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Norfolk, Neb. — Oct. 1, 2014 — MP Global Products introduces LuxWalk sound-suppressing underlayment for superior performance under floating or glue-down Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF). A great match for condos, high-rise apartment complexes, and anywhere else where sound control between floors and excellent IIC and STC sound test ratings are considerations, LuxWalk is designed and engineered to soothe impact sound and floor-to-ceiling noise.
At 25/1000 of an inch thickness and featuring a smartly engineered heavy-duty design, LuxWalk adds the right amount of cushioning under LVF. It also retards movement of LVF installed over it, helping reduce abrasion of the underside of the LVF.
Because luxury vinyl flooring can easily compress to the base it rests on when pressure is applied, underlayment with good compression resistance is important. LuxWalk, which has great test results for compression resistance (exceeding test machine limits), enhances LVF’s performance, minimizing impressions and indentations that can occur in the finished floor.
Made from polyethylene film that incorporates blended recycled polyester fiber (derived from soda bottles diverted from landfill) with hot-melt adhesive, LuxWalk, with 31 percent post-consumer recycled content, is LEED-compliant and will contribute to MRc 4.1 - 4.2 credits.
In the IIC test, designed to measure the impact sound transmission performance of a floor-ceiling assembly in a controlled laboratory environment, 4.2 mm luxury vinyl planks installed over LuxWalk and 6-inch concrete with suspended ceiling achieved an impressive sound rating of 72.
In the STC test, which measures the sound-insulating property of a partition element expressed in terms of the sound-transmission loss, 4.2 mm luxury vinyl planks over LuxWalk and 6-inch concrete with suspended ceiling achieved an outstanding rating of 66.
Both these rating are appreciably higher than the ratings of 50 that the IBC (International Building Code) suggests.
LuxWalk’s excellent sound test results provide documentation that can be shared with building inspectors who are evaluating sound suppression, whether or not the manufacturer of the luxury vinyl flooring has independently tested for sound reduction.
LuxWalk has full film coverage and carries an excellent Water Vapor Transmission Rate of 0.273 grams per 100 square inches per day, improving the way LVF handles potentially harmful moisture.
When pairing new luxury vinyl flooring for residential and commercial installations with underlayment, sound suppressing LuxWalk is a perfect partner. Available in 3-feet-by-66-feet-8-inch rolls for easy installation.
