Code of practice for laying hardwood parquet and wood block floors

IS 5389: Scope Summary & Key Specifications

Scope (Clause 3.1.1)

For efficient timber flooring work, consider:

• Floor area and type of timber flooring
• Species and grade of timber (see species table below)
• Flooring thickness
• Finished floor level relative to datum
• Damp-proofing and screeded bed details
• Preservative treatment
• Services passing through flooring
• Underlay type
• Fixing method
• Skirting and junction treatments
• Dressing or polishing
• Contract conditions affecting work

Recommended Timber Species & Relative Hardness (Clause 7.2)

(Refer to IS 5389 Table 7.2 for full list)

Important Notes

• Species selected based on shock resistance, beam strength, and shape retention.
• Use IS 707-1968 for timber terminology.
• Units follow SI system (e.g., length in meters, force in Newtons).

flowchart TD
    A[Start: Flooring Project] --> B[Collect Detailed Data]
    B --> C{Check Timber Species}
    C -->|Suitable| D[Select Grade & Thickness]
    C -->|Unsuitable| E[Choose Alternative Species]
    D --> F[Plan Damp-proofing & Screeded Bed]
    F --> G[Decide Fixing Method & Underlay]
    G --> H[Consider Services & Junctions]
    H --> I[Finalize Finishing & Polishing]
    I --> J[Execute Flooring Work]

Summary: IS 5389 emphasizes comprehensive planning covering timber species,

IS 5389 - Definitions & Key Specifications Summary

1. Definitions

• Refer to IS 707-1968 for timber and timber product terms.
• Includes terms related to timber flooring, species, hardness, treatments, fixing methods, etc.

2. Timber Species for Floor Boards (Clause 7.2 Table)
   | Trade Name | Botanical Name | Relative Hardness | |------------|----------------|-------------------| | Anjan | Hardwickia binata Roxb. | 70 | | Axlewood (Bakli) | Anogeissus latifolia Wall. | 120 | | Bijasal | Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. | 100 | | Cypress | Cupressus torulosa D. Don. | 60 | | Fir | Abies pindrow Royle | 65 | | Gurjan | Dipterocarpus spp. | 135 | | Haldu | Adina Cordifolia Roxb. Hk. f. | 100 | | ... | ... | ... |

• Relative Hardness is a key parameter indicating wear resistance.
• Selection considers shock resistance, beam strength, and dimensional stability.

3. Planning Considerations (Clause 3.1.1)

• Floor area, timber type, species & grade, thickness, level datum.
• Damp-proofing, screed bed, preservative treatment.
• Services through flooring, underlay, fixing method, skirting treatment.
• Junction treatment, polishing, contract conditions.

4. Units (SI Units) Used in IS 5389

• Length: metre (m)
• Mass: kilogram (kg)
• Force: newton (N) = 1 kg·m/s²
• Pressure/Stress: pascal (Pa) = 1 N/m²

Quick Reference: Relative Hardness Scale (Example)

flowchart TD
    A[Timber Flooring Design] --> B[Select Timber Species]
    B --> C{Check Relative Hardness}
    C -->|High| D[Use

IS 5389 - Exchange of Information (Clause 3.1)

• Purpose: Early consultation and exchange of information among all parties involved in building operations.
• Goal: Ensure full knowledge of work particulars and enable cooperation for satisfactory completion.

Key Specifications for Exchange of Information

• Timing: Arrange at an early stage of the project.
• Participants: All stakeholders involved in the building operations.
• Content: Detailed particulars of the work, schedules, dependencies, and requirements.
• Outcome: Coordination to meet conditions required by others, avoiding delays or conflicts.

Best Practices (from engineering knowledge)

Diagram: Information Flow in Building Operations

flowchart TD
    A[Design Team] -->|Share drawings| B[Contractor]
    B -->|Feedback & Queries| A
    B -->|Schedule & Progress| C[Subcontractors]
    C -->|Status Reports| B
    B -->|Coordination Meetings| D[Client/Consultants]
    D -->|Approvals & Instructions| B

Summary: IS 5389 emphasizes early, clear, and continuous exchange of information to ensure smooth cooperation and successful building project completion.

IS 5389: Species of Timber for Flooring (Clause 4.1)

• Recommended Species & Hardness: Appendix A lists timber species for floorboards/parquet floors with hardness indexed to teak (Teak = 100).
• Avoid Mixing Hardness: Different hardness species should not be mixed to prevent uneven wear.
• Preferred Timber Characteristics:
  • Non-refractory (seasoning-friendly)
  • Rapidly seasoned, defect-free
  • Easily seasoned in open air with systematic stacking

Typical Hardness Index (Teak = 100) — Sample from Appendix A

Key Notes:

• Use species with similar hardness to ensure uniform wear.
• Season timber properly to avoid warping or defects.
• Consult Appendix A in IS 5389 for full species list and hardness values.

flowchart LR
    A[Select Timber Species] --> B{Check Hardness Index}
    B -->|Similar Hardness| C[Use for Flooring]
    B -->|Different Hardness| D[Avoid Mixing]
    C --> E[Season Timber Properly]
    E --> F[Install Floor]

IS 5389: Treatment and Protection of Timber - Key Points

• Preservative Treatment (Clause 5.2.1):
  Timber must be treated after seasoning as per IS 401-1967 (Code of Practice for Preservation of Timber). This includes chemical preservatives to protect against decay and insects.

• Anti-termite Measures (Clause 5.2.1.2):
  If anti-termite treatment is applied to the site or structure, timber may not require chemical treatment.

• Nails Specification (Clause 4.2):
  Nails should conform to IS 723-1961 and be diamond pointed for better penetration.

Common Preservative Treatments (per IS 401-1967)

Typical Formula for Retention of Preservative (IS 401)

[ R = \frac{W \times C}{V} ]

Where:

• ( R ) = Retention (kg/m³)
• ( W ) = Weight of preservative absorbed (kg)
• ( C ) = Concentration of active ingredient (%)
• ( V ) = Volume of timber treated (m³)

flowchart LR
    A[Seasoned Timber] --> B[Treated with Preservatives (IS 401)]
    B --> C{Anti-termite Measures?}
    C -- Yes --> D[No Chemical Treatment Required]
    C -- No --> E[Chemical Treatment Applied]
    E --> F[Protection Against Decay & Insects]

Summary: Seasoned timber must be preservative treated per IS 401 unless anti-termite measures are used. Nails must be IS 723 compliant and diamond pointed.

IS 5389: Fabrication and Laying of Timber Flooring - Key Points

1. Fabrication Planning (Clause 3.1.1)

Before fabrication, consider:

• Floor area and type of timber flooring
• Timber species, grade, and thickness
• Finished floor level relative to datum
• Damp-proofing type (see IS 1609-1966)
• Screeded bed details
• Preservative treatments
• Underlay type and fixing method
• Skirting and junction treatments
• Polishing or dressing requirements

2. Protection Against Moisture (Clause 5.4)

• Use a damp-proof layer impervious to liquid and vapor moisture.
• It must cover the entire floor area continuously.

3. Laying of Floor (Clause 6.2.3)

• Components must conform to specified dimensions and arrangement (refer to Fig. 5 in IS 5389).
• Typical thickness and fixing methods depend on timber type and use.

Typical Specification Table (Example)

Moisture Protection Diagram (Conceptual)

flowchart TB
    Ground -->|Moisture| DampProofLayer[Impervious Damp-Proof Layer]
    DampProofLayer --> FloorTimber[Timber Flooring]
    FloorTimber --> FinishedFloor[Finished Floor Level]

For detailed dimensions and fixing, refer to Fig. 5 of IS 5389 and IS 1609-1966 for damp-proofing materials.

IS 5389: Parquet Floors – Key Specifications & Formulas

1. Sub-floor (Clause 6.2.3 a)

• Material: Timber boarded floor, thickness 50–75 mm (per IS 3670-1966).
• Preparation: Planed for a true, level surface; loose boards securely nailed.
• Alternative: Cement concrete sub-floor allowed.
• Condition: Work on stabilized dry sub-floor.

2. Parquet Panels (Clause 6.2.3 b)

• Panel size: Usually 30–35 cm², range 15–90 cm².

3. Hardwood Battens (Clause 6.2.3 c)

• Dimensions: Length 15–50 cm, Width 5–10 cm, Thickness 5–10 mm.
• Edges: Square edged.

4. Timber Species & Hardness (Clause 4.1.1)

• Use species with similar hardness to avoid uneven wear.
• Hardness indexed to teak = 100 (see Appendix A for species & % indentation).

Summary Table of Parquet Components

flowchart TD
    A[Sub-floor: 50-75 mm timber or concrete] --> B[Planed & nailed for firmness]
    B --> C[Parquet Panels: 15-90 cm²]
    C --> D[Hardwood Battens: 15-50 cm x 5-10 cm x 5-10 mm]
    D --> E[Final Parquet Floor Assembly]

Note: Refer to IS 5389 Appendix A for timber species hardness values to ensure uniform wear.

IS 5389: Key Specifications & Formulas for Wood Block Floors

1. Wood Block Types (Clause 6.2.1)

• Square end block with dove-tailed grooves (Fig. 4A)
• Tongued and grooved block (Fig. 4B)
• Block with tongues on ends (Fig. 4C)
• Block with dove-tailed groove bottom + narrow groove around (Fig. 4D)

2. Patterns (Fig. 3)

• Herring-bone pattern
• Basket pattern

3. Dimensions & Materials (Clause 7.5)

• Sub-floor: Cement concrete, thickness 5 to 7.5 cm, smooth & level.
• Wood blocks: Size approx. 25×7.5 cm to 30×7.5 cm, thickness 2.5 to 4 cm.
• Blocks dipped in liquid bitumen mastic for adhesion.

4. Laying Method (Clause 6.2.4)

• Start laying at the center.
• Lay two rows longitudinally as border.
• Final surface is scraped/planed and sanded smooth.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Start at center] --> B[Lay wood blocks in pattern]
    B --> C[Lay 2 rows longitudinally as border]
    C --> D[Scrape/plane surface]
    D --> E[Sand smooth]

This ensures a durable, level, and aesthetic wood block floor per IS 5389.

IS 5389: Floor Seals - Key Points & Specifications

Definition (Clause 2.1)

• Floor Seal: A substance applied on timber floors to fill surface pores, reducing porosity and improving finish adhesion.

Requirements (Clause 7.1)

• Use an efficient floor seal suitable for the floor's intended use.
• Floor seal type varies by purpose (residential, industrial, etc.).

Components & Laying (Clauses 6.1.2.1 & 6.2.3)

• Floors comprise layers/components as per Fig. 5 (not provided here).
• Each component must conform to dimensional and material specs.
• Seal must ensure a smooth, less porous surface before finishing.

Typical Specifications for Floor Seals (General Practice)

Application Formula (Conceptual)

[ \text{Seal Coverage} = \frac{\text{Volume of Seal Applied}}{\text{Area of Floor}} \approx 8-12 \text{ m}^2/\text{litre} ]

flowchart TD
    A[Timber Floor Surface] --> B[Apply Floor Seal]
    B --> C[Seal Fills Pores]
    C --> D[Reduced Porosity]
    D --> E[Improved Finish Adhesion]

Summary: Use a floor seal that effectively fills timber pores, dries quickly, and is compatible with the final finish. Follow IS 5389 component specs for proper floor construction.

IS 5389: Recommended Timber Species & Relative Hardness for Flooring

Key Points from Clause 4.1.1 & Appendix A:

• Teak is the reference species with hardness = 100.
• Other timber species are rated as a percentage of teak's indentation hardness.
• Species with significantly different hardness should not be mixed to avoid uneven wear.

Typical Relative Hardness Values (Teak = 100):

(Exact values to be confirmed from Appendix A of IS 5389)

Important Specifications:

• Use uniform hardness species in one floor to ensure even wear.
• Hardwood parquet floors are preferred in high-traffic areas like auditoria, skating rinks, and dance halls.
• Selection depends on availability and local timber species.

flowchart LR
    A[Select Timber Species] --> B{Check Hardness}
    B -->|Hardness ~100| C[Use Teak]
    B -->|Hardness ~90| D[Use Sal]
    B -->|Hardness ~70-80| E[Use Rosewood/Mahogany]
    B -->|Hardness <60| F[Avoid Mixing with Harder Species]
    C & D & E --> G[Lay Flooring Uniformly]

Summary: Choose timber species with similar relative hardness (close to teak's 100) for flooring to ensure durability and uniform wear per IS 5389 Appendix A.