Fire rating, cleaning and floor wear come up on almost every commercial job, and every project is different. This page covers what to ask, how to plan around your spec and who to call. If your project depends on one of these, call or text Jason Ott at 910.679.0962 before you specify it or quote it.
Surface Printers sells direct-to-surface UV printer packages for walls, floors, glass, metal, wood and panels, supported by The Wall Printer®, Wilmington, NC.
What is documented
The ink. UV-curable ink that cures as it prints. The surface is finished when the head reaches the end of the pass.
Safety data sheets. There's an SDS for every ink. Ask and we'll send it.
Outdoor print life. Outdoors, ask Jason whether a clear coat makes sense for your surface and exposure. That figure comes from the ink manufacturer's guidance and what we've seen in the field.
Removal. On a painted surface, a print is removed by painting over it.
The machines. 10 to 20 sq ft an hour, up to 11 feet high on the vertical machines, white ink standard on all three, a hardware warranty of up to five years on new machines, and lifetime support from Wilmington, 9am to 8pm ET, seven days.
What we're still testing
Fire rating and flame spread. Building codes can require a flame spread classification for interior finishes in corridors, exits, healthcare, schools and food service. Your architect or building official decides what's required, and Jason will help you plan where printing fits.
Chemical and disinfectant resistance. Hospitals, clinics, kitchens and schools clean hard and often. How a printed surface holds up to specific cleaners and disinfectants has not been tested and published.
Floor wear. Foot traffic, athletic play, carts and forklifts all wear a floor differently. Send photos and how the floor is used, and we'll recommend the approach.
Slip resistance. Safety managers and insurers will ask, so bring their requirements to the first call and we'll plan around them.
Floor clear coat. Whether a floor needs a clear coat depends on the floor and its traffic. Jason and the support team will recommend it job by job, along with what it adds to the cost.
What that means for your project
At the end of the day, a missing document is a planning fact, not a reason to guess. Here's how it plays out:
Code-driven spaces (corridors, exits, healthcare, education, food service): if a flame spread class is required, a printed surface can't be specified on our say-so today.
Surfaces cleaned with strong chemicals: ask before you commit, and name the products the facility uses.
Traffic floors: courts, aisles and plant floors run on the Floor Series. Ask for a recommendation before you quote, and share it with the client.
Everything else (feature surfaces, storefronts, signage, glass, panels printed in the shop): the documented facts above are what you plan from.
When a document exists for any of these, it goes on this page and the date at the top changes.
Who to ask
Jason Ott. Call or text 910.679.0962. Tell him the surface, the space and what the spec or the client is asking for, and he'll get the question to the right person on the support team in Wilmington. Support is open 9am to 8pm ET, seven days.
For the floor job itself, see how a floor job runs, van to finished floor. For everything else people ask, see Answers.
Questions people ask
Is a printed surface fire rated?
Every project and code path is different. If your project needs a classification, call or text 910.679.0962 before you specify it.
Can printed surfaces be cleaned with disinfectants?
Every cleaning routine is different. Name the products the facility uses, and we'll give you a recommendation before you commit.
Is a printed floor slip resistant?
Floors are planned job by job. Call or text 910.679.0962 if your job depends on wear, slip resistance or a clear coat.