What is it?
An external structural flooring substrate for ceramic tile finishes over timber or lightweight steel floor joists. Simple and fast to install, Scyon™ Secura™ exterior flooring helps give you peace of mind against moisture damage to balconies.
Where do you use it?
As an external substrate for tiled residential balconies and as an alternative to particleboard, plywood or compressed fibrecement.
What are the key benefits?
Security. Secura exterior flooring is sealed on all sides with an advanced polymer coating that helps protect the board from moisture-related problems. (Exposure to the elements should not be longer three months.) A topcoat on the surface of the board provides good adhesion. The mesh reinforcement on the underside enhances the heavy-duty performance of the Scyon™ material, adding extra strength and impact resistance to deliver a suitable external residential flooring substrate.
Easy to install. At about 40 kg and 2,700 mm long by 600 mm wide, Secura exterior flooring is about 20% lighter than compressed sheet (per square metre) and can be carried by two people, tucked under the arm and carried like a large surfboard. It’s also tongue and grooved, which delivers engineered joints and eliminates the need for timber trimmers under these joints.
Speed. For balconies that aren’t over habitable rooms – verandas for example – no additional waterproofing membrane is needed once Secura exterior flooring is installed. For balconies over habitable rooms, a waterproofing system needs to be applied.
» Learn more on the Scyon™ website
Sustainability attributes
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Locally made
Specifying locally produced materials and products offers both economic and environmental advantages. Use of locally made products and materials minimizes transportation and shipping costs, as well as reducing the amount of energy used in transportation and any pollution that may result. In regard to natural resources – timber or stone, for example – locally sourced products can be better suited to a particular region’s climate and conditions. Further, choosing locally made products supports regional economies and local producers.
Made from rapidly renewable material
Rapidly renewable materials regenerate more quickly than their typical harvest demand – for example, grown and harvested in 10 years or less. Popular rapidly renewable materials include bamboo, cork, wool, straw, natural linoleum, soy bean composites, sugarcane bagasse, kenaf and hemp. Rapidly renewable materials should be produced naturally and quickly, without significant environmental or air-quality impact or increased erosion.
Production waste is recyclable
Manufacturing processes inevitably produce waste; environmentally responsible manufacturers ensure this waste is minimized and recyclable. Production waste can sometimes be reprocessed for reuse in the same production process. Alternatively, production waste may be reused in the manufacture of other products or materials (post-industrial recycled content).
Designed for disassembly
Design for disassembly is a manufacturing strategy that anticipates the future reuse of individual components or materials, enabling a product to be broken into its constituent parts for reuse or recycling. Design for disassembly can make recycling easier, resulting in less use of new resources, less energy consumption and less landfill. In economic terms, design for disassembly gives further value to products beyond their original life. Disassembling a structure rather than demolishing it can also reduce impact on the environment by reducing dust released during demolition, reducing land degradation and reducing transport costs of disposing of materials to landfill.
Packaging is reduced
The aim is to reduce the amount of packaging required to effectively house and transport products and materials, resulting in less waste material destined for landfill, lower manufacturing costs for producers, and reduced transportation costs. Some manufacturers implement returnable packaging systems or heavily in recyclable packaging. Paper, glass, metal and board packaging can be readily recycled.
Low embodied energy
Like embodied energy, embodied water is the water used to create and distribute a product or material (as distinct from water used during its operation). Reducing the amount of embodied water in a product’s manufacture and distribution can lessen its impact on the environment.
Reduces energy consumption
Making use of materials and products that reduce energy consumption can have a major influence on the environmental impact of a building project. Teaming passive design strategies (orientation, building shape, natural lighting and ventilation) with low-energy lighting, thermally efficient insulation and low-e glass can reduce a project’s reliance on heating and cooling systems, resulting in lower energy consumption. Likewise, use of energy-efficient appliances, alternative energy systems (solar, hydro) and building management systems can also reduce the project’s carbon footprint.
Reduces heating or cooling load
Heating and cooling load is the amount of energy consumed to maintain a desired temperature within a building. Project design – and the materials and products employed – plays a significant role in optimizing the performance of heating and cooling systems, to reduce the energy expended on internal climate control. Elements that affect heating and cooling load include heat transferred through glass windows and doors, infiltration of outside air, and the impact of people, lighting and electronic equipment.
Reduces waste or pollution
Streamlined production processes can reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing. Environmentally responsible manufacturers focus upon reducing emissions, minimizing waste created during production, and ensuring energy-efficient operation. Waste-reducing production can also reduce costs, as manufacturers can make better use of resources.
Emits low VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emissions from carbon-containing compounds that pollute the air. VOCs are released from many common building products including solvents, paints and lacquers, adhesives, fabrics, carpets, printed paper, board products and composite timber. Rating schemes often categorize VOC content as low, very low, ultra low and zero.
Ecospecifier rated
Ecospecifier conducts life cycle assessments to help architects, designers, builders and specifiers to choose environmentally preferable products and materials. The Ecospecifier Knowledge Base provides detail on the environmental performance of products and technologies under various rating schemes, including Green Star, BASIX, the Building Code of Australia, NABERS and ABGR.
