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How to Select Floor Expansion Joints

Floor Expansion Cover Joint Selection:

Selecting floor expansion joints for lasting function begins with first calculating anticipated LOAD, MOVEMENT, and JOINT-GAP SIZE, then asking and answering the following questions:

  1. Can this model handle the loads from my expected traffic?
  2. Can this model handle the expected movement?
  3. Will this model straddle my designed joint-gap?

If you answer “NO” to any of the questions move to the next model.

When you can answer “YES” to all three questions you have probably found your joint system.

Other considerations include:

  1. Fire Rating–built-into the selected system, through addition of fire-rated precompressed foam, or through addition of fire-barrier blanket?
  2. Transitions from floor to wall–how is continuity of fire protection ensured from floor to wall? What wall expansion joint complement my floor joint selection?

Need help or confirmation of your selection?  Fill in and send us this Checklist

Design for Durability:

Point loads are the number one killer of interior floor expansion joints and surrounding flooring materials.

Sika Emseal is proud to offer a unique line of elegant, well-engineered floor expansion joint systems.

SJS-FR expansion joint with inlay recess in cover plates receives flooring materials

SJS-FR in airport floor expansion joints, Oakland, CA

Non-invasively-anchored SJS-FR Interior expansion joint cover system provides numerous options for addressing (2-inch | 50mm) and larger joint openings comes with a built-in, UL-2079 fire rating.

The complete line of Wabo® interior expansion joint covers from Watson Bowman Acme, is now part of the Sika Emseal interior expansion joint offering. With various systems for floors, walls and ceilings, a comprehensive set of solutions is now available.

The superior design of the Migutrans series eliminates dangerous, noisy, and unsightly joint deterioration as well as the disruption and expense of replacing failed systems. The complete line of options caters to a variety of design conditions in both new and retrofit construction. Wheel and axle load ratings ensure suitability for use by everything from coin carts and mobile medical equipment to the heaviest forklifts and other materials handling equipment.

To make Sika Emseal interior expansion joints the Basis-of-Design on your project, visit the Interior Joint Selection Guide.

Need Help?

Contact Sika Emseal: techinfo@emseal.com; Toll Free: 1-800-526-8365 or 508-836-0280