Every professional epoxy floor coating product comes with a Technical Data Sheet (TDS) — a document specifying the product's composition, physical properties, application requirements, and performance characteristics. Reading a TDS accurately allows you to compare products, verify contractor claims, and understand what you're actually buying. Most homeowners never see a TDS, much less read one.
Key TDS Sections
A standard TDS includes: product description (chemistry type, components, intended use), physical properties (viscosity, density, solids content, pot life, coverage rate, dry/cure times), performance data (hardness, abrasion resistance, adhesion, chemical resistance), and application parameters (surface preparation, temperature/humidity limits, application method, film thickness, recoat window). Each section contains data that either confirms the product is appropriate for the application or reveals a mismatch between the spec and the project conditions.
Critical Numbers to Check
| Parameter | What to Look For | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Solids content | >95% for body coats | <50% — thin film only |
| Pot life at 77°F | 20–45 min for most systems | <15 min — hard to apply large areas |
| Application temp range | Should include 50–100°F | Min >60°F — limited winter/fall use |
| Minimum recoat time | 8–24 hr at 77°F | >48 hr — slow project schedule |
| Maximum recoat time | 24–72 hr — check carefully | No maximum listed — may mean open window (rare) |
| Pull-off adhesion | >300 psi — concrete failure mode preferred | <200 psi — adhesion concern |
| Taber abrasion (CS-17, 1000g) | <50 mg/1000 cycles for topcoat | >100 mg — moderate wear life |
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulates volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from architectural and industrial maintenance coatings under Texas rules that align with EPA National Emission Standards. The relevant limit for floor coatings in Texas's ozone nonattainment areas (which includes the Greater Houston area) is 250 g/L for interior floor coatings. 100% solids epoxy and polyaspartic systems typically have VOC content of 0–50 g/L — well below the threshold. Solvent-borne systems may approach or exceed limits depending on formulation. Request VOC documentation from any contractor working in a commercial or industrial setting.
Coverage Rate Calculations
TDS coverage rate is typically expressed as square feet per gallon at a specified wet film thickness. A product specified at 200 sf/gal at 8 mils wet, for a 100% solids product, delivers 8 mils dry — straightforward. For a 60% solids product at 200 sf/gal at 8 mils wet, the dry film thickness is 8 × 0.6 = 4.8 mils. Knowing this calculation lets you verify that the contractor's product and application rate actually delivers the film build specified in the project scope — not just the wet film applied.
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