®

A CSW Industrials Company

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
SMPQ
Heavy Duty Floor EJC

IMPORTANT
The following instructions are very important.
Read them carefully, and be sure you understand them completely before you begin any work.
Store this product in the horizontal position in a clean, dry location. This is a finished prod-
uct. Store this product in a protected area. Do not stack anything on top of this product.
Review approved Balco shop drawings for types and locations prior to beginning work.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS AND MATERIALS
TAPE MEASURE / LEVEL / CONCRETE SAW (OPTIONAL) / CONCRETE REPAIR MATERIALS / CONCRETE MOISTURE METER /
SANDBLASTER OR DISK GRINDER WITH CONCRETE GRINDING DISKS / AIR COMPRESSOR FITTED WITH OIL TRAP / TOLU-
ENE OR XYLENE SOLVENT / CHOP SAW / DRILL / DRILL BITS FOR CONCRETE AND METAL / SCREWDRIVERS AND SOCKET
DRIVERS / MASKING TAPE / KRAFT PAPER / 6-GALLON BUCKETS / HEAVY-DUTY DRILL AND PADDLE MIXER / CLEAN RAGS /
TROWEL

CONCRETE PREPARATION
Verify that the joint is constructed to the dimensions shown on approved Balco shop draw-
ings. Verify that the blockout and stem opening of the joint are constructed straight, parallel
and plumb.
The deck and base of the blockout must be formed level and at the same elevation across
the joint. The joint faces must be parallel to, and continuously equidistant from each other.
Corners are to be square. A tooled edge on the corners of the concrete is desired. Radiused
edges reduce impact loading effects from vehicles, lessening chances of edge erosion,
cracking or spalling.
Grind or cut the concrete to correct any deviations.
Repair edge spalling and concrete voids with an approved patching material before proceed-
ing with the joint cover installation. Ensure that all repair materials have reached full cure
conditions as specified by the repair material manufacturer.
Concrete within the blockout area and adjacent to the joint must be sound. This can be
confirmed by tapping these areas with a hammer. If a hollow sound is heard or the concrete
cracks, crumbles, or loosens, the concrete must be repaired with an approved structural
repair mortar.
Repaired areas must be sound and should be confirmed by tapping these areas with a
hammer. If a hollow sound is heard or the concrete cracks, crumbles, or loosens, the
unsound repair must be completely removed and repaired again with a structural repair
mortar.
IMPORTANT
Prior to continuing work, ensure that the concrete is dry and fully cured. Concrete must have
a moisture content of less than 3% prior to installation of joint materials.
Concrete should be tested with a moisture meter or in accordance with ASTM D4263,
Standard Test Method for Indicating Moisture in Concrete by the Plastic Sheet Method.
This method uses a plastic sheet 4'-6" x 4'-6" taped to the concrete.

Rev. 02/17
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 SMPQ Heavy Duty Floor EJC

SURFACE PREPARATION
The blockout should be sandblasted to remove laitance, loosely bonded material and any other contaminant,
which may inhibit bonding of the system to the concrete. Should sandblasting not be feasible, the surfaces
must be ground with a coarse wheel disc grinder to produce an abraded surface.
Take care not to polish the concrete surface, as this can lessen adhesion.
After sandblasting or abrading, blow out the area with an air compressor fitted with an oil trap.
Remove oil, grease, and other contaminants using an approved solvent.

STEP ONE
If fire barrier is provided in conjunction with the joint cover system, install the fire barrier at this time.
Install the fire barrier in accordance with the applicable fire barrier installation instructions and Balco shop
drawings or details.

STEP TWO
If water barrier is to be installed in conjunction with the joint
cover system, place the water barrier in its installed position in
the joint at this time.
Reference Balco supplementary installation instruction “EPDM
Water Barrier Installation Instructions” for information regarding
EPDM installation, splicing, and transitions.

STEP THREE
Select a base member and place it in its installed position within
the blockout.
Using the base member as a template, mark the locations for the
anchors on the concrete.
Remove the base member and drill the anchor holes at the
marked locations. Remove all dirt and debris from the anchor
holes and blockouts.
IMPORTANT
Observe normal safety precautions when drilling to avoid all
utilities and rebar.

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 SMPQ Heavy Duty Floor EJC

STEP FOUR
Place the base member into its installed position, and using the
fasteners provided by the factory, attach it to the concrete.
Ensure it is plumb, level, and properly aligned.
Repeat Steps Three and Four until all base members are
installed on both sides of the joint.

IMPORTANT
Because these joint covers are installed in non-climate controlled
environments, it is necessary to leave a gap between adjacent
joint cover sections and between joint covers and adjacent
construction. A gap of 1/16” is required for every 40°F (22°C) of
anticipated temperature rise from the ambient temperature at
installation.

STEP FIVE
Select a centering bar, and insert one of its polymer spheres into
the track of one of the base members.
Insert the other sphere into the opposite base member’s track.
Repeat this procedure for each centering bar. Ensure that the
centering bars are installed at a diagonal and are parallel to one
another.

STEP SIX
Apply masking to the deck surfaces adjacent to the blockout and
to the exposed surfaces of the joint system. It is also recom-
mended that kraft paper be used in conjunction with masking to
protect adjacent areas from elastomeric concrete splatter, spills, APPLY MASKING
or tracking.

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 SMPQ Heavy Duty Floor EJC

STEP SEVEN
Select a clean 6-gallon bucket and one unit of Balco Elastomeric Concrete - EC11
(Part A, Part B, and Aggregate).
Pour one entire unit of EC11 Part B into the bucket and briefly mix (5-10 seconds) with a heavy-duty drill and
paddle mixer.
Add one entire unit of EC11 Part A into the pail containing Part B and briefly mix (5-10 seconds) with a
heavy-duty drill and paddle mixer.
Immediately and progressively add the entire unit of aggregate and mix until all components are thoroughly
mixed.

IMPORTANT
Do not attempt to mix partial batches of Balco Elastomeric Concrete - EC11. Mix entire units; failure to do so
will result in an unsatisfactory result. Do not attempt to substitute aggregates; contact factory if replacement
aggregate is required.

STEP EIGHT
Working quickly, pour the Balco Elastomeric Concrete - EC11
into the blockout and trowel smooth from the edge of the joint
system to the blockout corner.
As needed, level off the EC11 and trowel the finish smooth.
15
POT LIFE
MIN

Trowel the surface flush with the top of the deck. For best
results,use a trowel that is wiped in an approved solvent. This
will prevent the Elastomeric Concrete from building up on the
trowel and provide a smooth finish.

IMPORTANT
The Balco Elastomeric Concrete - EC11 has a short pot life. It
must be mixed and immediately applied. Work quickly.
EC11 has a working life of 15 minutes once mixed.

STEP NINE
Immediately after placement of the EC11, remove the masking
and kraft paper from the deck surfaces and joint cover system
and dispose of properly.
Clean up the work area, using an approved solvent to remove REMOVE MASKING
any stray EC11.

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 SMPQ Heavy Duty Floor EJC

STEP TEN
Allow the Balco Elastomeric Concrete - EC11 to fully cure before
proceeding with installation.
EC11 will fully cure under typical conditions in 4 - 6 hours.

4-6 HOURS
CURE TIME

STEP ELEVEN
After the EC11 has cured, select the elastomeric cushions and
insert a cushion into each base member or cover plate as
required.

STEP TWELVE
For joint widths narrower than 6” (152mm), proceed to Step
Thirteen.
For joint widths 6” (152mm) and wider, splice bars and hardware
are provided to ensure proper alignment of cover plates. Cover
plates for joint widths 6” (152mm) and wider are factory drilled for
splicing.
Select a pair of mating cover plates and a splice bar.
Note that the splice bar has a slotted anchor hole near one end
of the bar.
Using this slotted anchor hole, select one of the fasteners provid-
ed and a corresponding lock nut, and attach the splice bar to the
bottom side of one cover plate.
Ensure that the anchor is centered in the splice bar’s slotted
anchor hole.

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STEP THIRTEEN
Select a cover plate (with splice bar, as applicable) and place it
along the side of the joint, aligning the cover plate with its
installed position.
Using the cover plate as a template, slide the centering bars
within the base member tracks so that the anchor hole in each
centering bar is aligned with one of the anchor holes in the cover
plate.
Place the cover plate into its installed position spanning the joint,
and attach the cover plate to the centering bars using the center-
ing bar bolts provided by the factory.
Tighten the centering bar bolts by hand until they are firmly in
place. Do not overtighten the centering bar bolts.
If splice bars are not being used, repeat this process until all
cover plates are installed.

STEP FOURTEEN
For installations without splice bars, proceed to Step Eighteen.
For installations with splice bars, place the mating cover in its
installed position.
There should be approximately a 1/4” (6mm) gap between adja-
cent covers using splice bars.
Mark the position of the cover plate splicing anchor holes on the
splice bar.
Remove the cover plate from its installed position, and drill two
holes in the splice bar using a #1 size (11/64”) drill bit.

STEP FIFTEEN
Select the mating cover plate and place it along the side of the
joint, aligning the cover plate with its installed position.
Using the cover plate as a template, slide the centering bars
within the base member tracks so that the anchor hole in each
centering bar is aligned with one of the anchor holes in the cover
plate.
Place the cover plate into its installed position spanning the joint,
and attach the cover plate to the splice bar with two self-tapping
screws provided by the factory.

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 SMPQ Heavy Duty Floor EJC

STEP SIXTEEN
Attach the cover plate to the centering bars using the centering
bar bolts provided by the factory.
Tighten the centering bar bolts by hand until they are firmly in
place. Do not overtighten the centering bar bolts.
Repeat Steps Twelve through Sixteen until all cover plates are
installed.

STEP SEVENTEEN
Seal the gaps between adjacent cover plates using silicone or other suitable sealant (by others).
Install the sealant in accordance with the sealant manufacturer’s instructions.

STEP EIGHTEEN
Once the Balco Elastomeric Concrete - EC11 is fully cured and the cover plates are installed, the installation
can be opened to traffic.

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