Case Study: Coal Township Prison

DiamaPro® Protects Prison Flooring

Approximately 2,300 inmates are housed in Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institution—Coal Township, located north of the state capitol of Harrisburg. The medium security prison features ten housing units located on 43 fenced-in acres, and employs more than 500 people.

Dedicated in 1993, the 25-year old facility recently required renovation of the vinyl tile flooring in the inmate shower and common areas. In the inmate showers, moisture seeping beneath the tiles was causing chipping, cupping and breaking, creating not only safety problems, but also the presence of sharp tile shards that could be fashioned into potential weapons. In the common areas, years of exposure to mopping, water and cleaning agents were causing VCT tiles to warp, curl and lift. Through a regional flooring contractor, prison facilities managers were introduced to DiamaPro® Systems and its family of high quality UV-cured floor coatings.

Achieving new standards in durability and moisture protection

DiamaPro® UV HS Plus coating delivers unprecedented resistance to physical abrasion, moisture penetration, and chemical attack of concrete floors. The coating forms a thin, uniform bond of cross-linked polymers that is virtually impervious to liquid penetration, and that will not chip, crack or peel.

Microban® additive destroys microbial growth

Moisture penetration of flooring substrates not only poses aesthetic and safety problems such as breakage and warping, but also is the leading cause of the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew, which, in turn, impact respiratory health. DiamaPro® UV-HS Plus features Microban® antimicrobial technology that is infused into its formulation. In wet environments such as showers and frequently mopped floors, the coating prevents the growth of stains and odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew.

Instant curing capability eliminates downtime

Unlike conventional chemically cured systems, DiamaPro® coatings cure instantly upon exposure to a portable UV light. No hours or days are lost waiting for floors to cure and dry. With DiamaPro® UV-HS Plus, floors can be immediately returned to service after curing, an important consideration for correctional institutions, health care facilities and other applications where downtime has serious operational consequences. At the Coal Township site, inmates were not displaced or removed.

DiamaPro coatings are inherently safe for workers and pedestrians

DiamaPro® UV HS Plus has a slip coefficient of friction that exceeds National Floor Safety certifications and all state regulatory requirements. For application such as showers where excess water is continually present, anti-slip additives may be added during installation.

DiamaPro® UV-HS Plus has a very high solids content with a very low VOC content, and no harmful vapors are emitted during installation. As a one-component system, no measuring or mixing is required before use.

Solving the problems of high-traffic and hostile floor environments

Coal Township prison management wanted to use inmates to install the new coating. DiamaPro® technicians conducted an on-site a training session on-site and supervised the prepping and coating of one of the shower areas. Inmates subsequently felt comfortable enough to tackle the remainder of the work on their own.

Cracked, broken and warped VCT and adhesive were removed from the areas and the concrete substrate was ground to a 70-grit finish. DiamaPro® UV-HS Plus was then applied and cured. Instant curing enabled the floors to be returned to service immediately with absolutely minimal interruption of operations.

“The Coal Town SCI really showcases the versatility and performance capabilities of DiamaPro® UV-HS Plus,” said Technical Manager, Scott Thome. “It’s completely protecting the concrete from moisture penetration in the shower areas, where cracked and curling tiles will no longer pose a threat. And it holds up to the frequent cleanings in the common areas, preventing moisture and spills from damaging the floor, and ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment.