Product Overview

Actichem Solv Sealer Gold is the premium solvent-borne penetrating sealer in the Actichem range, and the one to specify when the substrate is dense, the exposure is harsh, or the client expects the protection to outlast the warranty period on everything else in the building.

It combines nano-scale fluorochemical technology with specialist penetrating solvents. The solvent carrier is the point: it drives the fluoropolymer into small-pore, dense substrates that a water-based sealer struggles to enter — dense granite, basalt, engineered stone, tight-bodied porcelain and hard-fired clay. Once cured it leaves an invisible barrier inside the pore structure that repels both water-borne and oil-borne contamination.

Actichem states protection of up to 15 years, independently performance tested by a NATA-accredited stone laboratory.

Why Professionals Choose It

Precise chemistry. A blend of nano-scale, small-particle fluorochemical technology with specialist penetrating solvents, formulated for high penetration into small-pore dense substrates.
Premium dual protection. Resists water-borne and oil-borne contaminants — food and beverage staining, oil and grease spills, biological growth such as mould and mildew, spalling, efflorescence, pollution and weathering.
Versatile. Works across a wide substrate range, with particular distinction on natural stone, porous engineered stone and clay products.
Natural look. Does not alter the natural appearance of fine stone, nor change surface texture, slip characteristics or colouring.
Surface safe. Will not etch or damage recommended substrates.
Solvent penetration where water-based will not go. On a dense, low-porosity substrate a solvent carrier is the difference between protection and a surface residue.

Safety Information — Please Read Before Ordering

The previous version of this page described the safety profile as "Class 3 Flammable" and carried no link to a safety data sheet. Flammability is correct but it is only part of the classification, and this is a Poisons Schedule 5 product with an aspiration hazard.

Actichem's safety data sheet — version 2.2, issued 30 July 2021 — classifies Solv Sealer Gold as follows.

Classification

Signal word: DANGER
H226 — Flammable liquid and vapour. Flammable Liquids Category 3. Flash point above 25 °C.
H304 — May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. Aspiration Hazard Category 1.
H319 — Causes serious eye irritation. Eye Irritation Category 2A.
H315 — Causes skin irritation. Skin Corrosion/Irritation Category 2.
Poisons Schedule 5.
HAZCHEM 3Y.
VOC content 463 g/L. This is a high-VOC product. If the job is Green Star or has a VOC limit in the specification, use the water-based Stone Sealer Pro instead.

Composition

Naphtha, petroleum, hydrotreated heavy (CAS 64742-48-9)	30 – 60%
Proprietary silane	30 – 60%
n-Butyl acetate (CAS 123-86-4)	10 – <30%
Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS 78-93-3)	<10%
Proprietary fluoropolymer	<10%
Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (CAS 108-65-6)	<10%

Dangerous goods — the pack size changes the answer

Pack	Transport status
500 ml, 2.5 L, 5 L	Not regulated for dangerous goods — exempt at 5 litres or less
15 L	UN 1993, Class 3, Packing Group III — Flammable Liquid, N.O.S. (contains n-butyl acetate). HAZCHEM 3Y. Limited quantity 5 L.

This matters when you consign it. The 5 litre pack you can freight normally. The 15 litre pack is fully regulated dangerous goods and needs to be consigned as such.

What this means on site

Treat it as a flammable liquid, because it is one. No smoking, no hot work, no grinding, no pilot lights. A sealer job generates a large evaporating surface area of Class 3 solvent across a whole floor. This is the single biggest risk with this product and it is easy to underestimate because the liquid itself looks like water.
Ventilate properly. Actichem states natural ventilation is adequate in most circumstances. A sealed-up apartment, a basement or a shower recess is not most circumstances. Get air moving out of the space.
Never siphon by mouth and never decant into an unlabelled or drink container. H304 — a small quantity aspirated into the lungs can be fatal. The product looks exactly like water.
Eye protection: safety glasses with side shields or chemical goggles. Actichem also specifies overalls, a PVC apron and an eyewash unit.
It dissolves rubber, many plastics, resins and some coatings. This is stated in Section 10 and it has practical consequences — check that your sprayer seals, pump diaphragms, buckets and applicator handles are solvent-compatible before you start, or you will discover the problem mid-job.
Do not mix with caustics, strong acids, oxidising agents or nitrates.

Recommended Substrates

Granite, marble, limestone, travertine, basalt and bluestone
Sandstone and slate
Terracotta, quarry and porous tile
Porous engineered stone
Concrete, masonry and brick
Grout

How to Use

Read and understand the safety data sheet before use. Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location, including for appearance.

Conditions

Do not apply above 40 °C.
Do not apply if rain is expected within 2 hours.
If rain has preceded the work, allow the surface 24 hours to dry completely before sealing.
The surface must be clean, dry and free of coatings, wax, sealer residue and grout haze.

Application

Apply ready to use. Do not dilute.
Apply 1 to 3 coats depending on porosity, saturating the surface with a polish applicator, roller or sprayer.
Keep the surface visibly shiny and wet for at least one minute.
Allow 5 to 10 minutes absorption, then move the excess across the surface with a squeegee.
Wait 20 to 30 minutes between coats.
Wipe off any sealer remaining on the surface after 10 minutes.

Coverage

Open-structure, highly porous substrates: approximately 5 – 10 m² per litre per coat
Dense, less porous substrates: approximately 10 – 20 m² per litre per coat

Curing

Keep off traffic for 12 hours.
Keep the surface dry for 24 hours.
Full cure in 24 to 48 hours.

Expected Life and Maintenance

Actichem states ultimate protection for up to 15 years. Application method, weather conditions, traffic and cleaning regime all affect actual wear.

Plan on re-application every 5 to 7 years where harsh conditions exist.
Avoid solvents, strong acids and strong alkalis on the sealed surface. Nothing shortens sealer life faster than aggressive routine cleaning.
Actichem recommends ProNeutro as the maintenance cleaner.

Field test for whether re-sealing is due: drop water on the surface in several places. If it beads and sits, the sealer is working. If it darkens the stone and soaks in within a minute, it is time to re-seal.

Important limitation

Not to be used as sub-terrain waterproofing. A penetrating sealer resists staining and reduces absorption; it is not a waterproofing membrane and does not replace one. Do not specify it for retaining walls, tanking or anything with hydrostatic pressure behind it.

Solv Sealer Gold or Stone Sealer Pro?

This is the decision most customers actually need help with, so it is worth setting out plainly.

	Solv Sealer Gold (AP176)	Stone Sealer Pro (AP172)
Carrier	Solvent	Water
Stated life	Up to 15 years	Up to 7 years
Best on	Dense, low-porosity substrates; harsh exposure	Medium to high porosity stone, clay and cement
Classification	DANGER — flammable, aspiration hazard, Schedule 5	Non-hazardous, non-dangerous goods
VOC	463 g/L	Very low — meets Green Star Office Design v3 IEQ-13
15 L transport	UN 1993 Class 3 PG III	Not regulated
Occupied premises	Requires solvent management and ventilation planning	Straightforward

Choose Solv Sealer Gold where the substrate is dense and a water-based sealer will not penetrate, where exposure is harsh, or where maximum service life justifies the handling requirements.

Choose Stone Sealer Pro where the substrate is porous enough to take a water-based sealer, where the job is in an occupied building, or where the specification carries a VOC limit. On most porous stone and paving it will do the job with none of the solvent management.

Mistakes to Avoid

Sealing a damp substrate. A solvent sealer and residual moisture do not mix — you will get poor penetration and a patchy result. Twenty-four hours dry after rain, minimum.
Working in the heat. Above 40 °C the solvent flashes off before the fluoropolymer is drawn in. That is not just a wasted coat; it is surface residue you then have to remove.
Using a sprayer with incompatible seals. Section 10 says it dissolves rubber and many plastics. Check first.
Underestimating the fire risk because the liquid looks like water. A whole floor of evaporating Class 3 solvent in an enclosed space is a serious hazard.
Specifying it on a Green Star job. 463 g/L VOC.
Treating it as waterproofing. It is not, and the manufacturer says so.
Consigning the 15 litre pack as general freight. UN 1993, Class 3, Packing Group III.

Technical Specifications

Product code	AP176
SKU	AP176.05
Pack size	5 litres
Type	Solvent-based penetrating sealer
Active chemistry	Nano-scale fluorochemical with proprietary silane
Appearance	Clear, water-white liquid
Odour	Mild solvent
pH	Not applicable — solvent based
Relative density	0.85
Solubility in water	Immiscible
Flash point	>25 °C
Initial boiling point	80 °C
VOC	463 g/L
Dilution	Ready to use
Coverage	5 – 10 m²/L porous; 10 – 20 m²/L dense, per coat
Coats	1 – 3
Traffic	After 12 hours
Full cure	24 – 48 hours
Signal word	DANGER
Hazard statements	H226, H304, H315, H319
Poisons Schedule	5
HAZCHEM	3Y
Dangerous goods — 5 L	Not regulated (exempt at 5 L or less)
Dangerous goods — 15 L	UN 1993, Class 3, PG III

Actichem lists pack sizes of 500 ml, 2.5 L, 5 L and 15 L for AP176. Carpet Cleaners Warehouse currently stocks the 5 litre. Contact us for the other sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 years realistic?

That is Actichem's stated figure and it is supported by NATA-accredited laboratory testing. Real-world life depends on how the floor is cleaned more than on anything else — a surface maintained with a neutral cleaner will approach it; a surface scrubbed with an alkaline degreaser every week will not. Actichem's own recommendation is re-application every 5 to 7 years in harsh conditions, and that is the figure to plan a maintenance budget around.

Why choose solvent over water-based?

Penetration. On a dense substrate — hard granite, basalt, tight porcelain, dense engineered stone — a water-based sealer struggles to enter the pore structure, so much of it stays on the surface and gets wiped away. A solvent carrier gets in. On genuinely porous material like terracotta or sandstone, a water-based sealer penetrates perfectly well and the solvent brings you nothing but handling problems.

Will it change how the stone looks?

No. It does not alter appearance, surface texture, slip characteristics or colouring. Pre-test anyway — it costs five minutes and a small offcut.

Can I use it in an occupied building?

It can be done, but it needs planning: ventilation, exclusion of the area, no ignition sources, and an occupant who understands there will be solvent odour for some hours. In an occupied residential or healthcare setting, Stone Sealer Pro is usually the better answer.

Can I use it as waterproofing under tiles or behind a retaining wall?

No. Actichem states plainly that it is not to be used as sub-terrain waterproofing. It reduces absorption and resists staining; it does not withstand hydrostatic pressure and it is not a membrane.

What do I clean a sealed floor with?

A neutral cleaner. Actichem recommends ProNeutro. Stone Soap is also suitable on natural stone. Avoid solvents, strong acids and strong alkalis.

Does the 5 litre pack attract a dangerous goods surcharge?

It should not — the safety data sheet exempts packs of 5 litres or less. The 15 litre pack is fully regulated. If you see a surcharge on a 5 litre order that you believe is incorrect, contact us before completing it.

How much do I need?

Between 5 and 20 m² per litre per coat, at one to three coats. That is a very wide band, and porosity is the variable. Seal a test area on the actual substrate and measure from that rather than from the midpoint of the range.

Related Products

Actichem Stone Sealer Pro — the water-based alternative. Non-hazardous, very low VOC, Green Star compliant. The right choice on porous substrates and in occupied buildings.
Actichem Pre-Seal — pre-installation protection against grout, adhesive and construction staining.
Actichem ProNeutro — the maintenance cleaner Actichem recommends for sealed surfaces.
Actichem Stone Soap — routine cleaning of sealed natural stone.
Actichem Tile & Grout Cream — wax, coating and grout haze removal before sealing. Classified DANGER with a reproductive toxicity statement — read that page before use.

Summary

Solv Sealer Gold is the sealer for the jobs that defeat water-based products: dense substrates, harsh exposure, and clients who want a sealing cycle measured in years rather than seasons. The solvent carrier is what makes that possible, and it is also what you have to manage.

It is a DANGER-classified, Poisons Schedule 5, Category 3 flammable liquid with an aspiration hazard and 463 g/L VOC, and the 15 litre pack is fully regulated dangerous goods. Where those constraints fit the job, nothing in the range protects better. Where they do not, Stone Sealer Pro will do the work with none of the handling.

Safety Data Sheet

Actichem Solv Sealer Gold Safety Data Sheet — version 2.2, issued 30 July 2021.

Actichem does not currently publish this safety data sheet on their own website, so we cannot link it here. Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse and we will email you a copy. We have asked Actichem to add it to their safety data sheet index, and we will link it directly from this page as soon as they do.

This page previously carried no safety data sheet reference at all. We have sourced and verified the current published sheet, and asked Actichem to confirm whether a more recent revision exists. Given this is a DANGER-classified, Poisons Schedule 5, Class 3 flammable product, we think it should be on the manufacturer's public index.

SKU: AP176.05

Not sure whether your substrate needs a solvent-based or a water-based sealer? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before you order. The answer depends on porosity, and getting it wrong means either a wasted drum of expensive sealer or a floor that is not properly protected.