AC217 - Concrete Floor Polishing Systems
ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Concrete Floor Polishing Systems
Last updated: September 21, 2025
Overview
Concrete floor polishing systems create durable, attractive flooring surfaces through a process of grinding and polishing existing concrete floors. These systems use diamond-embedded tools and chemical densifiers to achieve various levels of gloss and durability. Polished concrete floors offer low maintenance, high durability, and excellent light reflectivity, making them popular in commercial, industrial, and residential applications. The process typically involves multiple stages of grinding with progressively finer diamond tools, followed by application of densifiers and polishing compounds.
Purpose
This acceptance criteria provides a basis for evaluating concrete floor polishing systems that may not be directly covered by existing codes. It establishes testing protocols, performance requirements, and quality standards needed for code approval of these specialized flooring systems.
Benefits of Compliance
- Nationwide acceptance by building officials for polished concrete installations
- Streamlined approval process for specialized flooring systems
- Third-party verification of durability and slip resistance performance
- Enhanced marketability for concrete polishing contractors
Resources
- ICC Evaluation Service
- AC39 — Walking Deck Waterproofing — Related acceptance criteria for pedestrian walking surfaces
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between polished concrete and coated concrete?
Polished concrete uses mechanical grinding and chemical densifiers to create a durable surface from the existing concrete slab. Coated concrete applies a separate material (epoxy, urethane, etc.) on top. AC217 specifically covers the polishing system approach.
Does polished concrete meet slip resistance requirements?
AC217 evaluation includes slip resistance testing. While highly polished surfaces can be slippery when wet, polishing systems can incorporate anti-slip treatments or stop at lower gloss levels to meet required coefficient of friction standards for the intended use.
When is AC217 evaluation needed for a polishing project?
AC217 evaluation is primarily needed when the polishing system makes specific performance claims beyond what the base concrete provides, or when building codes require documentation of floor surface performance characteristics like durability and slip resistance.
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