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J UNE 2016 | 47 Resilient Flooring Technological advancements allow for truly unique resilient flooring by LAURIE JONES F looring manufacturers are stepping up in a big, bold and creative way this year to give business owners and consumers a floor that has an instant wow factor. Continuing the company's reputation for creativity and innovation, LSI Floors has launched its Custom Print program for high-performance vinyl flooring. Any environment, regardless of scale or function, can tell an original story through graphics or a unique image on the surface underfoot. "Some very exciting projects have already been realized with this new technology," says Rick Moffatt, creative director and president of LSI Floors. "We are continuously enthralled by what creative minds can accomplish when given the right tools." Imagination Studio, the division of LSI Floors where original ideas are brought to life, can now take a photograph or a customer's unique design, no matter how intricate, and reproduce it as a dazzling floor. Using a single, solid layer of impervi- ous polyvinyl, the image is printed on the back of the material and enclosed with a second printed protective coating. The result is a single piece of material featuring the graphic under two millimetres of protective vinyl. Recognizing the tripping hazard of an oriental rug on a dance floor, but still want- ing the warmth of the pattern and colours, a nightclub supplied an image of an aged rug that was transformed, by LSI, into printed sheet vinyl. "There is no limit to the size or scale, allowing for the creation of something truly unique," says Moffatt. Forbo Flooring Systems' renewed Marmoleum Striato collection presents lin- ear floor designs in a complete palette of colours, ranging from warm neutrals to outspoken brights. "Marmoleum takes on a new dimension with eight beautiful, embossed Textura designs," says Lori Lagana, marketing manager. "The organic Flow and Driftwood patterns of Textura add tactility and movement to the floor, creating vibrant spaces that play with light and direction, subtly changing appear- ances over the course of the day." Lagana adds Marmoleum Striato co-ordinates beautifully with the other collec- tions of Marmoleum sheet and tile, providing natural, healthy and durable floor- ing solutions for health care, education, government, corporate and retail facilities. Made from natural, renewable ingredients, Marmoleum Striato is 100 per cent biobased and features inherent antimicrobial and antistatic properties that improve indoor air quality and resist bacteria growth without chemical additives. Marmoleum Striato's sustainable, water-based Topshield 2 finish provides occu- pancy-ready installation and exceptional performance against real world flooring damage, including soiling, staining, scratching and scuffing. "While non-renewable floor coverings may be permanently damaged, your beautiful Marmoleum floor can easily and cost-effectively be renewed, bringing it back to its original beauty, even after years of heavy use," says Lagana. "In fact, Marmoleum has a system service life of 30 years." Hit The Ground Running Noraplan valua provides architects, designers and building owners with a rubber flooring system that features nature-inspired texture and detail, and meets the com- bined values of ultra-durable performance and well-being for today's public spaces. "The name valua comes from the Finnish language and means flow, which per- fectly captures the idea that natural rubber flows directly from the tree into this product," says Tim Cole, VP of marketing at nora systems, Inc., North America. "The goal of the floor is to capture the essence, shades and surfaces found in nature." A calmingly tranquil colour palette of 32 nature-inspired hues in two unique design options offers varying degrees of contrast and a seamless natural texture. Available in sheets and planks, the floor covering lends itself to multiple applications in a variety of settings, including health-care facilities, schools and other public spaces. Performance features of noraplan valua include a dense, non-porous surface that repels dirt and bacteria while resisting stains. A simple maintenance regimen requires little more than a mop and water. The ergonomic properties also deliver comfort underfoot and excellent footfall sound absorption for improved acoustics. Bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties help ensure a hygienic environment, while slip resistance and an extended life cycle round out the benefits. Emphasizing its ongoing commitment to product advancement and design excellence, Tarkett introduces its newly updated Safe-T-First System (STF). The revamped STF utilizes photoluminescent technology to provide a complete escape path marking system. When emergency exit routes are no longer visible, potential injury and even death increase due to slips or falls. "In times of an emergency, many escape routing systems are electrical or battery-powered, and cannot be relied upon in a power failure," says Jeff Robinette, product manager for Tarkett. "By incorporat- ing photoluminescent technology in STF, we have addressed International Building Code requirements, making it the perfect solution for emergency egress applica- tions in a wide range of commercial buildings." As proven in a study conducted by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the speed of evacuation in a dark stairwell with photolumi- nescent markings was statistically equal to the speed of evacuation in a standard lighted stairwell. STF integrates photoluminescent technology into colour and design co-ordinated resilient flooring products, allowing the space to look well- designed when lit, in addition to providing safe passage when dark. STF features low maintenance, highly durable surface finishes that diminish the use of water, chemicals and energy. The inorganic strontium aluminate crystals used in the photoluminescence are non-toxic and free from radioactivity. Altro Symphonia, Altro's latest innovation in smooth and slip resistant flooring, may be bold, bright and beautiful, but it isn't just a looker, says Nick Alexandropoulos, strategic marketing analyst. "Altro Symphonia has a striking 40 colour symphony of shades ranging from pale neutrals to bright yellows, greens and blues, and the technology you expect from us to enhance pedestrian safety." Altro Symphonia is smooth to the touch with a "no finish required" resistance to stain and wear mak- ing it durable and easy to clean. Great areas with high foot traffic volumes, the combination of expansive, high- end colours paired with slip resistance make it easy to vary an interior's mood and Custom printed floor by LSI North America at the Albuquerque Museum, NM; Safe-T-First System from Tarkett Canada utilizing photoluminescent technology.