Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

• Q1: What warranty is provided on Pro-Tek® products?
  
  A1:

  All Pro-Tek® products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. The Pawling Corporation warrants all standard catalog products against defects in materials and workmanship when installed in conformance with The Pawling Corporation's Installation Instructions. See our Terms & Conditions for more details.

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• Q2: What is Pawling's Rapid Response Program on Pro-Tek® products?
  
  A2:

  Pawling's Rapid Response Program was designed to provide our most popular profiles and colors in the shortest amount of time possible. Through Rapid Response, customers can now purchase limited quantities of our 12 best-selling profiles in our 8 best-selling colors, and the product will be shipped within three days.

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• Q3: How do I find a sales rep near me?
  
  A3:

  Click here to to be taken to our Find a Rep page. Simply enter your zip code and we can provide you with the contact information for the sales rep nearest you.

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• Q4: Do Pro-Tek® Impact Protection products contribute to LEED certification? If so, how?
  
  A4:

  Yes. Pawling Corporation is committed to offering environmentally responsible products. Many of our products contribute to Credits 4.1 and 4.2, referring to recycled content. Our aluminum retainers contain 77% post-industrial recycled material. Our Red-E-Clip™ retainer clips are made from post-industrial recycled vinyl. Our stainless steel products are fabricated using 58.6% post-consumer recycled material, and 32.6% post-industrial recycled material.

  The Pro-Tek Earth™ product line is composed of 100% post-consumer recycled HDPE. Pawling’s Parking and Traffic Safety product line also includes several recycled products. Among them are parking blocks, speed bumps, and wheel chocks. In addition, our Entrance Mats & Foot Grilles contribute to Credit 5, which refers to the minimization of pollutant cross-contamination in regularly occupied areas, such as entrance vestibules and lobbies.

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• Q5: What is Pawling's corporate environmental policy?
  
  A5:

  Pawling Corporation has its roots in the historic Harlem Valley Region of New York State.  The abundance of natural beauty surrounding our facility in Wassaic, New York provides a daily reminder of our responsibility to the planet and those we share it with. Our company is committed to providing top quality architectural products that positively influence our customers, their projects and the environment we all share.   Like most manufacturers, we work to maintain operational efficiencies, reduce waste and recycle materials used in our facility.  As stewards of the environment, we incorporate a stronger commitment into all that we do and encourage those we work with to do the same.  

  We understand that issues related to the environmental impacts of products are complex.  We take great care in considering a product’s life-cycle when making material choices and we continue to invest in research and development of new materials.

  We maximize the use of recycled materials in our products:

  ·         Our Pro•Tek Earth® wall guards are made from 100% post-consumer recycled HDPE (milk bottles, water bottles, and detergent containers).

  ·         Our aluminum contains no less than 70% recycled content.

  ·         Our stainless steel contains approximately 59% post-consumer recycled content and 33% pre-consumer/post-industrial recycled content.

  ·         Our Dura-Tile rubber tiles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled content (tires).

  ·         Our HDPE parking blocks and speed bumps are made from 100% post-consumer recycled content.

  We consider the human health issues related to our products:

  ·         Our Interlok® Rubber Tiles do not contain heavy metals, halogens, plasticizers, added-urea formaldehyde, or asbestos.

  ·         We design our tile products to be installed without the use of adhesive.

  ·         For products that are installed with adhesive, we provide low-VOC products that comply with SCAQMD Rule #1168.

  ·         We make significant investments in phasing out harmful materials and developing more environmentally-friendly alternatives for our customers, including PVC-free and PBT-free  PETG wall protection. 

  ·         Our athletic tiles are free from toxic compounds, and can be recycled after their useful life.

  Our efforts to keep harmful materials out of the waste stream are unmatched in our market sector:

  ·         Our modular vinyl tiles are manufactured from 100% recycled PVC material.

  ·         Our vinyl recycling program allows customers to return used vinyl to us during their renovation or demolition projects.

  Our products contribute to several categories in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGB’s) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems.   LEED reporting information is available for each of our products. 

   

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• Q6: Are custom colors available for rigid vinyl products?
  
  A6:

  Yes. Pawling will match any solid color you desire.

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Pro-Tek PETG

• Q7: Is Pro-Tek PETG fire rated?
  
  A7:

  Yes, Pro-Tek PETG is Class A fire rated.

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• Q8: How should this material be cut?
  
  A8:

  Cutting PVC-Free profile extrusions:

  Cut to length using a miter saw having a fine tooth (80-100 teeth) carbide tip blade. Provide support to avoid material flexing during the cutting process.

  　

  Cutting PVC-Free rigid sheet materials:

  Cut to size by applying several passes of a sharp utility knife along a clamped straight edge.

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• Q9: How should this material be stored/handled?
  
  A9:

  Storage: Store wall protection products in original packaging. Protect from weather, extreme temperatures, and moisture.
  1. Maintain temperature during storage between 40°- 100°F (4°- 38°C).
  2. Store materials flat to prevent twisting or sagging of cartons.
  Handling: Take adequate measure to prevent damage to materials. Avoid exposure of plastic products to direct sunlight.

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• Q10: How can I tell if I’ve received PETG or Standard Vinyl?
  
  A10:

  Our material is stamped on the back of the plastic with our part number – if the part number contains a “P” that indicates its PETG

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• Q11: Does Pawling have a recycling program?
  
  A11:

  Our recycling program allows customers to conveniently return used vinyl to us during their renovation or demolition projects.

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• Q12: What is the lead time for Pro-Tek PETG?
  
  A12:

  Lead time is as follows:  In-stock 3-5 days, out of stock 3-4 weeks. Please contact our Customer Service team at 800-431-3456 to determine actual lead time.

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• Q13: Is Pro-Tek PETG as durable as Standard Vinyl?
  
  A13:

  Yes, our PETG product offers exceptional quality of protection as does our standard vinyl

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• Q14: Are custom colors available?
  
  A14:

  Yes - custom color matching is available.

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Impact Protection

Pro-Tek® Information

• Q15: Is Pro-Tek® vinyl fire rated?
  
  A15:

  Yes. Pawling's rigid vinyl material is Class A fire-rated as defined in accordance with ASTM-E84 and CAN4 S-102. Generally accepted building codes such as NFPA, UBC, BOCA, and SBCCI require that all building materials carry a minimum rating of Class C. NFPA further states that even in occupancies requiring Class A or Class B fire ratings, interior wall and ceiling finishes not in excess of 10% of the aggregate wall and ceiling areas within that space can be Class C materials. In essence, Pawling's Pro-Tek® rigid vinyl impact protection products far exceed the necessary fire rating for wall finishes.

  In addition to the Class A rating on rigid vinyl, Pawling's line of flush-mounted corner guards also can be ordered with optional 1-hour and 2-hour fire ratings. This is necessary when mounting flush corner guards on fire-rated walls because the gypsum wallboard is cut short of the corners receiving flush-mounted corner guards, so the corner guard must replace the fire barrier normally provided by the sheetrock.

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• Q16: What does a Class A fire rating mean?
  
  A16:

  Class A fire rating refers to the surface burning characteristics of any given building material. Class A materials burn more slowly and produce less smoke than Class B and Class C materials. This fire rating is particularly important in healthcare environments. Patients often cannot be easily evacuated in the event of a fire, so slowing the spread of fire can save lives.

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• Q17: Why must Pro-Tek® vinyl products be acclimated to an environment before installation?
  
  A17:

  All rigid vinyl products must be acclimated to a room temperature of 65o to 75o F (18o to 24o C) for at least 24 hours prior to installation. This acclimatization process helps prevent expansion and shrinkage of the vinyl after installation is complete.

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• Q18: What types of applications are Pro-Tek® Impact Protection products best suited to?
  
  A18:

  The Pro-Tek® Impact Protection product line includes products designed for just about any application imaginable. We offer products to protect every part of any facility, front to back, inside and out. Please contact your local Pawling sales representative for specific product recommendations.

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Rigid Vinyl Wall Covering

• Q19: How easy is it to install Pro-Tek® rigid vinyl wall covering?
  
  A19:

  Pro-Tek® rigid vinyl wall covering is relatively easy to install, but we do recommend that experienced installers be used. The skills required are somewhat different than installing wallpaper or other types of wall covering, so experience will be helpful. For specific installation instructions, please ask your Pawling representative for our published manual.

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• Q20: Do I need to use Pawling's adhesive to install Pro-Tek® rigid vinyl wall covering?
  
  A20:

  Yes. Our mastic adhesive and contact adhesive have both been tested specifically for use with Pawling's rigid vinyl wall covering products. Use of any other adhesive will void the limited lifetime warranty.

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• Q21: Why are rolls only available in 0.030” and 0.040” thick material?
  
  A21:

  Rigid vinyl thicker than 0.040” has a very strong “memory” and is extremely difficult to flatten out before installation. Installing wall covering that has not been completely flattened out will seriously hamper the ability of the adhesive to create a strong bond with the wall, and therefore should never be attempted.

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• Q22: Are there any areas in which rigid vinyl wall covering should not be used?
  
  A22:

  Yes. Any area in which the vinyl will be subject to direct sunlight or severe variation in temperature should be avoided. This can cause the sheet to expand to the point where the adhesive bond will be disturbed and blistering may occur.

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• Q23: Will Pro-Tek® rigid vinyl sheets expand and contract upon installation?
  
  A23:

  In a normal interior application, Pro-Tek® rigid vinyl is a stabile material, if it has been properly acclimated to the environment. In applications where temperature gradients exceed normal variations, rigid vinyl may experience a modest level of expansion and contraction. In locations that receive direct sunlight or experience severe fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels, rigid vinyl will expand and contract significantly. These applications should be avoided.

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• Q24: How should this material be cut?
  
  A24:

  Gauges of 0.030” and 0.040” can be cut with several passes of a sharp utility knife, and 0.060” and thicker material can be cut in the same manner with a Plexiglass acrylic sheet cutter. Circular saws, saber saws and jigsaws can also be used. Block planes can be used to smooth out rough edges created during cutting

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Handrails

• Q25: What lengths are available?
  
  A25:

  Vinyl handrails are supplied in 12' standard lengths, and wood handrails are supplied in random lengths of 6' to 16'. Pawling will also pre-cut handrails to exact project requirements, with the assessment of added cut charges

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• Q26: Are inside corners available?
  
  A26:

  Yes. Inside corners are available on all Pro-Tek® handrails, except the BR-400 series and our newest wood handrail, the BR-3500. These must be either mitered to fit in the field or be installed with a wall return at each wall.

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• Q27: Are outside corners available?
  
  A27:

  Yes. Outside corners are available with all Pro-Tek® handrail products, with the exception of our BR-3500, which is mitered at the outside corners.

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• Q28: Can radius Conditions be accommodated? If so, can it be done in the field?
  
  A28:

  Yes. Curved walls, work stations or columns with a minimum radius of 24' can be accommodated. For vinyl handrails, gradual arcs, with radii in excess of 60', can generally be accommodated in the field using straight, unaltered handrails. Radii smaller than 60' generally cannot be done in the field, and must be custom fabricated at the factory. Adirondack wood handrail products typically must be custom bent at the factory. In all cases, we recommend that you first consult the factory before determining how to accommodate radiused walls

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Crash Rails, Bumper Guards, and Accent Rails

• Q29: Are inside corners available?
  
  A29:

  Only WG-5 and WG-7 are available with inside corners. All other wall guard products must be either mitered in the field or fitted with end caps at each wall. CRS-100 metal wall guards are custom fabricated with continuous inside corners. CR-200 V-grooved stainless steel wall guards require the use of two end caps at each inside corner.

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• Q30: Are outside corners available?
  
  A30:

  Yes. All Pro-Tek® vinyl wall guards are available with outside corners. Adirondack wood wall guard should either be field mitered or fitted with two end caps at each outside condition. CR-100 metal wall guards are custom fabricated with continuous outside corners. CR-200 V-grooved stainless steel wall guards require the use of two end caps at each outside corner.

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• Q31: Can radius Conditions be accommodated? If so, can it be done in the field?
  
  A31:

  Yes. Vinyl and wood wall guards can be used on curved walls and columns with a minimum radius of 18”. CR-100 metal wall guards can be used on even smaller radius applications. CR-200 stainless steel wall guard must be applied to straight walls and square columns only. For vinyl wall guards, gradual arcs, with radii in excess of 60’, can generally be accommodated in the field using straight, unaltered wall guards. Radii smaller than 60’ generally cannot be done in the field, and must be custom fabricated at the factory. Adirondack wood wall guards typically must be custom bent at the factory. In all cases, we recommend that you first consult the factory before determining how to accommodate radiused walls.

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• Q32: What are the advantages of the Pro-Tek® Red-E-Clip™ recycled vinyl retainers?
  
  A32:

  1. Red-E-Clip retainers provide a myriad of advantages to installers and facility owners, including:
     Wall guard products utilizing Red-E-Clip™ will save approximately 40% vs. the cost of similar wall guards with continuous aluminum retainers.
  2. Due to the reduced shipping weight, freight charges are also lower.
  3. Less storage space is required, as you now have only to stack boxes of vinyl clips instead of spreading out palettes of 12' long aluminum.
  4. In existing operating facilities, there is no need to fight for freight elevators as boxes of Red-E-Clips™ can be carried in passenger elevators.
  5. Installation is faster and easier, and can be done with smaller crews (one person mounting Red-E-Clip™ while another cuts the vinyl covers to size).
  6. Cutting of aluminum retainers is not necessary.
  7. Red-E-Clip™ retainers have been tested for impact resistance vs. continuous aluminum retainers, and in all cases faired at least as well, and often better than aluminum. It is, therefore, likely that Red-E-Clip™ installations will last longer the aluminum.
  8. The recycled content of Red-E-Clip™ retainers will contribute to attaining LEED points toward facility certification.

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• Q33: What products are available with the Pro-Tek® Red-E-Clip™ recycled vinyl retainers?
  
  A33:

  Four of Pawling’s vinyl wall guards are available with Red-E-Clip™ recycled vinyl retainer clips. They are: WG-5C, WG-6C, WG-7C, and WG-8C.

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• Q34: Are custom stain colors available on Adirondack wood wall guards?
  
  A34:

  Yes. Pawling will match any custom stain color desired

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Corner Guards

• Q35: When should I use a flush-mounted corner guard vs. a surface-mounted corner guard?
  
  A35:

  Practically speaking, flush-mounted corner guards can only be applied to walls that are receiving new wallboard or other surfacing. The reason for this is that the flush-mounted retainer must be set into the wall, requiring that the wall material be cut short of the corner. This is only practical with new walls. Surface-mounted corner guards should be used to retrofit and protect existing walls that are being damaged, but they are also equally applicable in new construction applications.

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• Q36: What heights are available?
  
  A36:

  Surface-mounted vinyl corner guards are available in 4', 8', 9', 10', and 12' standard lengths. Flush-mounted vinyl corner guards are sold in 8', 9', 10', and 12' standard lengths, with the exception of CG-888 end wall protectors, which are available in 8', 9', and 10' heights. Rigid vinyl corner guards are available in 4', 8', and 12' standard heights. Polycarbonate corner guards are sold in 4' and 8' standard heights. Stainless steel and aluminum corner guards are available in 2', 4', 6', 8', and 10' heights. All corner guards are available in custom heights as well. Standard heights for heavy-duty rubber and flexible vinyl corner guards vary, but most are available in any height up to 12'.

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• Q37: Why do I need to use a bottom cap on surface-mounted corner guards?
  
  A37:

  Use of bottom caps, even when the corner guard is extended to the floor, will prevent the vinyl cover from slipping down should the floor settle. This condition will leave unsightly, and possibly hazardous gaps between the cover and the top cap.

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• Q38: Are special angles available?
  
  A38:

  Yes. All rigid vinyl, stainless steel and aluminum Pro-Tek® corner guards are available in custom angles from 45o to 160o. Polycarbonate, rubber and flexible corner guards are available in 90o angles only.

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• Q39: What is the advantage of using recycled vinyl retainers for surface-mounted corner guards?
  
  A39:

  Recycled vinyl corner guard retainers are priced from 10% to 25% lower than comparable corner guards using aluminum retainers. They have also been tested for impact resistance and performed at least as well or superior to aluminum retainers in all instances, so corner guards utilizing recycled vinyl retainers are likely to last longer. Also, the recycled content of these retainers will contribute to attaining LEED points toward facility certification.

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• Q40: Do corner guards have to start at the floor, or can they start above the floor?
  
  A40:

  Corner guards can start and stop at any point on a corner that is desired. Many installations start corner guards above the base molding. In fact, that is the method that Pawling recommends as it facilitates floor cleaning and maintenance. Retainers for flush-mounted corner guards must extend to the floor, but the vinyl cover can start above the base molding. In these cases, though, an aluminum cove base insert must be mounted over the bottom portion of the retainer to enable the base molding to extend seamlessly around the corner and over the corner guard retainer. Pawling recommends that flush-mounted corner guards extend to or through the ceiling, as this presents a much more finished appearance.

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• Q41: Can flush-mounted corner guards be used on fire-rated walls?
  
  A41:

  Yes. Pawling provides 1-hour and 2-hour fire-rated corner guards to maintain the rating of fire-rated walls.

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• Q42: How are corner guards without retainers attached to walls?
  
  A42:

  Rigid vinyl corner guards can be applied with mastic adhesive, double-faced tape, or mechanical fasteners. Polycarbonate corner guards are supplied already pre-drilled for mechanical fasteners, and screws are also supplied. They can also be special ordered without holes for either adhesive mounting or double-faced tape application. Stainless steel and aluminum corner guards are supplied with adhesive, but can also be ordered with pre-drilled holes for mechanical fasteners. Most heavy-duty rubber and flexible vinyl corner guards can be applied with either adhesive or mechanical fasteners.

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• Q43: Are end wall protectors available in varying widths to accommodate different thickness walls?
  
  A43:

  Yes. Flush-mounted CG-888 end wall units are available up to 7 ¼” wide, Surface-mounted CG-11 end wall units are available up to 9” wide, and stainless steel end wall protectors are available standard up to 4 7/8” wide, but larger sizes are available.

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Athletic Flooring

• Q44: What is virgin rubber/recycled rubber?
  
  A44:

  Virgin rubber is new rubber compound that has not been previously used and recycled, and—in the case of Pawling's Interlok® products—molded into premium rubber floor tiles which, by their nature, have physical property and performance characteristics which less expensive recycled products simply cannot match.

  Recycled rubber is generally “shards” of rubber that have been previously used and then either glued or revulcanized (heated into pads or rolls suitable for products such as recycled rubber flooring). Post-consumer recycled rubber takes rubber from a variety of sources—tires, shoes, conveyor belts, for example—and bonds these various re-ground particles together with a bonding agent.

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• Q45: Does Pawling sell any recycled rubber floors?
  
  A45:

  Yes, Punishment Pads and Protect-O-Pads are both recycled rubber floor products. They are at the high end of the recycled rubber market because only pre-consumer recycled rubber is used. As a result, the mats can be vulcanized under heat, and are not bonded by adhesives, resulting in a far superior mat to those that are manufactured from various types of post-consumer rubber, and adhered with strong smelling urethane bonding agents.

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• Q46: Is carpet an alternative to rubber flooring in an athletic environment?
  
  A46:

  It can be an inexpensive alternative, but its durability and ease of cleaning are poor. Generally, most athletic facilities that put in carpet initially end up putting in some type of rubber floor in its place within a few years. People sometimes do not take into consideration that carpeting harbors dust, which is damaging to the inner workings of the machinery and bacteria, which is damaging to the inner working of the people who operate it. Virgin rubber provides a smooth, clean easily maintainable flooring surfac

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• Q47: High durability is important to my project. What should I look for in flooring?
  
  A47:

  Pawling's Interlok® Tile products feature a full 100% virgin rubber all the way throughout the full thickness of the tile, with no laminated/wear layers to show through. Many rubber floors on the market have a multi-layer (or "wear-layer") construction. These floors use a 1/16" - 1/8" layer of virgin rubber, laminated to a recycled rubber underneath. While they initially look good, as the wear layer receives traffic, the base layer - typically black recycled rubber - wears through.

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