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Ardex RA 54: A Product Overview
Ardex RA 54 is a professional, fast-setting semi-rigid polyurea joint sealant engineered for high-stakes industrial floor applications. It's built to fill interior control joints and new construction saw joints on horizontal concrete, providing a durable, heavy-duty finish.
Its primary advantage is rapid curing, which removes job site risk and protects your profitability by allowing repaired joints to be opened to full vehicle traffic in just 90 minutes. This is the smart-choice solution for warehouses, factories, and logistic centres where downtime is not an option, delivering predictable performance that prevents costly callbacks.
90
Minutes to Full Traffic
Core Features & Specifications
- Heavy Duty Performance: Shore A Hardness of 75-80 and 8.3 MPa Tensile Strength ensures the joint withstands industrial vehicle traffic and impact without failing.
- Rapid Cure & Shave Time: Allows for shaving in just 45 minutes and full traffic in 90 minutes (at 23°C), dramatically reducing facility downtime and accelerating project handovers.
- Zero VOC Content: 0 g/L VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) formulation makes it an ideal choice for interior applications, including sensitive environments.
- Excellent Adhesion: Bonds powerfully to concrete (1.9 MPa adhesion strength) to protect joint edges from spalling and degradation caused by hard-wheeled traffic.
- Wide Application Range: Can be applied in temperatures from -40°C to 50°C, providing predictable performance across a range of demanding job site conditions.
The Ardex RA 54 Advantage
- Protect Your Profitability: The 90-minute return-to-service time is a massive profitability win, letting you complete repairs and hand over the floor faster than traditional sealants.
- Remove Callback Risk: Engineered as a semi-rigid filler, it supports the joint shoulders and prevents edge spalling, delivering a first-time-right result that eliminates costly rework.
- Job-Site Ready Application: The convenient 254mL cartridge system ensures easy, controlled dispensing with no complex mixing, perfect for both new construction and remedial work.
- Deliver a Professional Finish: Can be overfilled and shaved flush with the concrete surface, resulting in a smooth, seamless, and professional finish that stands up to heavy use.
Adheseal tips for using Ardex RA 54
Scenario: Bond Failure or Blistering
Potential Outcome: Sealant delaminates or blisters, failing the joint. This is almost always caused by moisture.
Adheseal Best Practice: This product is highly sensitive to moisture during application. Substrates MUST be completely dry. New concrete must be cured for a minimum of 28 days.
Scenario: Sealant Cracking at the Centre
Potential Outcome: A "three-sided adhesion" bond failure, where the sealant is bonded to the bottom of the joint, preventing proper side-to-side movement.
Adheseal Best Practice: To prevent this and allow for the intended 10-12% movement, always install a backer rod or a layer of kiln-dried sand at the bottom of the joint before filling.
Applications in Practice: Trade Scenarios
For Flooring Contractors: New Warehouse Floor Jointing
The Professional's Challenge
Filling thousands of metres of new saw-cut joints in a warehouse. The client needs the floor operational for forklifts ASAP to meet a logistics deadline.
The Adheseal Solution
Use Ardex RA 54 to overfill the joints. The polyurea chemistry provides the high Shore Hardness needed to protect joint edges from forklift traffic. The 3-minute gel time and 45-minute shave time allow your team to work progressively and efficiently, shaving the excess for a flush finish. Success means the floor is fully trafficable in 90 minutes, you meet the client's tight schedule, and you protect your margin by avoiding costly downtime.
Best Practice Note
Ensure all joints are completely free of dust and debris (blow out with compressed air) and are 100% dry before application.
For Remedial Contractors: Repairing Failed Joints in an Active Facility
The Professional's Challenge
An active factory has failed, spalled control joints that are a safety hazard and are damaging forklift wheels. You need to repair them with minimal interruption to their operations.
The Adheseal Solution
Cut the joint edges to a clean 90° angle. After thorough preparation (clean, dry), place backer rod and fill with Ardex RA 54. The rapid 90-minute cure allows you to complete sections of the floor during a short shutdown or overnight. Success means the facility is back online immediately, the joint is now stronger than before, and you've delivered a high-value, low-disruption repair.
Best Practice Note
For repairing cracks (not just joints), use a saw or grinder to "chase" the crack to ensure clean, sound edges for bonding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can forklifts drive over Ardex RA 54?
Ardex RA 54 is trafficable in just 90 minutes at 23°C. This rapid cure time is specifically designed for industrial applications to minimise downtime. You can complete the job and return the floor to full service in a single shift.
Can Ardex RA 54 be used in an expansion joint?
No, this product is not for expansion joints. Ardex RA 54 is a semi-rigid polyurea sealant with a movement capability of 10-12%. It is designed for interior control joints and saw-cut joints where protecting the edge from impact is the priority.
Does Ardex RA 54 have a strong smell or high VOCs?
Ardex RA 54 has zero VOCs (0 g/L). This makes it a much smarter choice for interior applications in facilities like warehouses, factories, or food processing areas where air quality is a concern.
What is the correct joint preparation for Ardex RA 54?
The concrete substrate must be completely clean, sound, and dry. New concrete must be cured for a minimum of 28 days. For heavy traffic, joints should be a minimum of 60mm deep. Old joints must be re-cut, and all dust, debris, and contaminants removed before application.
Applications & Benefits
| Application / Use Case | Key Benefit | Primary Trades |
|---|---|---|
| Interior concrete control joints | Protects joint edges from spalling and impact damage. | Concreters, Flooring Contractors |
| New construction saw joints | Cures in 90 minutes for rapid handover of new slabs. | Concreters, Builders |
| Industrial floor & warehouse repairs | Withstands heavy-duty vehicle and forklift traffic. | Remedial Contractors, Asset Maintenance |
| Exterior joints (low movement) | Suitable for exterior use with minimal (10-12%) thermal cycling. | Concreters, Remedial Contractors |
Applying Ardex RA 54: Enhanced Protocols & Best Practices
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Step 1: Joint & Surface Preparation
Ensure the substrate and environment are completely dry. New concrete must be 28+ days old. Cut or re-cut joint edges to a vertical 90° angle. Do not create a feathered edge. For heavy traffic, ensure joint depth is minimum 60mm. For light traffic, minimum 13mm. Blow out all dust, debris, and contaminants.
Pro Tip: This product is moisture-sensitive during cure. A dry substrate is non-negotiable for a first-time-right result. -
Step 2: Install Backing (Recommended)
To allow for the 10-12% joint movement and prevent 3-sided adhesion, install a backer rod or a small amount of Kiln-Dried sand to the bottom of the joint. This is critical to prevent bond failure from joint expansion or contraction.
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Step 3: Cartridge & Tool Setup
Insert the 254mL cartridge into a heavy-duty caulking gun. Remove the plastic cap. Dispense a small amount until both materials flow evenly. Secure the mixing nozzle. Pointing up, purge air from the nozzle, then dispense one stroke of material into a waste container.
Pro Tip: Never transfer a used nozzle to a new cartridge. If a leak develops or the nozzle hardens, replace it immediately to avoid rupturing the cartridge. -
Step 4: Application & Filling
Place the nozzle tip directly over the joint. Use full, smooth trigger pulls and let the material gravity-feed into the joint to avoid air bubbles. Overfill the joint slightly so the material is higher than the concrete surface.
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Step 5: Shaving & Curing
Allow the material to cure for approximately 45 minutes (at 23°C). Once cured, use a sharp floor scraper to shave the excess material from the surface, leaving a perfectly flush and level joint.
Timing: The joint can be opened to full vehicle traffic just 90 minutes after the initial application.
Limitations & Safety
Product Limitations
Not for expansion joints. Only for interior control/saw-cut joints with 10-12% movement capability.
Substrate MUST be completely dry. This product is highly sensitive to moisture during application and cure.
New concrete must be cured for a minimum of 28 days.
For professional use only. This is a two-part hazardous chemical system.
Safety & Handling Requirements
Personal Protective Equipment
Wear chemical-resistant gloves (e.g., Butyl, Nitrile), protective overalls, and chemical goggles with side shields. Contaminated work clothing must not be allowed out of the workplace.
Ventilation Requirements
DANGER: Part A is Fatal if Inhaled. Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Do not breathe mist/vapours/spray. In case of inadequate ventilation, wear an approved respiratory (Type A Filter). For spraying, a full-face positive-pressure air-supplied breathing apparatus is required.
Handling Precautions
Avoid reaction with water, alcohols, acids, and bases. Avoid contamination with oxidising agents. Store locked up. Keep container tightly closed in a well-ventilated place.
Emergency First Aid
Eyes:
Causes severe eye damage. Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses. Continue rinsing. Get immediate medical attention.
Skin:
Causes severe skin burns and may cause allergic reaction. Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower.
Inhaled:
Fatal if inhaled. Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor.
Swallowed:
Harmful if swallowed. Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor.
Seek medical attention immediately in all cases of exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can forklifts drive over Ardex RA 54?
Ardex RA 54 is trafficable in just 90 minutes at 23°C. This rapid cure time is specifically designed for industrial applications to minimise downtime. You can complete the job and return the floor to full service in a single shift.
Can Ardex RA 54 be used in an expansion joint?
No, this product is not for expansion joints. Ardex RA 54 is a semi-rigid polyurea sealant with a movement capability of 10-12%. It is designed for interior control joints and saw-cut joints where protecting the edge from impact is the priority.
Does Ardex RA 54 have a strong smell or high VOCs?
Ardex RA 54 has zero VOCs (0 g/L). This makes it a much smarter choice for interior applications in facilities like warehouses, factories, or food processing areas where air quality is a concern.
What is the correct joint preparation for Ardex RA 54?
The concrete substrate must be completely clean, sound, and dry. New concrete must be cured for a minimum of 28 days. For heavy traffic, joints should be a minimum of 60mm deep. Old joints must be re-cut, and all dust, debris, and contaminants removed before application.
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