About compact HPL

Wipe with water and dry with a paper towel or a soft cloth. If marks remain, use a mild household cleaner without abrasives, then rinse and dry.

Use hot water with a clean cloth or paper towel and washing powder, liquid soap or bar soap. Let the cleaning solution work for a moment according to the degree of soiling, then rinse with clean water or a glass cleaner, repeating if needed. Remove every trace of cleaner to avoid streaks, and wipe dry with an absorbent cloth. A plastic sponge or a nylon brush helps; steel wool and scouring powder do not.

The panel is non-porous, so liquids cannot penetrate it, but spills should still be wiped up promptly. Avoid aggressive cleaners: heavy-duty degreasers, metal polishes, toilet-bowl and oven cleaners.

• Limescale. Warm water with up to 10% vinegar or lemon acid; rinse with warm water afterwards.
• Wax. Lift with a plastic or wooden spatula, never a blade; level any residue with blotting paper.
• Water-based paints, inks and adhesives. Fresh: warm water. Dried: ethanol, acetone, benzine or nail-polish remover.
• Solvent-based paints and adhesives. Fresh: the matching solvent. Dried: ask the paint supplier for the right solvent and give it time to work.
• Two-component adhesives and lacquers (urea, melamine, phenol and resorcinol resins; epoxy, polyurethane and unsaturated polyester). These cannot be removed once cured. Clean immediately with the organic solvent the adhesive supplier recommends.
• Silicone and polysulphide sealants. Lift mechanically with a plastic or wooden spatula, then use a silicone remover if needed. Do not leave the remover on the surface for long.
• Streaks after solvent cleaning. Hot water, then dry with a clean soft cloth or paper towel.

The melamine surface resists most chemicals and has excellent mechanical and heat properties, which is why compact HPL is specified where the surface meets:

• Laboratory and process chemicals
• Solvents
• Disinfectants
• Dyes and pigments
• Bleaching agents
• Cosmetics
• Medicines

Three things decide whether a chemical marks the surface: its concentration, its pH, and how long it stays, together with the temperature. Spills of aggressive substances should be removed at once. The panel withstands at least 180 °C, far more than thermoplastics; a gas flame or an infrared source held against it can still discolour the surface, so protect it from direct heat.

Compact HPL comes in an almost unlimited range of decors and colours, can be formed into many shapes, and covers large areas without joints. With its wear resistance it is the standard surface in:

• Food processing, butchers and food stores
• Shops and salons
• Chemical, medical, biological and photographic laboratories
• Physical and technical laboratories

On vertical surfaces such as doors, furniture fronts and wall cladding, any compact HPL surface can be used. Horizontal surfaces take more abuse, so the surface texture should be chosen with the use in mind.

Food and juices, solvents and detergents, cosmetics and nail-polish remover, and medicines cause no problem. Chemicals, paints and varnishes should be carried in closed containers; since their composition is not always known, wipe spills at once. Dried paint and varnish come off with alcohol or acetone.

The panel is easy to clean and disinfect and withstands the usual disinfectants: alcohols (ethanol 70%), aldehydes (formalin 1% and 5%), phenols (p-chloro-m-cresol 0.3%) and quaternary ammonium compounds. Large areas can be covered without joints; blood, urine and ointments do not affect the surface and wipe off. The material is transparent to X-rays and is not damaged by UV or by the infrared lasers of medical equipment.

Suited to these rooms for the same reasons. Strong dyes, such as the staining solutions used before microscopy, and strong oxidisers such as hydrogen peroxide can leave marks if left on the surface, so remove them immediately.

Most salon products do not affect the panel. Dried nail polish, hairspray and cosmetics such as lipstick come off with alcohol or acetone. Hair dyes and bleaching agents should be wiped up as soon as possible to avoid discolouration.

Developers and fixers do not damage the surface; solutions containing dyes and silver salts can discolour it, so remove spills promptly.

Usable for worktops without restriction. Where surfaces face high mechanical loads, a textured surface is recommended. Battery acid must be removed at once or it leaves permanent marks.

The panel resists most laboratory chemicals. Some, depending on type, pH and concentration, can damage the surface if left for a long time, so residues should be removed immediately, and the most aggressive substances call for a protective cover during use. In rooms with prolonged aggressive fumes such as sulphur dioxide, chlorine, bromine or acid vapours, the appearance of the surface may deteriorate without affecting its function.

The panel tolerates food-grade cleaners and disinfectants and does not affect food, which makes it suitable for direct contact with foodstuffs.