// General Processing Guideline

GEZOLAN EPDM granules

Version 001/2603

Introduction

This document provides important information on the proper handling of GEZOLAN EPDM granules for sports and leisure flooring. As a commercial seller, we thereby fulfill our duty to provide advice and information to our customers. We expressly point out that our products are intended solely for sale to industrial and commercial customers (“construction professionals”), whom we must assume, based on their commercial and construction-related activities, possess the necessary expertise to assess the quality of the delivered material and its suitability for the specific requirements of the structure to be built. This document and other technical documents (e.g., technical data sheets) are intended solely to assist the commercial user in determining whether GEZOLAN products are suitable for the intended purpose. GEZOLAN’s advice is provided to the best of its knowledge, but without any warranty, and does not relieve the customer of the obligation to independently test GEZOLAN’s products for their suitability for the processes and purposes intended by the commercial user. It remains the commercial user’s responsibility to verify the product’s suitability for its intended use, particularly in artificial turf, running track, and fall protection systems, and to ensure that the product is suitable in terms of form and quality for the intended purpose. We do not sell our EPDM granules to so-called non-professional buyers.

GEZOLAN supplies its EPDM granules as merely one of several components for the installation of elastic sports and leisure flooring systems. Since information regarding the handling of EPDM granules in this context cannot always be clearly separated from information on the entire flooring system or considered in isolation, this document also provides some details and information that go beyond the mere EPDM granules component. All information regarding other components of the flooring system besides the EPDM granules, as well as regarding the complete flooring system itself, is based on our own experience! No general warranty claims or warranty claims for the flooring system may be derived from information that goes beyond the EPDM granule component. The specifications, care instructions, user instructions, information on handling the other components, and processing instructions from the respective component suppliers and the system provider must be strictly followed and adhered to in all cases.

1. Incoming Goods Inspection

Upon delivery of the EPDM granules and prior to storage or further processing, the recipient is required to conduct an incoming goods inspection to ensure that the delivered material is in the condition specified in the contract and that its characteristics (quantity, quality, and color) comply with the specifications and requirements. This incoming goods inspection should include at least an identity check (verification that the delivered material matches the order / order confirmation), a quantity check (verification that the delivered quantity matches the ordered quantity), and a visual and condition inspection (external damage, transport damage, pollution, and contamination). A deeper quality control in the form of a sample or random inspection and/or laboratory tests is also recommended.
If any irregularities of any kind are noticed in the EPDM granules during incoming goods inspection, the EPDM granules must not be processed! Any irregularities must be reported to GEZOLAN immediately, giving the company the opportunity to rectify the issue before the EPDM granules are processed. If the EPDM granules are delivered directly to the installation site (e.g., the construction site), a corresponding incoming goods inspection must be conducted on-site.

2. Storage of EPDM granules

The material should generally be stored in a dry place, protected from moisture, and not exposed to sunlight or direct UV radiation. The original packaging for GEZOLAN EPDM granules are weather-resistant. Keep the original packaging closed during storage. Partially used and opened packaging units should also be stored in a dry place and protected from moisture and UV radiation. Avoid storing the material near sources of ozone or together with solvents, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, acids, etc. The aforementioned storage conditions should also be strictly observed at the installation site (e.g., on the construction site).

3. Use of EPDM granules from different batches and deliveries

For materials from deliveries made at different times (e.g., goods stored in the customer’s own warehouse and material straight from the GEZOLAN factory) and/or with different batch numbers, color variations within a single color cannot be ruled out, partly due to natural ingredients. Such color variations do not indicate insufficient quality and do not constitute a defect in the EPDM granules. To compensate for minor color deviations, it is recommended to mix materials from different batches in a consistent mixing ratio during installation. In addition, it is recommended to document the batches used, and this documentation should be included in a suitable installation log along with other details regarding the installation (see also the section “Installation Log”).

4. Consumption Rates for EPDM Granules

GEZOLAN’s EPDM granules are used in countless flooring systems. Since GEZOLAN generally does not know the final system composition of the flooring, the local conditions, or other parameters that are decisive for selecting the correct amount of EPDM granules, we unfortunately cannot provide a general recommendation regarding specific minimum or consumption quantities for our EPDM granules. Determining the correct amount of EPDM granules is the sole responsibility of the installation company or system provider.

5. Mixing with other materials

Mixing our EPDM granules with elastic granules and materials of the same type from other manufacturers and suppliers is expressly discouraged. A negative and in some cases even harmful interaction between the different materials, potentially leading to a total failure of the flooring system, cannot be ruled out in the event of mixing. Especially when used as loose infill granules for artificial turf systems, mixing our EPDM granules with elastic granules and materials of the same type from other manufacturers must be strictly avoided. GEZOLAN accepts no liability for any resulting damage if our EPDM granules are mixed with elastic granules and materials of the same type from other manufacturers and suppliers.

6. Use in Flooring Systems and System Compatibility

As a supplier of one of several components in a complete flooring system, GEZOLAN can only guarantee the performance and safety of the component it supplies. We therefore guarantee that our products comply with the written specifications within the specified tolerances and are generally suitable for use in elastic flooring systems for sports and leisure applications.

As a component of a flooring system, our EPDM granules can be mixed, in particular, with a one- or two-component polyurethane binder or a coating and applied as a separate layer within the system. In a multi-layer system structure, it is also possible to combine our EPDM granules with elastic granules and materials from other manufacturers and suppliers as a system component to form a system. However, this is strictly limited to the combination with other elastic granules in separate layers of the overall system set up (e.g., a base layer consisting of recycled granules bounded with a polyurethane binder plus a top layer of EPDM granules bounded with a polyurethane binder). These statements are therefore not in conflict with the statements made in the previous section regarding mixing with elastic granules and materials of the same type from other manufacturers and suppliers. Apart from polyurethane binders and coatings, we also expressly advise against mixing our materials with other elastic granules and materials of the same type from other manufacturers and suppliers within the same layer of the overall system.

It is always the responsibility of the installation company or the system provider to verify whether our EPDM granules are suitable for the intended set up of the flooring system in each individual case (system compatibility) and to verify the compatibility of our EPDM granules with other materials in the system (component compatibility).

7. Selection and Processing of Polyurethane Binders

DGEZOLAN’s colored EPDM granules are generally processed into an elastic flooring system using a one- or two-component polyurethane binder or a coating and can thus be used in countless flooring systems.

An aromatic polyurethane binder is usually used as the standard binder for installing an elastic floor covering made of colored rubber granules. Aromatic binders are not lightfast and tend to yellow when exposed to UV radiation. This effect varies in intensity depending on the color of the EPDM granules and can, in certain cases, lead to temporary color changes on the surface. This is not a color change in the rubber granules, but merely a very thin, discolored binder film. This discoloration is temporary, has solely an optical character, and does not affect the technical or mechanical properties of either the granules or the flooring itself. This temporary discoloration can be prevented by selecting the appropriate binder (lightfast or aliphatic, as applicable). For further information and recommendations on selecting the correct binder to prevent these color changes, we explicitly refer you to our separate document “Binder Recommendations” and our technical paper on the topic “Discoloring of elastic floor coverings due to aromatic binders”.

Apart from the choice between lightfast and non-lightfast binders, the selection of a suitable binder or coating depends on a variety of other factors, such as local conditions at the installation site and weather conditions during installation. Since GEZOLAN does not know, in individual cases, the final composition of the flooring, the local conditions, or other parameters that are decisive for the correct selection of a suitable binder or coating, the selection and use of a suitable binder or coating rests solely with the installation company or system provider. For professional advice and assistance in selecting suitable binders and coatings, as well as for information on specific consumption rates or minimum quantities, we therefore refer you to the respective manufacturer or system provider.

8. Climatic Conditions for the Processing of EPDM Granules

EPDM granules themselves can be processed and installed without restriction regardless of most climatic conditions. The limiting factor in the processing of EPDM granules with regard to climatic and weather conditions lies rather with the other components with which the EPDM granules are processed and installed as part of a system.

While modern polyurethane binders are certainly suitable for use under a wide range of climatic conditions, the ambient and object temperatures, as well as the relative humidity, are of critical importance during their application. We therefore point out that, for technical and regulatory reasons, the application of polyurethane binders and coatings outside the processing conditions and temperatures specified by the respective manufacturer is not recommended and is associated with significant risks. These specifications are derived both from the material- and reaction-specific properties of polyurethane binders and coatings and from regulatory requirements and recognized rules of the art. Compliance with the processing conditions and temperatures specified by the respective manufacturer is mandatory.

In general, ideal climatic conditions are achieved at a floor and ambient temperature between 15 °C and 25 °C and a relative humidity of 40 % to 90 %. Based on the recommendations of binder manufacturers and system providers, the application of EPDM granules is not recommended under the following conditions:

The surface, ground, or ambient temperature is less than 5 °C.
The surface, ground, or ambient temperature is greater than 40 °C.
The ground is wet.
There is standing water on the surface (puddles) or the surface is covered with ice.
In case of rain or snowfall.

The installation specifications and instructions provided by the respective binder supplier or system provider must be strictly adhered to in all cases. Deviations from these specifications pose a technical risk and may lead to warranty and liability issues. It is not GEZOLAN’s responsibility to ensure that work is not carried out under adverse weather conditions and that a elastic flooring system is installed only under acceptable weather conditions.

9. Sub-base Conditions

GEZOLAN EPDM granules should only be installed on suitable, standard-compliant sub-base. The installation company must inspect the sub-base to ensure it is suitable and complies with applicable standards. GEZOLAN is not responsible for verifying the suitability of the sub-base. The installation specifications of the respective binder supplier or system provider must be followed in all cases.

10. Installation Log

In general, we recommend maintaining a suitable installation log in which all relevant information regarding the installation is recorded in a traceable manner. This includes, among other things, project details (e.g., project number, project name, project address), information regarding the construction manager, time records (dates and times of installation), climatic conditions and weather data during installation (e.g., temperature and humidity), product tracking data (materials used, batch numbers of materials used, consumption), other on-site conditions, and identified defects.

11. Disposal of EPDM Granules

Non-used product remnants can be disposed of following local regulations and provisions.

12. Maintenance and Care of Elastic Flooring

There is no such thing as a resilient flooring for sports and recreational applications that is completely maintenance-free. Rather, regular checks and maintenance of the synthetic flooring are necessary to preserve its appearance and suitability for its intended use. For the maintenance and care of elastic flooring made from EPDM granules, please refer to our separate documents “Cleaning and Maintenance Recommendations – Elastic EPDM floor coverings for outdoor sports” and “Cleaning and Maintenance Recommendations – EPDM fall protection surfaces”.

Further Information and Documents

» Download General Processing Guideline as a PDF

The following documents provide further information and should also be observed:

Disclaimer
All information given in this document is made to the best of our knowledge and belief and is based on experiences. Therefore the information provided is not binding. This document is only intended to support the user in his decision whether products are suitable for his intended purpose or not and to explain technical issues that may be relevant to this decision-making process. It remains the duty of the user to check the suitability of the product for its intended use and to ensure that the goods are suitable in terms of shape and quality for the intended purpose.