Polbruk S.A.

Polbruk® products undergo quality control processes during production and storage in accordance with applicable standards and regulations. For all manufactured products, appropriate reference documents have been established, namely the European EN standards.

In this regard, we apply the following:

• for concrete paving blocks

Concrete paving blocks. Requirements and test methods;

• for kerbs and edging

- standard EN 1340:2003 and EN 1340:2003/AC:2006

Concrete kerbs. Requirements and test methods;

• for concrete paving slabs

- standard EN 1339:2003 and EN 1339:2003/AC:2006

Concrete paving slabs. Requirements and test methods;

• for street furniture

- standard PN-EN 13198:2005 Precast concrete products.

Street and garden furniture.

Polbruk S.A. applies the applicable legal provisions regarding the marketing authorisation of products, i.e.:

1. The Construction Products Act of 16 April 2004.

2. Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

All products we offer have undergone type testing and are subject to ongoing monitoring under the Factory Production Control System. On this basis, “Declarations of Performance” or “National Declarations of Performance” have been issued for individual product types (available on the website www.polbruk.pl). Once the inspection process is complete, products that meet the declared performance are marked with the CE mark or the B construction mark, which authorises their placing on the market. The CE marking or the B construction mark is affixed to the information label attached to each product package.

The systematic application of control procedures ensures that Polbruk S.A., as the manufacturer, guarantees the appropriate quality and durability of its products, provided that the conditions for correct installation are met.

Conditions for correct installation

Sub-base

It is particularly important to construct a proper sub-base for concrete paving stones, paving slabs and open-jointed slabs. The sub-base should be constructed in accordance with a design that takes into account the type of soil, drainage conditions and intended use. Failure to comply with this condition may result in damage to the products.

Checking the delivered material before installation

Before commencing work, check that the delivered material complies with the order or the details on the delivery note (WZ) and that the individual product ranges come from the same production batch. In addition, the material must be inspected immediately to ensure it shows no signs of transport damage or other visible defects. Any concerns regarding the products must be reported to the Seller or a representative of Polbruk S.A. prior to installation. Installation of a product with visible defects constitutes acceptance of its appearance.

Grouting of paving stone and slab surfaces

When laying paving stones and slabs, ensure that the joints are maintained; these should not be less than 2–3 mm wide. The factory-made spacer tabs on the paving stones do not exempt the installer from the obligation to maintain an appropriate joint width. For grouting paving stone surfaces (filling the gaps between stones), use washed sand free from impurities. The use of sand that is too fine or dusty may cause permanent surface contamination. Failure to maintain the correct joint width may cause damage to the facing edges and, in extreme cases, cracking of the products.

Grouting kerbs and edging

For kerbs and edging, appropriate joint widths must also be maintained – joints of no less than 3–5 mm. The manufacturer does not recommend grouting these elements with cement mortar. If grouting is necessary, it is recommended to use flexible compounds. Bases for kerbs and edging must be constructed in accordance with the design. Failure to comply with these conditions may cause damage to the facing edges. More detailed information on the installation of these products is provided in the paving guide and in the installation instructions for individual product types available on our website www.polbruk.pl

Differences in shades

Concrete paving stones, etc., may exhibit colour variations caused by unavoidable changes in the properties of raw materials (sand, gravel, cement). These components have natural colour variations. To minimise natural colour variations, surfaces should be laid using several pallets at once (min. 3 pallets). Mixing paving stones during installation results in a uniform and natural-looking surface. Laying the surface using stones from a single pallet, layer by layer, leads to noticeable differences in the shade of the finished surface.

Lime efflorescence

Lime efflorescence may appear on the surface of concrete paving elements (paving stones, kerbs, etc.) in the form of white deposits. This phenomenon is associated with natural processes occurring in maturing concrete and does not adversely affect its properties. Efflorescence is not a product defect; it will fade away under the influence of weather conditions and through normal use of the surface.

Warning! Do not treat paving stones on which lime efflorescence has appeared, as this may halt the natural process of its disappearance.

Capillary microcracks

Hairline microcracks may appear on the surface of the products; these are particularly visible on a damp surface as it dries, e.g. after rainfall. This phenomenon is caused by natural shrinkage occurring during the cement setting process. Based on numerous publications on this subject and our own many years of experience, we can conclude that, in the case of products meeting the declared characteristics, the micro-cracks in question do not reduce the product’s performance or durability.

Principles of surface maintenance

Concrete paving blocks, etc., are materials that perfectly withstand loads associated with pedestrian or vehicular traffic. However, no heavy objects with sharp edges should be dropped onto a surface laid with paving blocks, etc., nor should they be dragged across the surface. Such actions may cause permanent mechanical damage. Concrete paving stones are not resistant to external stains (soil, clay, engine oil, coffee, wine, etc.). Care should therefore be taken to keep the paving stone surface clean and prevent the build-up of the aforementioned contaminants. It is possible to use impregnating agents, which make it easier to keep the surface clean; however, impregnation must be repeated periodically due to the limited duration of the impregnating agent’s effectiveness. Pressure washers can be used to clean paving stone surfaces. If any construction work is being carried out in the vicinity of a terrace slab surface, it must be carefully protected. This applies in particular to stains from cement-based mortars and adhesives, which are very difficult to remove.

Maintaining the surface in winter!

The recommendations listed are particularly important in the first year after installation. Adhering to the following guidelines is also appropriate for environmental protection.

1. Clear snow from the concrete slab surface regularly, preventing the formation of a layer of compacted snow and ice.

2. Use de-icing agents only when absolutely necessary.

3. Use chemicals in quantities per unit area as specified in the instructions.

4. Use de-icing agents with the correct particle size (granulation). Do not use clumped agents.

5. Spread the recommended amount of de-icing agent evenly across the entire surface being cleared to ensure optimal effectiveness.

6. Where possible, avoid using chemical de-icing agents – instead, use loose materials that create a rough surface on icy areas.

In this regard, we recommend:

• Use the material that was used for jointing the surface, i.e. washed sand 0–2 mm.

• Do not use fine-grained crushed aggregates with sharp edges.

• Do not use dusty or soiled materials, e.g. coal combustion waste, etc.

• During periods when the surface is free of ice and snow, remove any excess material previously applied.

Warning: do not use!

Surface de-icing agents: sodium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride have a destructive effect on concrete. Frequent and intensive use of these substances may cause discolouration of the products, as well as the formation of stains and water marks on the surface.

Additional information

1. Products are sold on transport pallets and secured with tape or film. Weathered products are sold on transport pallets or packed in Big Bags

(so-called flexible containers). Big Bags are additionally placed on transport pallets. Transport pallets are returnable. The cost of the Big Bag is included in the product price; the packaging is non-returnable.

2. Some types of paving stones include edge and half stones, which are supplied together with the standard stones in a strictly specified quantity per m². Any surplus of edge and half blocks is non-returnable, whilst any shortfall should be made up by cutting standard blocks to size.

3. The requirement for paving stones per m² of the surface to be laid also includes joints, and accordingly, the products will be supplied in such a way that the ordered surface can be laid whilst maintaining the grid dimensions (any offcuts should be taken into account). Almost all types of paving stones have special spacer projections; however, these are not sufficient to replace the necessary joints, the width of which ranges from 2 mm to 3 mm depending on the system.

4. The weathered products we offer are manufactured using a tumbling process and are packed into Big-Bags immediately afterwards. Consequently, it may happen that individual damaged paving stones are included in the pack. Additionally (regarding Polbruk Country) – please note that to compensate for any damaged blocks that may be present in the ‘Big-Bag’ transport packaging, the quantity of blocks in the bag has been increased by 2% compared to the quantity sold. Based on the specifications we have adopted for products with an aged finish and the technological capabilities involved, the degree of wear on individual pavers is unique. The appearance of the surface should be assessed at the start of laying this type of paver. If the achieved effect is not acceptable or if there is a large number of damaged pavers, work must be suspended and this reported to the point of purchase. Once the pavers have been laid, complaints regarding the wear pattern of the pavers will not be considered.

5. To ensure product traceability, we ask customers to retain the labels containing product information.

Warranty Terms

Polbruk S.A. guarantees to the Buyer the quality of the products it manufactures and their compliance with the reference documents in respect of the performance characteristics declared by Polbruk S.A. The manufactured products (classified as construction products) are authorised for marketing in accordance with the provisions of the Construction Products Act of 16 April 2004. A Declaration of Performance or a National Declaration of Performance has been issued for all products. Each pallet/package of the product is accompanied by a label bearing the CE marking or the construction mark B, together with the required information, including details of the manufacturer and the type and number of the reference document in accordance with which the product was manufactured. Declarations of Performance, National Declarations of Performance and product installation instructions are published on the Polbruk S.A. website (www.polbruk.pl).

1. The warranty period for products manufactured by Polbruk S.A. is 3 years from the date of delivery to the Buyer. The warranty is valid within the territory of the Republic of Poland.

2. The Buyer acquires warranty rights subject to full and timely payment for the products received.

3. The Buyer is obliged to inspect the products in terms of dimensions and external appearance before and during installation. If defects are found in the products, the Buyer is obliged to refrain from installing the products and to inform Polbruk S.A. of the defects by submitting a written complaint. Installation of a product with visible defects constitutes acceptance of its external appearance.

4. The Buyer loses their warranty rights if they fail to notify Polbruk S.A. of any defects in the products within 7 days of their discovery.

5. The Buyer should submit a written complaint at the point of purchase (Polbruk S.A. Sales Departments, Polbruk S.A. Dealerships) or to the Polbruk S.A. Regional Managers, in the case of contracts handled directly by them.

6. A condition for making a claim under the warranty is that the Buyer must present:

- the original purchase invoice for the products;

- the original delivery notes.

7. The complaint will be considered within 14 days of receipt of the complaint letter. The Buyer will receive a written response regarding the complaint lodged.

8. If the complaint is upheld, Polbruk S.A. undertakes, at its discretion, to remedy the defect in the products subject to the complaint by replacing them with defect-free products, repairing them, or reducing the price.

9. Under the warranty, Polbruk S.A. shall not bear the costs of dismantling and re-installing the products.

10. Polbruk S.A.’s liability under the warranty does not cover lost profits or consequential and indirect damages, including in particular loss of capital, the use of substitute products, loss of profits, or claims by the Buyer’s customers.

11. Polbruk S.A. shall be exempt from liability under the warranty if the Buyer was aware of the defect at the time of concluding the contract.

12. Products purchased as substandard are not covered by the warranty.

13. The following, as permitted by reference documents (standards, technical approvals), do not constitute grounds for a warranty claim:

- deviations in the dimensions and appearance of the product;

- efflorescence in the form of a white coating;

- hairline micro-cracks;

- colour variations resulting from the manufacturing process.

14. The warranty does not cover products that have been damaged or are defective as a result of:

- improper design or construction of the substructure;

- incorrect selection of the product for the type and magnitude of loads;

- installation of the purchased products in a manner inconsistent with good building practice;

- improper use, contrary to the intended purpose and properties of the purchased products;

- improper storage or transport of the products.

15. This warranty does not limit or suspend the Buyer’s rights arising from the provisions on warranty for defects.

16. In the case of consumer sales, the provisions of the Act of 30 May 2014 on consumer rights (Journal of Laws of 2014, item 827) or any legislation replacing it shall apply.