newsletter
Page 4
Spotlight on: Michael Roettele
Michael Roettele began installing
floors in 1970. In 1982, he accepted
a job with Armstrong World
Industries as a Regional Installation
Specialist. Michael became
Coordinator of Installation Services
for Armstrong in Lancaster, PA in
1996. During the fall of 2000 he built
and trained in a 3000 sq.ft. training
center for the Adleta Company in
Carrolton, TX. He then moved to
Summerville, SC in 2003 and started
FloorArt Consulting, offering
comprehensive consulting,
installation training, testing and
inspections. He has now returned to
Carrollton and built a new school, a
state of the art training and technical
center located at the Adleta
Company. Michael received the
AITN Lifetime Achievement Award in
2012 for his outstanding
contributions to the AITN. Michael,
congratulations again, and thank you
for your contributions and dedication.
Michael Roettele with the 2012 AITN
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Striations BBT Receives Award
Armstrong Commercial Flooring's
Biobased Tile, STRIATIONS
BBT® has earned a coveted Silver
2012 Nightingale Award, an award
program sponsored by Contract
magazine and The Center for Health
Design and Healthcare Design.12,
that recognizes the best in
excellence and innovation in
healthcare product design.
The 2012 Nightingale Awards
winners are selected by a panel of
healthcare industry and design
professionals and honor new
evidence-based, innovative
healthcare products introduced to the
U.S. market since November 2011.
Each product is evaluated on merits
of overall contribution to the quality
of healthcare, functionality, quality/
durability, aesthetics/style,
environmental sustainability and
pricing. A distinguished panel of
interior designers and architects that
specialize in healthcare design judge
the products.
STRIATIONS BBT delivers stylish,
linear visuals in a PVC free tile with
85% limestone and 10% preconsumer recycled content. It offers
a sophisticated linear visual for
creating unconventional design
options in a rich neutral palette. All
Armstrong resilient products
contribute to better indoor air quality
because of their low VOC emissions
and third-party FloorScore™
certification / California Section
01350.
options to create dazzling flooring
layouts. Plus, these design features
are presented in a PVC free tile
made with 85% recycled limestone,
reducing the impact on the
environment,” she said.
“Since Armstrong is the only
company to have this patentpending biobased formula, it
is the only company that is
able to bring these advanced
solutions to healthcare.”
“I am proud of the artistic quality of
this line. Armstrong is truly honored
to accept this award and all of the
designers and architects who
contributed their opinion to
help create this line can share in this
honor,” she added.
STRIATIONS BBT was cited by
judges for its versatile visual impact,
lasting performance and green
attributes. The line merges soothing
healthcare colors and a soft, striated
visual to fit any healthcare
environment. The high-end design
also meets customers’ maintenance,
cost and durability requirements.
According to Julia Pierce, Director,
Marketing and Design, “This
environmentally friendly tile collection
offers an exciting visual inspired by
the natural qualities found in ancient
stone and time-weathered wood. To
further give the illusion of real wood
and stone, we’ve designed Striations
BBT with a 12” x 24” linear format,
offering our customers unlimited
“This product is perfect for our
healthcare customers who look for
environmental benefits at a value
price point,” said Mike Garvin, sales
manager, who accepted the award
on behalf of Armstrong. “Since
Armstrong is the only company to
have this patent-pending biobased
formula, it is the only company that is
able to bring these advanced
solutions to healthcare.”
Look for the 2012 Nightingale
winners on the Contract magazine
website www.contractmagazine.com
and the Center for Health Design site
at www.healthdesign.org.
AITN Newsletter
Page 5
Test Your Knowledge
A.
B.
C.
D.
When installing a residential
sheet material over an existing
embossed resilient floor, which
product can be used as an
embossing leveler?
S-184 mixed with S-185
S-194 mixed with S-195
S-183 mixed with S-185
S-172 mixed with S-195
2. Engineered wood flooring should
be end glued with PVA adhesive
when installing over radiant heated
floors.
A. True
B. False
3. The recommended application of
S-543 is:
A. Trowel with a 1/8” x 1/8” x 1/8”
notch, followed by a 1/2” nap
paint roller
B. Trowel with a fine notch 1/32” x
1/16” x 5/64” install set in wet, no
open time
C. Trowel with a fine notch 1/32” x
1/16” x 1/32” install dry to touch
D. Trowel with a fine notch 1/32” x
1/16” x 5/64”, followed by a
medium to short nap paint roller
4. To minimize pattern repeats,
always pull from at least___
cartons of Laminate flooring while
installing.
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6
Answers: 1. B, 2. A, 3. D, 4. B
1.
Page 6
AITN Newsletter
Update: ACIP Certification Changes
With 10 years and 9,000+ certified installers, the Armstrong Certified Installer Program (ACIP) continues to grow.
Consumers, architects, general contractors, and retail customers ask for, or require, Armstrong Certified Installers for
their projects. With the rapid changes in flooring products, adhesives, and installation systems, it is critical for a
certified installer to remain knowledgeable.
With this in mind, the next step for the ACIP will be a requirement for the certified installer to update their certification
every three years to maintain the financial benefits* of their certification. To update a certification, the certified installer
must pass the current open book written test with a score of 80% or higher. The current open book written test is
available at www.floorexpert.com/InstallerTraining, follow the instructions to complete the update.
THERE IS NO LONGER A COST TO UPDATE A CERTIFICATION
Certification updates are available for each category of certification:

Commercial Sheet (includes commercial sheet and linoleum categories)


Residential Sheet (includes residential sheet, res roto, and res roto sheet categories)
Laminate
 Hardwood
Installers have four options to complete the test:
 Download the documents to your local computer and complete the registration form and answer template.

Print the document and complete the registration form and answer template.

Call 800-356-9301 ext. 5874 or 8701 or email reherr@armstrong.com or trprovence@armstrong.com to request a
hard copy of the documents. Be sure to include your current address and phone number when requesting the
hard copy.

Attend a regional update seminar through one of our distributor trainers and complete the test at the seminar.
Instructions to complete the certification update:



All answers can be found within www.floorexpert.com or within the current version of the F-5061.
Complete the registration form.
Place answers on the answer template, and when completed, submit registration form and answer template to:
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
Attn: Rick Herr
2500 Columbia Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17604
*NOTE: Failure to update a certification within one year of renewal date will void the financial benefits of
certification.
ACIP Benefits:

When an installation fails due to installer error, and it was installed by an Armstrong Certified Installer using the
Armstrong Guaranteed Installation System recommendations, Armstrong will supply all the Armstrong flooring
materials and Armstrong installation products for its repair or replacement up to a retail value of $1,000 for
residential and laminate installations and $2,500 for commercial, linoleum, and wood. Retailer’s cost will be used
to determine the material portion of the adjustment.

For residential sheet, residential roto, commercial, linoleum, and laminate, Armstrong will pay the certified installer
$125 not to install obviously defective material. This does not apply for wood certification.
Page 7
AITN Newsletter
Environmental Effects on Wood Flooring—Part 1
By Brian Beakler, Ph.D.
As part of the AITN, it is likely that most of you have
installed either solid or engineered wood floor in your past.
Some of you may install wood everyday. Regardless of
your level of experience with wood, there is one critical
aspect that you, the installer, must take into account in
order to produce a quality installation that is claim free control the moisture content.
The most critical aspect of properly manufacturing,
installing or maintaining any wood or wood-based product
is the ability to control it’s moisture content. Wood is a
“hygroscopic” material, meaning it is “water loving,” and it
has an affinity to gain and lose moisture depending on the
environment in which it resides. When wood gains or
loses moisture it changes dimension. Dimensional change
in solid and engineered (to a lesser extent) wood flooring
can create havoc, and depending on the amount of
dimensional change (which is closely tied to the moisture
content), defects such as buckling, gapping, checking,
splitting, cupping and crowning will occur. It is important
to understand a bit about the manufacturing process and
how the ambient atmospheric conditions can affect the
performance of wood flooring products.
Armstrong manufactures all of its solid and engineered
wood flooring products in a way that all product going into
the box has a moisture content (MC) between 6% and 9%.
Moisture content is defined as the weight of the water
contained in the wood, expressed as a percentage of the
weight of the dry wood. Wood products produced for
interior applications in the U.S. and Canada are generally
manufactured to hold the 5% - 9% MC range. The reason
for this specific range is that the interior environments in
the region hold approximately that same atmospheric MC,
also known as equilibrium moisture content (EMC), year
round. EMC is defined as the moisture content at which
wood neither gains nor loses moisture when surrounded
by air at a given relative humidity and temperature. In
essence, when wood at a specific moisture content is
placed into an environment which does not match it’s
moisture content, the wood will gain or lose moisture until
equilibrium with the environment is met. The result of this
gain or loss in moisture content is dimensional change.
It is highly recommended that wood flooring products be
“acclimated” to the environment in which they are going
to be installed. This acclimation, when done properly
(proper acclimation will be discussed in Part 2 of this
series), will allow the individual flooring planks to gain or
lose moisture and change dimension prior to being
fastened to the subfloor. Most issues occur when proper
acclimation is not completed prior to installing. Typically,
this results in gapping between boards (in drier
conditions) and buckling or crushing (in wetter
conditions). For example, if an installer staples 3/4” thick,
3-1/4” wide northern red oak flooring with an average out
of the box MC of 6% in an interior atmosphere that has a
11% EMC without proper acclimation, he or she can
expect to get approximately 4.4 inches of expansion in an
installation that is 20 feet in width. Nearly all of the
dimensional change in wood flooring is across its width
and through its thickness, and there is virtually no
dimensional change along it’s length.
Once the floor is properly installed, it is critical that the
floor is maintained in a relative humidity (RH) between
35% and 55% and at a temperature between 60°F and
80°F. These conditions of RH and temperature produce
a range in EMC between 7% and 10%, which is very
closely aligned to the manufactured moisture content of
most products. Occasionally, and usually only on special
request, the manufacturer will dry and process the
material so that the MC matches the EMC for specific
dry or wet environments (example: Phoenix and Houston,
respectively). Maintenance of EMC conditions in the
interior environment will insure that the installation
remains stable and performs at its peak throughout it’s
useful life.
An old professor of mine once said, “95% of all problems
that you will experience in wood in your career will be
moisture-related in one way or another.” Thus far, he is
correct. So, next time you install a wood floor, be
conscious of the need to control the moisture content.
Meet the Trainer: Tim Provence
Tim has spent the past 11 years with Armstrong serving as the Installation and
Technical Services Representative covering the western U.S. and Canada. Prior to
that, Tim was the AITN installation trainer for Armstrong distributor, Tri West, LTD. He
began his career in flooring installation in 1974, and from 1981-1997 Tim was a
licensed flooring installer in California. Tim currently resides in Aguanga, California.
Page 8
AITN Newsletter
Updated Installation Adhesive Chart - Part 1
Page 9
AITN Newsletter
When Laminate “Talks Back”
By Todd Weldon
Laminate flooring has evolved extensively since its
introduction in the early 90’s. One of the most
significant changes is the transition from fully glued
joint systems to “Lock and Fold” or “glueless”
installation systems. The introduction of locking
laminate has helped to foster a quick, more cost
effective and less “messy” installation as opposed
to previous “glued together” installation systems.
While these locking systems have demonstrated
numerous benefits, their advent has had some
unintended and undesirable consequences. The
greatest of these is the occurrence of “noise.”
When laminate flooring makes noise, regardless of
the reason, it is always the result of friction at the
joints. All properly made locking laminate flooring
products are capable of making occasional or
incidental noise at some time during the service life
of the floor. However, laminate noise that is
repetitive, constant and widespread is not normal
and should not be tolerated. Although the causes
of this type of noise are limited to manufacturing,
site related conditions or installation deficiencies,
pinpointing the exact cause can be problematic
after the installation. Below are three of the most
prevalent causes of laminate flooring noise.
Manufacturing:
Laminate that is milled improperly can make noise
at the joints. If laminate is milled too tightly, it will
make noise right out of the carton, and will never go
away. If widespread noise is observed at install in a
properly prepared site - DO NOT PROCEED!
Consequently, if a noise situation develops over
time, this is a clear indication that you have to look
elsewhere for the source of the issue.
Proper Environment:
Sustained high relative humidity/moisture issues will
cause swelling in the joints. Although more
dimensionally stable than wood flooring products,
laminate being a wood composite product, is
subject to its environment and will expand and
contract accordingly. As joint swelling occurs,
noise is often the result. When this occurs, if the
joints have not been permanently damaged, it may
take several weeks of exposure to low relative
humidity to correct. To help prevent this from
occurring, Armstrong recommends a relative
humidity range of 35% to 55%.
Installation Deficiencies:
Lack of required expansion space is the #1
installation related cause of “noisy” laminate.
As the floor cycles through normal seasonal
changes, if no expansion space is available or
pinch points are created, the joints push on each
other creating tension. This tension in turn
manifests itself in the form of noise when walked
upon. Armstrong’s expansion space and transition
strip requirements are based on mathematics that
take into account the rate in which laminate will
shrink or swell when exposed to normal household
fluctuations in relative humidity. When installed
without these minimum expansion space
requirements, the floor will react adversely during
“normal” seasonal changes. Therefore, it’s critical
to allow for the proper expansion space around the
room’s perimeter during installation.
Armstrong R&D, through the continuous
improvement process, has made several
improvements to its laminate products to make
them less likely to make noise in any situation.
These include a new lock design and the addition
of wax at the joints on a number of our laminate
products. In addition to these efforts, Armstrong
has added noise testing as part of the qualifying
measure for each production audit of our laminate
products. While these measures have helped to
dramatically reduce the occurrence of noise in
Armstrong laminate products, there is no substitute
for proper installation and maintenance.
Armstrong World
Industries, Inc.
2500 Columbia Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17604
717-397-0611
www.armstrong.com
www.floorexpert.com
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the
design and manufacture of floors and ceilings. In 2011,
Armstrong's consolidated net sales from continuing operations
totaled approximately $2.7 billion. Based in Lancaster, Pa.,
Armstrong operates 32 plants in eight countries and has
approximately 8,500 employees worldwide. For more
information, visit http://www.armstrong.com/.
Armstrong markets the most extensive portfolio of residential
and commercial floor products available - hardwood, laminate,
linoleum, vinyl sheet and tile, ceramic and BioBased Tile®
under the brand names Armstrong®, Bruce® and Robbins®.
The company's global acoustical ceiling and suspension
systems business is 90 percent commercial – offices,
healthcare, education, retail, transportation and other
segments – and 10 percent residential.
Established in 1860, Armstrong celebrated its 150th
anniversary in 2010.
Armstrong Endorses Swiffer for Wood Flooring
Armstrong has partnered with
Procter & Gamble to
endorse Swiffer® brand floor care
products on wood floors. The
Armstrong endorsement will appear
on all Swiffer products
recommended for wood floors,
including the Swiffer® Sweeper and
WetJet® Wood products. The
Armstrong-endorsed products will
appear in North American retail,
grocery and do-it-yourself channel,
including mass market retailer floor
displays.
Swiffer products reach over 92% of
where all North American floor care
purchases are made. At Wal-Mart
alone, over 100 million customers
per week will see the endorsement.
“The Armstrong endorsement of
Swiffer brands is a winning
combination which can increase
Swiffer sales and enhance
Armstrong’s image as a flooring
leader;” says Steve Poole, Vice
President, New Business
Development.
Wendy Booker, Product Manager,
Installation and Maintenance
Products adds, “This partnership
supports the strategy of expanding
our brand presence in the floor care
market.”
Starting in July 2013, the
endorsement will appear on Swiffer
product packaging, and the
endorsement may appear in various
aspects of the Swiffer marketing
elements, including website
promotions and television
commercials as well.