Sidebar: Heat and Humidity
Feb 1, 2011 12:00 PM, By Mike Kennedy (mkennedy@asumag.com)
Wood floors can sustain damage from fluctuating humidity levels.
Wood floors can sustain damage if fluctuating humidity levels lead to excessive shrinkage or expansion of the flooring.
"Facilities without adequate HVAC equipment to regulate the indoor atmosphere, or those facilities that are ‘closed up’ with no ventilation for long periods of time are more likely to develop flooring problems directly related to environment," the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association says.
The association recommends that schools maintain indoor relative humidity levels between 35 and 50 percent in spaces with maple wood flooring. The temperature should be kept between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
"If flooring materials are properly acclimated, a 15 percent fluctuation in indoor relative humidity will not adversely affect the maple," the association says.
