Like other types of panels, mineral-fiber panels can be nailed directly to framing members or furring. Thin sheets usually are backed with plywood or insulation boards to increase resistance to impact. Joints generally are covered with moldings or beads.
Fabricated with a wide variety of surface effects, fiber and pulp boards also are available with high acoustic and thermal insulation values. Application is similar to that for plywood. Generally, adjoining boards should be placed in moderate contact with each other, not forced.
FLOOR SYSTEMS
For proper selection of floor systems, designers should take into account many factors, including use of lightweight-concrete slabs, subfloors in direct contact with the ground, radiant heating, air conditioning, possible necessity for decontamination, dustlessness, traffic loads, and maintenance costs-all of which have an important bearing on floor selection. Consideration should be given to current standards of styling, comfort, color, and quietness.
The primary consideration of the designer of a flooring system is to select a floor covering that can meet the maximum standards at reasonable cost. To avoid the dissatisfaction that would arise from failure to select the proper flooring, designers must consider all the factors relevant to flooring selection.
This section contains information that can provide a guide toward this end. It summarizes the characteristics of the major types of floor coverings and describes briefly methods for the proper installation of these materials. (For ceramic-tile installations,
see Arts. 11.28 and 11.29.)
