1 Scope

NOTE This standard covers two-component epoxy floor coating systems applied as a thin-film to medium-build finish over prepared cast-in-place concrete slabs for traffic protection, chemical and abrasion resistance, and appearance. (1.1)

NOTE It addresses 100% solids, solvent-borne, and waterborne (water-reducible) epoxy chemistries applied by roller or squeegee, in single-coat sealer, two-coat base/topcoat, and broadcast decorative (vinyl-chip or color-quartz) configurations, at dry film thicknesses from approximately 3 mil to 30 mil. (1.2)

NOTE Surface preparation, concrete moisture acceptance, surface profile, slip-resistance finishing, and aliphatic topcoats applied over the epoxy base are within scope. (1.3)

NOTE This standard fills the practical middle ground between two sibling standards: Resinous Flooring covers the full spectrum of fluid-applied chemistries — self-leveling slurries, broadcast mortar beds, cementitious urethane, MMA, and heavy-duty wearing surfaces exceeding 30 mil — and is the governing standard for heavy industrial, food, and pharmaceutical environments; High Performance Coatings covers the same epoxy and polyurethane chemistries applied to vertical, wall, structural-steel, and secondary-containment substrates; and Polished Concrete covers bare concrete surfaces that are mechanically polished, ground, or chemically densified without an applied resin film. (1.3.1)

NOTE The following are outside the scope of this standard and are governed elsewhere. (1.4)

NOTE Outside this standard: (1.4.1)

Full resinous floor toppings — self-leveling slurries, sand/quartz mortar beds, cementitious urethane, MMA, and broadcast wearing surfaces exceeding 30 mil: see Resinous Flooring.
Thin-film protective coatings on concrete walls, masonry, structural steel, and secondary containment: see High Performance Coatings.
Polished, ground, or chemically densified bare concrete with no applied resin film: see Polished Concrete.
Resilient sheet, tile, LVT, VCT, rubber, and linoleum floor coverings: outside this standard.
Cementitious and epoxy-matrix terrazzo: outside this standard.
Ceramic and porcelain tile: outside this standard.
Vehicular traffic-bearing deck waterproofing membranes on parking structures: outside this standard.
Carpet and textile floor coverings: outside this standard.
Concrete slab design, placement, curing, and the under-slab vapor retarder: see Cast In Place Concrete.

1.5 System Selection

1.5.1The system type, total dry film thickness, decorative treatment, topcoat chemistry, and slip-resistance finish shall be selected to suit the service, traffic, chemical exposure, and appearance requirements of each area.

1.5.2The system selection shall be coordinated with the room finish schedule.

1.5.3Resin solids content and system type, total dry film thickness, and decorative treatment shall be as selected below.

Resin solids content / system typeradio

● 100% solids (highest durability, zero VOC, ≥ 8 mil DFT)

○ Solvent-borne (good penetration, VOC-regulated)

○ Waterborne / water-reducible (low VOC, light-duty, 3-6 mil DFT)

Total dry film thickness (DFT)range

mil

330

Default: 9 mil

Decorative system typeradio

● Solid color (base + topcoat only)

○ Vinyl chip / color flake broadcast

○ Color-quartz broadcast

○ Metallic epoxy

1.5.4Topcoat chemistry shall be selected for the area's UV exposure and color-stability requirements; epoxy topcoats shall be used only in interior, UV-free back-of-house spaces.

Topcoat chemistryradio

● Aliphatic polyurethane (best UV and chemical resistance)

○ Polyaspartic (fast cure, UV stable)

○ Epoxy topcoat (interior / back-of-house only — yellows under UV)

1.5.5The slip-resistance finish shall be selected for each area and shall meet the coefficient-of-friction requirements of the Slip Resistance section.

Slip-resistance treatmentradio

● Smooth / gloss (dry pedestrian areas only)

○ Aluminum-oxide grit broadcast into final coat

○ Polymer-bead grip additive in final coat

○ Fine silica sand broadcast

1.5.6Primer, body coat, and topcoat shall be products of a single manufacturer's compatible system; components from different manufacturers shall not be combined.

NOTE A single-manufacturer system requirement preserves both intercoat compatibility and the manufacturer's system warranty; mixing a primer from one source with a topcoat from another voids both and invites substitution RFIs from the flooring contractor. (1.5.7)

2 Referenced Standards

2.1Materials, surface preparation, application, and testing shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.

2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Architect or Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.

Standard	Title
ASTM C722	Chemical-Resistant Monolithic Floor Surfacings
ASTM D4060-25	Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser
ASTM D4541	Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers
ASTM F1869	Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride
ASTM F2170	Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes
ASTM D2047	Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces (James Machine)
ANSI A326.3	Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard Surface Flooring Materials
ICRI 310.2R-2013	Selecting and Specifying Concrete Surface Preparation for Sealers, Coatings, Polymer Overlays, and Concrete Repair
ASTM D523	Specular Gloss
ASTM E84	Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (Steiner Tunnel Test)
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22	Walking-Working Surfaces — General Requirements
ACI 302.1R	Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction

3 Submittals

3.1 Action Submittals

3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before ordering or applying any coating material:

Product data for each coating component (primer, body coat, topcoat, and additives), including solids content, VOC content, and cured film properties.
Manufacturer's full system data sheet identifying the primer, body coat, and topcoat as a single compatible system.
Color and gloss samples for each system, prepared on a rigid substrate at the specified DFT.
For broadcast systems, a physical sample showing the aggregate or flake blend, broadcast density, and topcoat.
Manufacturer's written surface preparation, mixing, application, and recoat-window instructions.
Slip-resistance documentation (COF/DCOF test data) for the proposed finish.
Mockup location and schedule.

Action submittals requiredcheckbox

☑ Product data for each component

☑ Full system compatibility data sheet

☑ Color and gloss samples at specified DFT

☐ Broadcast aggregate / flake physical sample

☑ Surface prep, mixing, application, recoat instructions

☐ Slip-resistance (COF/DCOF) test data

☐ Mockup location and schedule

3.2 Informational Submittals

3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals before the start of surface preparation:

Concrete moisture test reports (ASTM F1869 calcium chloride and/or ASTM F2170 in-situ RH) for each slab area to receive coating.
Identification of any membrane-forming curing compound used on the slab and the proposed removal method.
Applicator qualifications and manufacturer certification.
Daily ambient and substrate temperature, dew point, and relative humidity logs for the application period.

Informational submittals requiredcheckbox

☑ Concrete moisture test reports (F1869 / F2170)

☑ Curing compound identification and removal method

☑ Applicator qualifications and certification

☑ Temperature, dew point, and humidity logs

3.3 Closeout Submittals

3.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals before final acceptance:

Manufacturer's system warranty and the applicator's installation warranty.
Field pull-off adhesion test results (ASTM D4541) for the installed system.
Maintenance and cleaning instructions for the installed finish.
Record of actual products, batch numbers, and applied DFT by area.

Closeout submittals requiredcheckbox

☑ Manufacturer system + applicator warranties

☑ Field pull-off adhesion test results

☑ Maintenance and cleaning instructions

☑ Record of products, batches, and applied DFT

4 Quality Assurance

4.1The applicator shall be trained or certified by the coating system manufacturer and shall have completed projects of comparable scope and system type.

4.2A single manufacturer shall furnish the primer, body coat, topcoat, and aggregates as a warranted system.

4.3 Mockup

4.3.1The Contractor shall prepare a job-site mockup of each system, including surface preparation, on an area of the actual slab of not less than 100 sf (9.3 m²) before beginning general application.

4.3.2The mockup shall include the full sequence — surface profile, primer, body coat, broadcast (if any), and topcoat — at the specified DFT and finish.

4.3.3The approved mockup shall establish the standard of acceptable surface profile, appearance, color, gloss, and slip resistance for the work and shall be maintained for comparison through completion.

NOTE The mockup may remain as part of the finished work if it is indistinguishable from surrounding application and is accepted by the Architect. (4.3.4)

4.4 Pre-Installation Conference

4.4.1A pre-installation conference shall be held before surface preparation to review substrate condition, moisture test results, curing compound removal, surface profile target, environmental limits, and the application and recoat schedule.

NOTE The conference is the point at which the flooring contractor, general contractor, and manufacturer's representative reconcile the concrete's actual condition against the system's requirements; most epoxy floor failures trace to a substrate condition that was knowable and ignored at this stage. (4.4.2)

5 Environmental and Service Conditions

5.1 Concrete Substrate Condition

5.1.1The concrete substrate shall have a minimum compressive strength of 3000 psi (20.7 MPa) and a minimum surface tensile strength of 150 psi (1.0 MPa) before coating application.

NOTE A surface tensile strength of at least 150 psi is the floor beneath the 200 psi coating pull-off requirement: the coating cannot adhere more strongly than the concrete it is bonded to, so weak, laitance-bearing, or friable surface concrete must be removed during preparation. (5.1.2)

5.1.3The substrate shall be sound, fully cured, and free of laitance, dust, oil, grease, curing compound, sealers, and other bond-inhibiting contaminants before coating.

5.1.4Voids, cracks, spalls, and surface defects shall be patched with a compatible repair material and cured before coating application.

NOTE Epoxy floor coatings are a finish, not a substrate repair medium; thin-film coatings bridge but do not fill defects and will telegraph cracks, voids, and unevenness into the finished surface. (5.1.5)

5.2 Concrete Moisture

5.2.1Concrete moisture shall be tested and shall meet the limits below before coating; the test method and acceptance limit depend on the selected primer.

5.2.2Standard epoxy primers shall not be applied where the moisture vapor emission rate exceeds 3 lb/1000 sf/24 hr (ASTM F1869) or the in-situ relative humidity exceeds 75% (ASTM F2170).

5.2.3Moisture-tolerant primers may be used where the MVER is up to 5-8 lb/1000 sf/24 hr or the in-situ RH is up to 80-85%, in accordance with the primer manufacturer's published limits.

5.2.4A moisture-tolerant or moisture-mitigating primer shall be specified for on-grade and below-grade slabs and for slabs less than 6 months old.

NOTE Osmotic blistering and delamination from unmitigated slab moisture are the single most common field failure of epoxy floor coatings; moisture testing is not optional and slab age alone is never a substitute for a test result. (5.2.5)

Moisture vapor emission rate limit (ASTM F1869)range

lb/1000 sf/24 hr

38

Default: 3 lb/1000 sf/24 hr

In-situ relative humidity limit (ASTM F2170)range

%

7599

Default: 75 %

Primer moisture classradio

● Standard epoxy primer (≤ 3 lb MVER, ≤ 75% RH)

○ Moisture-tolerant primer (≤ 5-8 lb MVER, ≤ 80-85% RH)

○ Moisture-mitigating primer (high RH, up to 99% RH)

5.3 Application Environment

5.3.1Substrate and ambient air temperature shall be maintained between 50 °F and 90 °F (10 °C and 32 °C) during application and through the manufacturer's stated cure period.

5.3.2Substrate temperature shall be at least 5 °F (3 °C) above the dew point at the time of each coat.

5.3.3Coating shall not be applied when rain, condensation, or surface dampness is present or imminent.

NOTE Application below 50 °F or within 5 °F of the dew point causes amine blush and adhesion failure; these lower limits are hard stops, not guidelines. (5.3.4)

5.3.5The Contractor shall document ambient and substrate temperature, dew point, and relative humidity before each coat.

Minimum substrate temperature above dew pointrange

°F

515

Default: 5 °F

6 Performance Requirements

NOTE The installed coating system shall meet the following performance requirements for the selected duty class. (6.1)

6.2 Adhesion

6.2.1Field pull-off adhesion (ASTM D4541) shall be a minimum of 200 psi (1.4 MPa) at 7-day cure, with no failure at the coating-to-concrete interface below that value.

NOTE Where the substrate fails cohesively in the concrete below 200 psi, the result documents the substrate's tensile limit rather than a coating defect. (6.2.2)

6.2.3A cohesive substrate failure shall be reported as such in the test record.

Minimum field pull-off adhesion (ASTM D4541)range

psi

200400

Default: 250 psi

6.3 Abrasion Resistance

6.3.1Abrasion resistance (ASTM D4060, Taber CS-17 wheel, 1000 g load) shall not exceed 70 mg loss per 1000 cycles for standard-duty coatings and 35 mg loss per 1000 cycles for heavy-duty coatings.

Maximum Taber abrasion loss (ASTM D4060, CS-17, 1000 g)range

mg/1000 cycles

3570

Default: 70 mg/1000 cycles

6.4 Slip Resistance

NOTE Smooth, high-gloss epoxy floors become hazardous when wet or contaminated; pairing a finish selection with an explicit COF requirement is the mechanism that enforces accountability for slip resistance. (6.4.1)

6.4.2Every finish specification shall be paired with a coefficient-of-friction requirement.

6.4.3Wet or grease-prone areas shall receive a non-skid additive or aggregate broadcast into the final coat.

6.4.4The dry static coefficient of friction (ASTM D2047, James Machine) shall be a minimum of 0.5 for pedestrian floor areas.

6.4.5The wet dynamic coefficient of friction (ANSI A326.3) shall be a minimum of 0.42 for level interior areas subject to wet or intermittently wet conditions.

6.4.6Kitchens, restrooms, wash-down areas, and loading and receiving areas shall receive a non-skid aggregate or polymer grip additive broadcast into the final coat.

Minimum dry static COF (ASTM D2047)range

COF

0.50.8

Default: 0.5 COF

Minimum wet dynamic COF (ANSI A326.3)range

DCOF

0.420.6

Default: 0.42 DCOF

6.5 Gloss

6.5.1Specular gloss (ASTM D523, 60° geometry) shall meet the level selected for each area, coordinated with the reflected ceiling plan light-reflectance values and the maintenance and safety program.

Gloss level (ASTM D523, 60°)radio

○ Low-gloss / matte (10-25 GU)

● Semi-gloss (35-70 GU)

○ High-gloss (≥ 70 GU)

6.6 Surface Burning and VOC

6.6.1Where the coating is installed in egress corridors and exit-access paths, its surface burning characteristics (ASTM E84) shall yield a flame spread index of not more than 75 and a smoke developed index of not more than 450.

6.6.2The coating system VOC content shall not exceed the limit of the applicable regional air district (for example, the CARB Architectural Coatings Rule floor-coating limit of 100 g/L); 100% solids systems are effectively 0 g/L and exempt.

NOTE Confirm the governing VOC authority early — SCAQMD, OTC states, and CARB differ — because a solvent-borne system that is compliant in one jurisdiction may be prohibited in another and forces a chemistry change late in the project. (6.6.3)

Maximum coating VOC contentrange

g/L

0300

Default: 100 g/L

7 Materials

7.1 Primer

7.1.1The primer shall be a two-component epoxy compatible with the body coat and selected for the substrate's tested moisture condition per the Concrete Moisture section.

7.1.2Where the slab moisture exceeds the standard-primer limits, a moisture-tolerant or moisture-mitigating primer matched to the tested MVER or RH shall be furnished.

7.2 Body Coat

7.2.1The body coat shall be a two-component epoxy of the selected solids content, applied at the wet film thickness required to achieve the specified dry film thickness.

7.2.2Dry film thickness, not wet film thickness, shall govern acceptance; the Contractor shall account for solids content when establishing the application rate.

NOTE A 50%-solids product applied at 10 mil WFT yields only 5 mil DFT, so specifying and measuring by DFT prevents a thin, under-built film that passes a wet-mil gauge but fails in service. (7.2.3)

Body coat solids contentrange

%

40100

Default: 100 %

7.3 Topcoat

7.3.1The topcoat shall be an aliphatic polyurethane or polyaspartic where the floor receives any UV exposure, exterior light, or requires long-term color stability.

7.3.2An epoxy topcoat shall be used only in interior, UV-free back-of-house spaces.

NOTE Standard epoxy yellows and chalks rapidly under UV; any space where exterior light reaches the floor — even reflected daylight near a window or overhead door — requires an aliphatic polyurethane or polyaspartic topcoat to hold color and gloss. (7.3.3)

7.4 Broadcast Aggregates and Additives

7.4.1Decorative vinyl chips or color flakes, graded silica or color quartz, slip-resistant aluminum-oxide grit, and polymer grip additives shall be the manufacturer's matched components for the selected system.

7.4.2Anti-static or ESD systems shall use a conductive primer and a dissipative topcoat achieving a measured surface resistance of 10⁶ to 10⁹ Ω; heavy-duty ESD flooring is outside this standard and is governed by Resinous Flooring.

ESD surface resistance target (light-duty dissipative)select

Not applicable (no ESD requirement)

10⁶ to 10⁹ Ω (dissipative)

8 Surface Preparation

8.1 Mechanical Profiling

8.1.1Surface preparation shall produce a concrete surface profile (CSP) per ICRI 310.2R verified against a CSP profile comparator; the work shall not be specified by description alone.

NOTE Specifying preparation as "remove laitance" or "shot blast clean" without a CSP target is ambiguous and unenforceable; the comparator gives the inspector an objective acceptance reference. (8.1.2)

8.1.3Thin-film sealers below 6 mil DFT shall be prepared to a minimum CSP 2 by diamond grinding or light shot blasting.

8.1.4Standard and high-build coatings at 6 mil DFT and above shall be prepared to CSP 3 by shot blasting.

8.1.5Acid etching shall not be used as the sole surface preparation method, and shall not be used at all for 100% solids systems.

NOTE Acid etching produces at best a CSP 1 profile, is inadequate for any coating above 6 mil, and is prohibited by most 100% solids manufacturers; shot blasting or diamond grinding is required for an enforceable bond. (8.1.6)

Concrete surface profile (ICRI 310.2R)radio

○ CSP 2 (diamond grinding / light shot blast — thin-film < 6 mil)

● CSP 3 (shot blast — standard and high-build ≥ 6 mil)

Surface preparation methodradio

● Shot blasting (preferred for large areas)

○ Diamond grinding

8.2 Curing Compound and Contaminant Removal

8.2.1The Contractor shall confirm the type of any membrane-forming curing compound used on the slab and shall mechanically remove it as part of the surface preparation scope.

8.2.2Membrane-forming curing compounds — sodium silicate, acrylic, or wax — contaminate the epoxy bond and shall be removed before profiling.

8.2.3Chemical stripping alone shall not be relied upon where mechanical removal is required by the coating manufacturer.

NOTE A curing compound left in place is invisible after profiling but defeats adhesion across the whole floor; the removal scope must be confirmed against the slab's actual curing record, not assumed. (8.2.4)

8.3 Crack and Joint Treatment

8.3.1Cracks, control joints not intended to remain visible, and surface defects shall be repaired with a compatible epoxy or polymer repair material and cured before coating.

8.3.2Moving joints and isolation joints shall be honored through the coating and shall not be rigidly filled where movement is expected.

9 Application

9.1 Sequence and Thickness

9.1.1Each coat shall be applied at the manufacturer's specified rate to achieve the cumulative dry film thickness selected in the System Selection section, verified by wet-film gauge during application and dry-film measurement after cure.

9.1.2Broadcast systems shall be broadcast to rejection into the wet base coat, allowed to cure, scraped or vacuumed, and sealed with the grout and topcoat as the manufacturer directs.

9.2 Recoat Window

9.2.1Each subsequent coat shall be applied within the manufacturer's maximum recoat (overcoat) window; where the window is exceeded, the prior coat shall be mechanically abraded before the next coat is applied.

NOTE Most 100% solids epoxies allow topcoating at 8-16 hours at 65 °F, with a maximum recoat window of roughly 24-48 hours; beyond that window intercoat adhesion drops sharply and the surface must be abraded to restore bond. (9.2.2)

Maximum recoat window before abrasion requiredrange

hr

2472

Default: 48 hr

9.3 Layout and Extents

9.3.1Coating limits, color and finish changes, control-joint treatment, and transitions to adjacent flooring shall be installed at the locations and extents indicated. floor finish plan

9.3.2Transitions to tile, polished concrete, or resilient flooring shall be detailed for the elevation difference created by the coating build and installed at the detailed transition. floor transition details

NOTE Epoxy coatings add 8 to 30 mil to the slab surface; at transitions the elevation step and threshold detail must be coordinated with Polished Concrete and Resinous Flooring so the finished floors meet flush or with an intended, accessible transition. (9.3.3)

10 Testing

10.1Field pull-off adhesion (ASTM D4541) shall be performed at the frequency indicated, with a minimum of one test per area and one per 5000 sf, and shall meet the adhesion requirement.

10.2Dry film thickness shall be verified after cure at representative locations in each area and shall meet the specified DFT.

10.3Slip resistance shall be verified on the installed finish where a COF/DCOF requirement applies, by the method specified for that area.

10.4Areas failing any acceptance test shall be repaired or recoated per the manufacturer's instructions and retested.

Field adhesion test frequencyrange

sf per test

20005000

Default: 5000 sf per test

11 Delivery, Storage, and Handling

11.1Coating materials shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original, sealed, labeled containers showing product identity, batch number, and shelf-life or expiration date.

11.2Materials shall be stored indoors, protected from freezing and from temperatures outside the manufacturer's storage range, and shall be conditioned to application temperature before use.

11.3Materials past their stated shelf life shall not be used.

11.4Solvent-borne products shall be stored and handled as flammable or combustible materials in accordance with their safety data sheets.

12 Warranty

12.1The manufacturer shall provide a system warranty covering material defects, and the applicator shall provide an installation warranty covering adhesion and workmanship, each for the period indicated.

12.2The combined warranty shall be void where components from outside the single warranted system have been substituted.

Applicator installation warranty periodradio

● 1 year

○ 2 years

○ 5 years

Manufacturer system warranty periodradio

○ 1 year

● 2 years