Code of practice for laying, fixing and maintenance of linoleum floor

IS 1198: Scope - Key Points & Specifications

Scope (Clause 3.1):
For efficient planning and execution, detailed information is needed on:

• Purpose of the floor
• Floor area
• Location & size of openings, ducts, drainage outlets
• Sub-floor details
• Type of soil and seepage issues

Waterproofing Materials (Appendix B, Clause 6.3.2)

Moisture Testing (Clause 4.1)

• Use a pocket hygrometer sealed to floor surface.
• Read humidity after overnight sealing.
• Acceptable humidity for linoleum fixing: < 80% RH.

Summary Diagram: Planning & Waterproofing Process

flowchart TD
    A[Gather Floor Info] --> B[Assess Soil & Sub-floor]
    B --> C[Select Waterproofing Material]
    C --> D[Apply Waterproofing]
    D --> E[Moisture Testing with Hygrometer]
    E --> F{Humidity < 80%?}
    F -->|Yes| G[Proceed with Flooring]
    F -->|No| H[Delay Flooring; Dry Floor]

For detailed laying methods, refer IS 1196 (Bitumen Mastic Flooring).

IS 1198: Key Definitions & Specifications

• Underlay (Clause 2.2):
  A layer of prefabricated material or in-situ filling on the sub-floor providing a smooth, level surface for flooring.

• Purpose & Planning (Clause 3.1):
  Essential info includes:

  • Intended use of the floor
  • Floor area
  • Locations/sizes of openings, ducts, drainage outlets
  • Sub-floor details
  • Soil type and seepage issues

• Waterproofing Materials (Appendix B, Clause 6.3.2):

  Material	Properties & Limitations
  Bitumen mastic	Impervious; used as floor finish/underlay; requires isolating membrane if on earth
  Bitumen felts	Impervious if joints are properly sealed
  Hot applied bitumen	Impervious if laid on primed surface with correct thickness; avoid pinholes
  Cold applied bitumen/rubber emulsion	Impervious with repeated application; requires good workmanship and maintenance

These definitions guide proper material selection and floor construction planning for durability and moisture resistance.

flowchart TD
    A[Sub-floor] --> B[Underlay]
    B --> C[Waterproofing Layer]
    C --> D[Flooring]
    C --> E{Material Type}
    E --> F[Bitumen Mastic]
    E --> G[Bitumen Felts]
    E --> H[Hot Applied Bitumen]
    E --> I[Cold Applied Bitumen]

IS 1198: Necessary Information & Waterproofing Materials

1. Necessary Information (Clause 3.1)

For proper planning and execution, obtain:

• Purpose of the floor.
• Floor area to be covered.
• Location & size of openings, ducts, drainage outlets.
• Details of sub-floor.
• Type of soil in sub-base & seepage issues.

2. Waterproofing Materials (Clause 6.3.2, Appendix B)

3. Moisture Testing (Clause 4.1)

• Use pocket hygrometer sealed at edges.
• Keep overnight; read humidity next morning.
• Acceptable moisture content: below 80% RH for fixing linoleum.

Key Definitions:

• Underlay (Clause 2.2): Prefabricated or in-situ layer on sub-floor for smoothness.

flowchart TD
    A[Necessary Info] --> B[Purpose, Area, Openings]
    B --> C[Sub-floor & Soil Type]
    C --> D[Select Waterproofing Material]
    D --> E[Bitumen Mastic / Felts / Hot/Cold Bitumen]
    E --> F[Moisture Testing with Hygrometer]
    F --> G[Acceptable RH < 80%]

For detailed laying practices, refer IS 1196-1978 for bitumen mastic flooring.

Suitability of Linoleum as per IS 1198

• Thickness Recommendations (Clause 4.1):

  • Domestic/Low traffic: 1.6 mm
  • Institutional: 3.2 mm
  • Commercial/Heavy traffic: 4.5 mm

• Chemical Resistance (Clause 4.1.3):

  • Resistant to oils, fats, and greases.
  • Use thicker gauges in heavy traffic areas for durability.

• Slip Resistance (Clause 4.1.5):

  • Polished or wet linoleum can be slippery.
  • Use slip-resistant polish or cork tiles for safer surfaces.
  • Avoid liquid wax polish over sealed surfaces to maintain slip resistance.

• Adhesives (Clause 5.3):

  • Use manufacturer-recommended adhesives compatible with linoleum and substrate.
  • Adhesives do not act as damp-proof membranes.
  • Refer Appendix A for adhesive types.

Summary Table: Linoleum Thickness vs Usage

Key Notes on Subfloor Preparation (Clause 6):

• Subfloor must be smooth, dry, and free from dust/oil.
• Compatible underlays like plywood or fibre hardboards may be used.
• Waterproofing/damp-proofing should comply with related IS specifications.

flowchart TD
    A[Linoleum Flooring] --> B[Thickness Selection]
    B --> C{Traffic Type}
    C -->|Domestic| D[1.6 mm]
    C -->|Institutional| E[3.2 mm]
    C -->|Commercial| F[4.5 mm]
    A --> G[Chemical Resistance]
    G --> H[Oils, fats, greases resistant]
    A --> I[Slip Resistance]
    I --> J[Use slip-resistant polish or cork tiles]
    I --> K[Avoid liquid wax polish on sealed surface]
    A --> L[Adhesives]
    L --> M[Manufacturer recommended]
    L --> N[Not damp-proof]

This concise summary aligns with IS 1198 clauses for practical linoleum suitability and installation.

IS 1198: Key Materials Specifications & Formulas

Waterproofing Materials (Clause 6.3.2, Appendix B)

Adhesives (Clause 5.3)

• Use adhesives recommended by floor covering manufacturers.
• Adhesives do not act as damp-proof membranes.
• Compatibility with floor covering and substrate is essential.

Moisture Testing (Clause 4.1)

• Use a pocket hygrometer sealed at edges.
• Measure humidity overnight; values below 80% indicate suitable dryness for fixing linoleum.

Summary Table: Waterproofing Materials

Practical Notes:

• For floors on earth, always use an isolating membrane beneath concrete.
• Ensure workmanship to avoid defects like pinholes.
• Moisture content testing is critical before final floor covering installation.

flowchart TD
    A[Subfloor Preparation] --> B[Select Waterproofing Material]
    B --> C{Material Type}
    C -->|Bitumen Mastic| D[Apply as per IS 1196]
    C -->|Bitumen Felts| E[Seal joints carefully]
    C -->|Hot Applied Bitumen| F[Prime surface + correct thickness]
    C -->|Cold Applied Bitumen| G[Multiple coats + maintenance]
    D & E & F & G --> H[Check Moisture with Hygrometer]
    H --> I{Humidity < 80%?}
    I -->|Yes|

IS 1198: Preparation of Subfloors - Key Points

1. Underlay Specifications (Clause 5.2)

• Timber Subfloors:

  • Plywood: ≥ 4 mm thick (IS 303-1975)
  • Hardboard: ≥ 3 mm thick (IS 1658-1977)
  • Fibre-based bitumen felt: 1 mm thick (IS 1322-1970)

• Concrete Subfloors:

  • Bitumen mastic (IS 1195-1978)
  • Bitumen felt (IS 1580-1969)

2. Adhesives (Clause 5.3)

• Use adhesives recommended by floor covering manufacturer.
• Adhesive must be compatible with floor covering and subfloor/underlay.
• Adhesives do not act as damp-proof membranes.

3. Planning Information (Clause 3.1)

• Purpose of floor
• Floor area
• Openings, ducts, drainage
• Subfloor details
• Soil type and seepage issues

Summary Table: Underlay Types and Thickness

flowchart TD
    A[Subfloor] --> B{Type}
    B -->|Timber| C[Underlay: Plywood/Hardboard/Bitumen Felt]
    B -->|Concrete| D[Underlay: Bitumen Mastic/Bitumen Felt]
    C --> E[Apply compatible adhesive]
    D --> E
    E --> F[Install floor covering]

Note: Ensure subfloor is smooth, level, and dry before underlay and adhesive application.

IS 1198: Key Specifications & Procedures for Laying and Fixing Linoleum

1. Surface Preparation (Clause 7.4)

• Base must be clean, dry, and free from dirt, oils, paints, chemicals.
• When fixing on concrete, prime the back of linoleum with adhesive.
• Use headless steel pins for cork tiles if necessary, driven below tile surface.
• If pins can't be used due to hard subfloor, weight down tiles to avoid lipping.

2. Adhesive Application (Clause 7.2)

• Use manufacturer-recommended adhesives and trowels (usually closely notched).
• Spread adhesive evenly to correct thickness.
• Allow any priming coat to dry before adhesive application.
• Ensure proper ventilation; prohibit naked flames and smoking near solvent-based adhesives.

3. Fixing & Rolling (Clause 7.4)

• Press linoleum firmly into adhesive within the adhesive's setting time.
• Roll with a ~70 kg floor roller from center to edges for full contact.
• Use sandbags if needed to maintain pressure until adhesive sets.

Summary Table: Fixing Linoleum

flowchart TD
    A[Prepare Subfloor] --> B[Apply Primer (if concrete)]
    B --> C[Spread Adhesive evenly]
    C --> D[Place Linoleum sheet/tile]
    D --> E[Press firmly within setting time]
    E --> F[Roll with 70kg roller]
    F --> G[Load with sandbags if needed]

This ensures a durable, well-bonded linoleum floor finish per IS 1198.

IS 1198: Maintenance of Linoleum Flooring - Key Points

1. Initial Maintenance (Clause 8.1)

• Wait at least 7 days after installation before starting maintenance.
• During this period, cover and protect flooring from other site works.
• Use dust-retaining mats at entrances to minimize dirt ingress.
• Avoid:
  • Incorrect cleaning agents.
  • Polishing/sealing on dirty or wet surfaces.
  • Building thick polish layers by reducing applications.
  • Excessive water use.

2. Moisture Control (Clause 4.1)

• Use a pocket hygrometer sealed at edges to test floor dampness overnight.
• Acceptable humidity: below 80% before fixing linoleum.

3. Damp-proof Materials (Appendix B, Clause 6.3.2)

Summary Diagram: Maintenance Workflow

flowchart TD
    A[Installation Completed] --> B[Wait 7 Days]
    B --> C[Protect Flooring]
    C --> D[Use Dust Mats at Entrances]
    D --> E[Start Maintenance]
    E --> F{Avoid}
    F --> F1[Incorrect Cleaners]
    F --> F2[Polish on Dirty/Wet Surface]
    F --> F3[Thick Polish Layers]
    F --> F4[Excess Water]

Key Takeaway: Proper waiting, protection, moisture testing, and use of correct damp-proof materials are essential for durable linoleum floor maintenance per IS 1198.

IS 1198 - Adhesives for Linoleum Flooring: Key Points & Types

General Requirements (Clause 5.3)

• Adhesive type & application must follow floor covering manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Adhesive must be compatible with floor covering and substrate.
• Adhesives do NOT act as damp-proof membranes.

Types of Adhesives (Appendix A)

Important Notes:

• Evaporation of solvents/water is critical before laying linoleum to avoid blistering.
• Adhesives are for bonding only, not for waterproofing or damp-proofing.

flowchart TD
    A[Select Adhesive Type] --> B{Compatibility Check}
    B -->|Compatible| C[Apply Adhesive as per Manufacturer]
    B -->|Not Compatible| D[Choose Different Adhesive]
    C --> E{Drying Time}
    E -->|Complete| F[Lay Linoleum]
    E -->|Incomplete| G[Wait for Evaporation]

This summarizes adhesive selection and application per IS 1198.

Limitations of Damp-Proof Materials (IS 1198, Clause 6.3.2 & Appendix B)

Key Points:

• Bitumen Mastic (IS 1196:1978)

  • Impervious to moisture; suitable as floor finish or underlay.
  • When concrete is laid directly on earth, an isolating membrane is necessary beneath.

• Sandwich Membranes:

  Material	Limitation/Specification
  Bitumen Mastic	Impervious to moisture.
  Bitumen Felts	Impervious if joints are properly sealed.
  Hot Applied Bitumen	Impervious if laid on primed surface with proper thickness; avoid pinholes.
  Cold Applied Bitumen / Bitumen Rubber Emulsion	Requires repeated application; workmanship and maintenance critical.

• Important Notes:

  • Waterproofing admixtures in concrete do not effectively prevent rising damp (Clause 6.3.3).
  • Subfloor construction must follow IS 2571:1970 for new works (Clause 6.3.2).

Summary Table for Damp-Proof Materials

flowchart TD
    A[Concrete Floor on Earth] --> B[Isolating Membrane Required]
    B --> C{Damp-Proof Material?}
    C -->|Bitumen Mastic| D[Impervious]
    C -->|Bitumen Felts| E[Impervious if joints sealed]
    C -->|Hot Applied Bitumen| F[Impervious if primed & thick]
    C -->|Cold Applied Bitumen| G[Impervious with repeated coats]
    D & E & F & G --> H[Effective Damp Proofing]

For detailed laying and maintenance, refer to IS 1196 and IS 2571.

IS 1198: Tests for Determination of Dampness of Floors (Appendix C)

Key Tests for Dampness:

1. Rubber Test (Clause C-2.1):
   • Place 1 m² rubber matting loosely on the floor, smooth side down.
   • Duration:
     • 24 hours for ordinary floors.
     • 48 hours for unusually smooth floors.
   • After removal, a dark patch on concrete indicates insufficient dryness for laying linoleum.

Important Notes:

• These tests (C-2, C-3, C-4) ensure the floor is dry enough before linoleum installation.
• Adhesives must be compatible with floor coverings and cannot replace a damp-proof membrane (Clause 5.3).
• Refer to Appendix A for adhesive types recommended by manufacturers.

Summary Table: Rubber Test Duration

This simple visual check prevents moisture-related failures in floor finishes.