FORBO FLOORING NEWS MODUL'UP

Reaching Sweden’s sustainable targets

Sweden’s climate target for 2045 demands net zero emissions from all construction projects. A major hurdle towards this goal has been the high CO₂ emissions of traditional concrete. The shift towards modern low-carbon alternatives is happening, but slowly. Climate-improved concrete takes longer to dry. That causes longer lead times before a top floor can be installed safely, at 85% relative humidity (RH) - the standard for resilient floorings. This longer drying time causes stress: it depends on weather conditions and seasons, and installers do not want to challenge the RH-value. If a floor is glued down at a higher RH-value, there is a risk that the high relative humidity within the concrete breaks down water-based adhesives. That leads to moisture damage, costly remediation and - most urgently - harmful indoor emissions. In 2018, Forbo Flooring Sweden launched Modul’up, a loose-lay vinyl flooring validated at 93% RH. It can help construction projects to save months and decreases the CO₂ emissions with up to 60%. It is fully recyclable, easy-to-install and without risk of harmful future emissions.

Lower costs, time and environmental impact

Modul’up is a loose-lay “membrane floor” that can easily be installed on top of a levelling compound layer. It can already be applied at 93% relative humidity (RH) all year round, reducing dependence on long drying cycles and allowing construction teams to stay on - or even accelerate - their schedule. It shortens construction timelines up to four months, while lowering costs and reducing environmental impact at the same time.

How does Modul’up work?

The Modul’up layer has pores, which are smaller than a water droplet, but larger than a molecule. It enables the product to work like a breathable performance fabric: watertight on the surface, yet breathable throughout. Modul’up’s open construction allows the concrete to continue to dry, also after the flooring has been installed.

Proven durability and sustainability

The product has many other benefits. Verified testing shows a stable performance after 24 months of use, installed on climate-improved concrete. Using a ‘new generation’ concrete (the validation test was done with Thomas Betong´s product Thomagolv 4v Grön) in combination with Modul’up it reduces CO₂ emissions up to 60% and can be installed after four weeks. This enables year-round casting, even when climate-improved concrete is used. And at the end of its lifespan, Modul’up can be fully recycled.