Stego Sustainability Report

WHAT WE DO

Infiltration of water vapor through concrete slabs is a major building defect liability risk...

Defining the Problems Infiltration of water vapor through concrete slabs is a major building defect liability risk with the potential to compromise the integrity of the building envelope and lead to serious problems to the concrete slab, floor coverings, and indoor air quality. EPA regulations in the late 1990s restricted the content of VOCs in construction adhesives and sealants across product categories, which prompted a switch to water-based flooring adhe sives. Although beneficial from the standpoint of human and environmental health, the move to

water-based adhesives caused the industry to experience floor ing problems at a greater rate than ever before. This was due to moisture-induced high pH that causes water-based adhesives to break down, leading to potential failure of the flooring system. This adhesive change made effective, below-slab water vapor protection critical to new concrete slabs. 1 Isolating concrete floor slabs from the ground is also necessary in helping prevent other issues associated with moisture and vapor accumulation in the slab or building envelope, such as alkaline efflorescence, mold growth, poor indoor air quality, and energy inefficiency. 1 https://www.stegoindustries.com/education/technical-articles/nuisance-or-necessity

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SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 2023

INTRODUCTION

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