Safety

Sometimes the obvious doesn't seem so obvious, and one such situation involves the indoor use of concrete sealers.

Concrete sealers can be categorized and compared in many different ways. One of those ways is solvent-based vs. water-based. Solvent-based products use a variety of industrial solvents to formulate a rollable, sprayable liquid while water-based products use water in place of solvents. Pretty straight forward. As you can imagine, water and solvent-based products have different characteristics and hazards. And as it relates to use indoors (or even in confined areas outdoors), those hazards can have serious consequences.

Use water-based products indoors.

Both solvent-based sealers and water-based sealers cure as the solvent or water evaporates and the coating hardens. Evaporating water increases humidity with no impact on safety or health. But evaporating industrial solvents can accumulate in confined areas, becoming an exposure and/or inhalation hazard.

Inhaled solvents pose a health hazard, and are absorbed into wood, drywall, and fabrics such as upholstery, carpeting and curtains. The odor can persist for many days or weeks.

Those solvent-based products are also flammable, and the fumes can be explosive if exposed to common household/indoor sources of ignition. Lights, switches, furnace and water heater pilot lights… even cell phones… can all ignite concentrated airborne solvent fumes.

Those fumes can be heavier than air, and travel considerable distances. As a consequence, no solvent-based cures, treatments, sealers or cure & sealing products are recommended for use indoors or in confined areas outdoors. For those applications, ChemMasters offers a selection of safe water-based products. Our technical department can be reached at 1-800-486-7866 to help you make a safe selection.

Popular ChemMasters Water-Based Film Formers:

Popular ChemMasters Water-Based Penetrating Treatments: