Floor Specification

The operating surface for air bearings is important for efficient and reliable function of air film equipment. The following is a guideline for floor specifications; a more detailed specification is available upon request:

1 Levelness: floors should be as level as possible to avoid gravitational drift due to slope.

2 Undulations: when operating at normal pressure (up to 1bar), floor undulations should not exceed +/-3mm in 3m. When operating at high pressure (1 bar to 2bar) this figure is reduced to +/-2mm in 3m.

3 Steps: steps should be avoided, but where this is impossible they should be faired off and should not exceed 2mm for normal pressure operation.

4 Texture and porosity: to avoid unnecessary loss of compressed air due to a rough surface texture, the area in which air film operation is intended should ideally be as smooth as paper, crack free and impervious to compressed air. Floor paints, epoxy coatings or steel sheeting can be used for remedial purposes.

5 Expansion and construction joints: expansion and construction joints should be filled and ground smooth and level with the adjoining surfaces. The recommended joint fillers are epoxy, urethane or polysulphide materials (45-55 Shore ‘A’ hardness). Bitumen or mastic substances should be avoided.