What is it?
A heavy-duty but lightweight structural flooring substrate that does double duty – it can be easily used for tile, vinyl and carpet finishes over timber or steel floor joists in both residential general interiors and wet areas. Simple and fast to install, Scyon™ Secura™ interior flooring is the easiest way to get top protection against moisture damage in all interior floors.
Where do you use it?
As a substrate for direct fixing of tiles, vinyl and carpet in residential floors and wet areas, as an alternative to particle board, plywood or compressed fibre cement.
What are the key benefits?
Speed. Secura™ interior flooring is 15% lighter per square metre than conventional 15-mm compressed fibre cement, which makes it easier to handle. And because it’s made from Scyon™ material, which can be gun nailed and is easy to cut like timber, there’s no need for pre-drilling and screwing. All told it can be up to 40% faster to install than compressed.
No fuss. The 19-mm tongue and groove joining means it’s compatible with other 19-mm flooring products and eliminates the need for timber trimmers along the tongue and groove joint. The moisture-resistant sealer on all sides combined with the moisture-resistant properties of the Scyon™ material removes the need for full floor waterproofing outside enclosed shower areas. And unlike some timber products, tiles and vinyl can be directly fixed without the need for an underlay sheet.
Security. Secura™ interior flooring is resistant to damage from moisture, so if rain holds you up during construction and the roof’s not yet on, the product won’t need replacing or sanding because it’s warped and twisted, like some timber products. (Exposure to the elements should not be longer than three months.) This resistance to moisture damage also means that if there is a waterproofing failure some time in the future, then the Secura™ interior flooring will continue to perform, even if it gets wet. The strong, no-squeak feel of Secura™ interior flooring also gives a solid impression without the weight and cost of concrete. Secura™ interior flooring has a 10-year product warranty when installed and maintained correctly.
» 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
Embodied energy refers to the energy consumed in producing and distributing products and materials. This spans the extraction of resources, processing and manufacturing, and distribution of the final product. Products and materials with low embodied energy generally require simpler manufacturing processes – for example, natural resources such as timber require less processing than aluminium and other metals. Specifying products with low embodied energy can reduce pollution, depletion of resources and degradation of 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.
