A natural, stylish and versatile cladding solution from CarterHoltHarveyThe next generation flooring - designed for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

R-Flor™ is the next generation in particleboard flooring developed to meet the demanding requirements for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.R-Flor is unique in that it integrates a high reflectance (low emittance) metallised foil with particleboard flooring to significantly reduce the radiative heat transfer across a suspended timber floor and subfloor air space to deliver an improvement in the “Total R-Value” of the flooring system, yet enables flooring to be installed in the conventional manner delivering speed and ease.

R-Flor enables the commonly used and long established practice of building using the platform construction method for suspended sub-floors; furthermore, flooring can continue to be installed in a manner consistent with the requirements of AS1860 Part 2: Particleboard Flooring Installation.

R-Flor shares a heritage in product innovation that began well over a quarter of a century ago with the introduction of StructaFlor® and more recently with TermiFlor® as a practical, versatile and cost effective flooring solution.

R-Flor boasts both greenhouse and environmentally friendly credentials:

• Manufactured using managed and renewable plantation pine utilising forest thinnings and timber sawmill waste and scrap material;

• It contributes to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by making better use of the energy required to control building climates – in keeping with the mandatory energy efficiency measures for residential construction which stem from concerns with climate change; and

• Provides Carbon Storage - Carbon absorbed in the form of C02 (greenhouse gas) is stored in the wood fibre.

R-Flor is a technically advanced flooring product resulting from years of research and development in collaboration with leading Australian universities and industry partners.

“R-Flor provides a technically superior suspended timber floor to meet our concerns for energy-efficient design”Associate Professor Terry Williamson School Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Urban Design The University of Adelaide

R-Flor is manufactured using an ingenious dual-lamination process that applies a blue protective film to the top surface and a reflective foil to the underside of the particleboard

flooring which is post-perforated. The perforations enable effective drying of the flooring material and combined with the protective surface film produce a flooring product that is stable when exposed to the weather during the construction phase.

Feel the difference. Make a difference.The next generation in flooring, designed for your comfort and for generations to come.

• Increases overall R-Value of floor system

• Improves thermal comfort

• Reduces energy use

• Greenhouse friendly

• Fast & easy installation

Improves Thermal Comfort• Improves living comfort• radiative heat transfer across a suspended Reduces Energy Use• Reduces heating energy consumption & costsGreenhouse & Environmentally Friendly• Made from sustainable managed renewable plantation pine• Provides carbon storage - Carbon absorbed in the form of C02 (greenhouse gas) is stored in the Fast and Easy Installation• Conforms to AS1860.2 installation requirements - • Allows for easy termite & pest inspection - insulation to harbour unwelcome pests• - construction - Easily removed prior to installation of surfacing materials

Product Features

Low emittance metallised foil surface (underside of board) • • Perforated to provide sheet stability and drying

(topside of board) • Protects against moisture ingress • • Removable - designed to peel away prior to installation of surfacing materials and provides ideal base for decorative •

Blue wax edge sealant • Additional protection against moisture ingress at joins •

Termite Treated • • 25yr Chemical Supplier guarantee

Easy installation & maintenance • and can be installed using construction adhesives as stipulated in AS1860.2 • No special tools or equipment necessary • Service penetrations can be easily accommodated • Easy insulation – saves time, labour, materials and money • Risk if moisture entrapment† • insulation to house un-invited vermin • space not obstructed

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†Note: An independent investigation undertaken by The University of Melbourne commissioned by CHH conditions moisture entrapment and poor detailing may lead to mould and fungi growth when using some

Heat energy always migrates in the direction of high to low temperature. The heat transfer can be by conduction, convection or radiation.

At the underside surface of a floor the heat flow (up or down) is governed by convection and radiation.

Convection allows heat from the flooring material to flow into (or from) the sub-floor air, while radiation heat transfer occurs between the underside of the floor and the other surfaces it can “see” across the air space. In the case of a floor this is mainly the ground.

The ability of a material’s surface to give off radiant heat is described by its emittance. The lower the emittance of a material, the lower the heat radiated from its surface. Low-emittance high-reflectance surfaces significantly reduce the radiative heat transfer across an air space.

The combined effect of convection and radiation heat transfer from a surface is described by the surface or air film thermal resistance. This value depends on orientation of the surface, direction of heat flow, air movement across the surface and the nature of the surface. Standard values to be used in the calculation of heat transfers through building elements are given in Australian Standard AS 4859.1.

The underside air film resistance of R-Flor™ is significantly higher than normal flooring and this contributes to an increase in the overall R-value of the floor system.

How R-Flor™ Works

R-Flor CalculatorNotes:1. R-Values for heat flow down, standard brick veneer construction. Typical suburban

location, floor height 0.5m. hyJOIST® 240mm joist. Ground floor area/perimeter: 180m2/72m. Clay soil type.

2. R-Values calculated in accordance with the relevant provisions of Australian Standard AS/NZS 4859.1-2002. Materials for the thermal insulation of buildings Part 1: General criteria and technical provisions and the International Standards Organisation standard ISO 13370-2005. Thermal performance of buildings-Heat transfer via the ground-Calculation Methods is used as the methodology for determining the R-Value of suspended floors.

3. Assumption for carpet: 10mm carpet, 10mm underlay both with a conductivity of 0.05 W/m2K.

As part of CarterHoltHarvey’s research and development program, The University of Adelaide was commissioned to evaluate the thermal performance of timber flooring and to establish Total R-Values for timber flooring systems incorporating R-Flor (as summarised in table above).

The R-Flor™- Total R-Value Calculator has been developed to assist designers assess the thermal performance of R-Flor and various suspended timber flooring systems and options quickly and easily for both enclosed and unenclosed situations.

For a free copy of the R-Flor - Total R-Value Calculator contact CaterHoltHarvey or visit the website at www.chhwoodproducts.com.au

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Yellow Tongue R-Flor™ Total R-Values

Cavity Floor Covering Enclosed Unenclosed

Sub-floor Sub-floor

Blocked Bare 1.75 1.16

(disconnected) Carpeted 2.16 1.57

Unblocked Bare 1.36 1.16

(connected) Carpeted 1.77 1.57

High Emittance Surface

Surface resistance 0.16w/m2k

(heat flow down)

Standard Particleboard Flooring

R-Flor™ Radiant Barrier Flooring

Low Emittance Surface

Surface resistance 0.80w/m2k

(heat flow down)

Reduced radiant

heat flow to ground

Disconnected (Blocked) Cavity DetailTo prevent ventilation between sub-floor space and wall cavity

Thermal InsulationAs particleboard flooring is a relatively light-weight wood product, when used as part of a floor system, it is a useful thermal insulator. It has a low thermal capacity (specific heat is approximately 2.1 kJ/kg.K) and, like natural timber, gives a feeling of warmth and comfort.

• The thermal conductivity of general purpose particleboard flooring is 0.12 W/mK. The thermal resistance “R” values for the nominated thicknesses are:

How insulation performance is calculated

• R-Value Also known as the overall thermal resistance, it rates the performance of a building element or system as an insulator (i.e. ability to restrict heat flow) - the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effect and expressed using metric units m2K/W, where: • m2 = one metre squared of the material of a specified thickness; • K = one degree temperature difference (Kelvin or Celsius) across a material; and • W = the amount of heat flow across the material in watts

• The overall thermal resistance of a suspended floor system is given as: R

T = RF + Rgx

Where: RT is the overall R-Value of the floor system, m2K/W RF is the thermal resistance of the suspended part of the floor, m2K/W Rgx is the thermal resistance of the combined ground heat flow and the equivalent thermal resistance between underfloor space and the outside air, accounting for heat flow through sub-floor walls and by ventilation of the underfloor space, m2K/W

• The THERMAL RESISTANCE of the suspended floor platform RF includes surface thermal resistances of the air on either side of the building element. This may be calculated by the expression;

RF = Rsi + R1 + R2 + . . . . . + Rn + Rse

Where: RF is the total resistance Rsi is the internal surface resistance; R1, R2, ....Rn are the thermal resistances of each layer, including bridged layers; Rse is the external surface resistance.

• R-Flor Material Properties

Reflective Foil

Emissivity 0.05 (nominal)

Reflectivity 0.95

Foil Coating Thickness 9 microns

Particleboard Flooring

Density 710 kg/m3 (typical)

Sheet Dimensions 3600 x 900mm (std sheet size)

Thermal Conductivity 0.12 W/mK

Specific Heat 2.1 kJ/kg.K (approx)

Did you know? • AS1860.2 requires that particleboard flooring

sheets need to be attached to the supporting joists (or trimmers) by the use of construction grade adhesives.

Reference - AS 1860.2-2006: Particleboard Flooring Installation Cl.10.2

Thickness (mm) 19 22 25 Product Yellow Red Blue

Tongue® Tongue® Tongue®

Thermal resistance R-Values m2K/W

0.16 0.18 0.21

Practical Advice• The platform construction method is used extensively in the construction of subfloors. If insulation is to be installed at the time of constructing the platform floor (or at a later stage), appropriate precautions need to be taken to avoid water/moisture entrapment in the cavity space between underside of flooring and insulation material or trapped within the insulating material itself. Moisture entrapment may result in:

- Particleboard flooring expansion due to hygroscopic movement; or

- Conditions that support the growth of mould, fungi and timber deterioration

• When supplementary subfloor thermal insulation is used (with R-Flor or general purpose particleboard flooring); install insulation in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Also ensure that the insulation itself is suitable for subfloor applications and that the product can be installed in a manner consistent with requirements of AS1860.2.

Design TipsThere are a number of design options and good building practices that allow you to build with timber subfloor construction and get the most out of R-Flor™:• Draft Proofing: particularly around windows and doors;• Increasing Insulation: walls to R2.0 and ceilings to R3.5;• Enclosing the timber subfloor: improves the energy performance of the subfloor and reduces the general insulation requirement for suspended floor construction;• Orientation: maximising northern solar access and minimising west and easterly windows; • Windows: Utilise thermally improved windows for some or all windows - This includes the choice of frames used and/or glass type• Permanent Shading of Windows: especially those facing east or west, and this can be achieved with devices such as blinds, screens and pergolas – Allseasons® outdoor premium grade treated pine is an ideal building material;• Under-floor Insulation: further minimises heat loss through the floor – R-Flor Plus and R-Flor Max systems have been developed for demanding applications. Contact CarterHoltHarvey for further information.

Did you know? • Under the existing provisions of the BCA,

suspended concrete floor requires more insulation than a suspended timber floor.

Reference - BCA (2007) Figure 3.12.1.4

Installation Guide

* Made to Order. (BARE) = No protective film applied to surface – for protected applications. Minimum order quantities and lead times apply.

Description Sheet Dimensions Max joist spacing Item No.

R-Flor™ Yellow Tongue® 3600 x 900 x 19mm 450 452256

R-Flor™ Red Tongue® 3600 x 900 x 22mm 600 452257

R-Flor™ Blue Tongue®* 3600 x 600 x 25mm 600 452258

R-Flor™ Yellow Tongue® (BARE)* 3600 x 900 x 19mm 450 452253

R-Flor™ Red Tongue® (BARE)* 3600 x 900 x 22mm 600 452254

R-Flor™ Blue Tongue® (BARE)* 3600 x 600 x 25mm 600 452255

SafetyAvoid repeated or prolonged contact with skin. Avoid contact with eyes. Avoid breathing dust. Wear suitable clothing, gloves (light duty leather or equivalent AS 2161), and eye protection (dust resistant AS/NZS 1337). If sawing without adequate dust extraction, respiratory protection dust mask must be worn (AS/NZS 1715& 1716). Keep work areas clean by wet sweeping and/or vacuuming. Wash work clothes regularly and separately from other clothes. Remove any water that ponds on surface by sweeping or mopping and use caution when working on wet/moist platforms.

Product Description

Installation Tips Protective Blue Surface Film

• R-Flor™ incorporates a factory fitted protective blue surface film to provide additional protection against surface moisture ingress during period of exposure to weather.

• Protective film is designed to be peeled away prior to surface finishing.

• R-Flor™ is an ideal base for fixing moisture sensitive decorative timber strip flooring; the protective film provides an effective barrier in keeping moisture out and under control.

Taping of Joins

• Taping of joins between sheets with an all-weather “duct” tape not only provides protection against moisture ingress at joins but also can reduce edge swelling of the flooring sheet, reducing or eliminating the need to sand edges prior to finishing.

Draining of surface water during weather exposure stage

• R-Flor™ can be drilled (in positions which will eventually be covered by wall plates, cupboards or skirting) to assist with water evacuation. Remove any water that ponds on surface by sweeping or mopping.

Mid/Upper Floor Use

• The use of R-Flor in mid-floors (and roof sheathing) applications may enable further reductions in energy consumption to be achieved and by reducing energy consumption per unit area (MJ/m2), this may provide the designer greater design flexibility.

© Copyright 2007, Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Australia Pty Ltd. ABN 93 002 993 106. CHH0608.2

The range of products & services aredistributed by:

For more details call:1300 658 828

www.chhwoodproducts.com.au

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