CFI Vinyl & Resilient Flooring 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ASTM standard governs the in-situ relative humidity (RH) probe test for concrete slabs under resilient flooring?
- ASTM F710
- ASTM F1869
- ASTM F2170 (Correct answer)
- ASTM F3261
Correct answer: ASTM F2170
ASTM F2170 covers the standard practice for determining relative humidity using in-situ probes in concrete floor slabs.
Question 2: When a floating LVP floor is installed in an L-shaped room, what must be placed at the inside corner where the two sections meet?
- A T-molding transition (Correct answer)
- Additional adhesive under the planks
- An expansion gap with no transition needed
- A reducer strip
Correct answer: A T-molding transition
A T-molding transition at the inside corner of an L-shaped room allows each section to expand and contract independently without buckling.
Question 3: What is the recommended overlap when installing an underlayment pad beneath floating LVP?
- Butt the edges — no overlap (Correct answer)
- 1 inch overlap, taped
- 2 inch overlap, untaped
- 3 inch overlap, stapled
Correct answer: Butt the edges — no overlap
Underlayment sheets should be butted edge-to-edge and taped at the seams to prevent ridges that would telegraph through the flooring.
Question 4: Which type of resilient flooring contains a fiberglass-reinforced core that provides superior dimensional stability?
- Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) without core
- Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)
- WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) LVP (Correct answer)
- Linoleum sheet goods
Correct answer: WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) LVP
WPC luxury vinyl plank includes a foamed wood-plastic composite core with fiberglass reinforcement, making it highly stable against temperature and humidity changes.
Question 5: What is the standard maximum moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) allowed by most resilient flooring adhesive manufacturers for concrete slabs?
- 1 lb/1,000 sq ft/24 hr
- 3 lbs/1,000 sq ft/24 hr
- 5 lbs/1,000 sq ft/24 hr (Correct answer)
- 8 lbs/1,000 sq ft/24 hr
Correct answer: 5 lbs/1,000 sq ft/24 hr
The industry-standard maximum MVER for most resilient adhesive systems is 5 lbs per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours per ASTM F1869.
Question 6: When installing sheet vinyl with a full-spread adhesive, a 75 lb (or 100 lb) roller is used primarily to:
- Spread adhesive evenly under the vinyl
- Ensure full contact and eliminate air pockets (Correct answer)
- Cut the vinyl to the correct shape
- Flatten the subfloor before installation
Correct answer: Ensure full contact and eliminate air pockets
Rolling with a floor roller ensures full transfer between the adhesive and the vinyl backing by eliminating trapped air bubbles and voids.
Question 7: Which type of seam is recommended for sheet vinyl installed in a high-traffic commercial kitchen?
- Pressure-seam bond only
- Heat-welded seam (Correct answer)
- Double-cut seam without welding
- Lapped seam
Correct answer: Heat-welded seam
Heat-welded seams fuse the vinyl into a monolithic surface that resists moisture infiltration, grease, and the heavy cleaning common in commercial kitchens.
Which ASTM standard governs the in-situ relative humidity (RH) probe test for concrete slabs under resilient flooring?