M Surface Finishes

M1 SCREEDS/TROWELLED FLOORING
M10 Cement:Sand/Concrete Screeds/Toppings
M13 Calcium Sulfate Based ScreedsS
M15 Clay Based Levelling Screed
M2 PLASTERED COATINGS
M20 Plastered/Rendered/Roughcast Coatings
M21 Insulation With Rendered Finish
M23 Resin Bound Mineral Coatings
M3 WORK RELATED TO PLASTERED COATINGS
M31 Fibrous Plaster
M32 Glass Reinforced Gypsum
M4 RIGID TILES
M40 Stone/Concrete/Quarry/Ceramic Tiling/Mosaic
M41 Terrazzo Tiling/In Situ Terrazzo
M5 FLEXIBLE SHEET/TILE COVERINGS
M50 Rubber/Plastics/Cork/Lino/Carpet Tiling/Sheeting
M51 Edge Fixed Carpeting
M52 Decorative Papers/Fabrics
M6 PAINTING
M60 Painting/Clear Finishing

M10 Cement:Sand/Concrete Screeds/Toppings

CONSIDER:
• Underfloor hot water heating with an appropriate modulating, gas condensing or CHP boilers
• Use stone or other dense floor finish over heated screed
• Solar thermal panels to provide heat for underfloor heating
• Thermal insulation:
- ZODP Zero Ozone Depletion Potential
- Low-Zero Global Warming Potential
- Manufactured without the use of, nor containing, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs and HFAs as blowing agents

AVOID:
• Thermally insulating screed with embedded floor heating pipes
• Cover heated screeds with carpet and underlay- they will act as insulation and minimise the radiant heating effect.
• Conventional boiler with underfloor heating, they will run inefficiently for a significant part of their time.

M13 Calcium Sulfate Based Screeds

CONSIDER:
• Gypsum screeds in place of cement screeds for reduced CO₂ generation.
- Ideally suited to large uninterrupted floor areas as they are liquid at application.
- Improved drying shrinkage over cement screed.

M15 Clay Based Levelling Screed

CONSIDER:
• Clay screeds in place of cement screeds for reduced CO₂ generation.

M20 Plastered/Rendered/Roughcast Coatings

CONSIDER:
• Airtightness in masonry is easily achieved with plaster.
• Airtightness in plasterboard construction is easily achieved with plaster or plaster skim.
• Pargetting of inside of solid external walls is one way to achieve airtightness.
• Use Mineral based render.
• Use Mineral based finishes.
• Use Clay based plaster and skim, absorb moisture and smells, releases moisture to meet equilibrium.
• Absorption of UV light.

AVOID:
• Plastic based renders, electrical charge attract dust and dirt will look mucky and will encourage maintenance or replacement or redecoration more frequently than necessary.
• PVC beading. See Z50.
• Wall finishes which will affect the exhibits in art galley and museum.

M21 Insulation With Rendered Finish

CONSIDER:
• Externally insulated buildings make the most of the thermal mass of the building to hold heat and store it thus regulating the temperatures inside whilst external temperatures fluctuate.
- This is exploited in Zero Energy/Emissions Developments.
- Lightweight timber buildings can not do this as well.
• Cellulose fibre insulation.
• Mineral based render.
• Mineral based finishes.

AVOID:
• Plastic based renders, electrical charge attracts dust and dirt will look dirty and will need maintenance.
• Plastic thermal insulation See Z50.
• PVC See Z50.
• Virgin plastics See Z50.

M23 Resin Bound Mineral Coatings

CONSIDER:
• Natural resins.
• Low VOC Volatile Organic Compounds but not if more hazardous materials added to mix.

AVOID:
• Synthetic resins.
• High VOC Volatile Organic Compounds.

M31 Fibrous Plaster

ALERT:
• WASTE: Gypsum: See K10.

M32 Glass Reinforced Gypsum

ALERT:
• WASTE: Gypsum: See K10.

M40 Stone/Concrete/Quarry/Ceramic Tiling/Mosaic

CONSIDER:
• Exclusion of UV light, use PVB Interlayers in laminated glass
• U Values of 1.0 W/m²K are achievable.
• Use Double Glazed Sealed Units to BS 5713 and BSI Kitemarked
• Use Low E glass generally.
• Use Argon, Pentane or CO₂ in cavities.

AVOID:
• Imported stone- transport adds to embodied energy.

M41 Terrazzo Tiling/In Situ Terrazzo

CONSIDER:
• Co-ordinate mirrors, opening and appliances with tile sizes and design modules.
• Local stone aggregate, processed locally.

AVOID:
• Imported stone- transport adds to embodied energy.

M50 Rubber/Plastics/Cork/Lino/Carpet Tiling/Sheeting

CONSIDER:
• Linoleum or Rubber.
• Natural fibre carpets and backings.
• Sheep's wool from small flocks which are not dipped and other non-dipped flocks.
• Cellulose fibre underlayment boards.
• Rubber crumb sheet underlay.
• Absorption of UV light.

AVOID:
• Floor finishes which will affect the exhibits in museums and art galleries
• PVC See Z50
• Virgin plastics - recycled content is becoming increasingly available. See Z50
• Carpet over underfloor heating as it will act as an insulator and underfloor heating relies on radiant heat.
• Sheep’s wool carpet where organophosphates from sheep dipping are still present..

M51 Edge Fixed Carpeting

AVOID:
• Virgin plastic carpet fibres and backing- recycled content is becoming increasingly available. See Z50
• Carpet over underfloor heating as it will act as an insulator and underfloor heating relies on radiant heat.
• Sheep’s wool carpet where organophosphates from sheep dipping are still present.
• PVC.

M52 Decorative Papers/Fabrics

CONSIDER:
• Natural plant based solvents.
• FSC certified paper.

AVOID:
• Most conventional adhesives contain volatile organic solvents.
• High VOC adhesives.
• Low VOC synthetic adhesives.
• Synthetic adhesives.
• Paper from non-sustainable forest.

M60 Painting/Clear Finishing

CONSIDER:
• Water based paints.
• Some paints are supplied in cardboard drums and are compostable.
• Some natural paints are compostable along with the cardboard drum.
• Paints listed in British Museum Schedules for museums.
• Absorption of UV light.
• Natural traditional paints, stains and oils.
• Mineral paints which chemically bond with porous backgrounds, up to 100 years life.
• Paints with long life 10 years external or 20 years internal between coatings.
• Powder coatings in preference to paint.
• Galvanized steel without paint, See Z111.

REUSE:
• Store materials to prevent deterioration.
• Permit the use of opened and resealed and unopened tins from the contract to be stored on site for use in snagging.
• Permit the use of unopened tins from the contract to be stored on site for use in and in 6 month defect repairs.
• Permit the use of unopened tins from the contract to be stored on site for use by the FM in maintenance of the building in use.

ALERT:
• WASTE: Paint is classified as Hazardous waste.

AVOID:
• Most conventional adhesives contain volatile organic solvents.
• High VOC paints.
• Low VOC synthetic paints.
• Synthetic paints.
• Aggressive paints which will affect the exhibits in museums and art galleries.
• Painted steel structure.