Select Your Carpet

Your Facility

There are two categories of information needed on the facility in which the carpet is to be installed. The first is the general facility and area use profile, the second is the type of punishment the carpet will be subjected to.

The facility profile includes:

Industry, facility type, and specific area receiving new carpet
Life cycle - How long the carpet will be used
Geography - Indicates the type of dirt that may be tracked into the facility
Whether the area is a remodeled or a new installation
Whether access to subfloor is required
Whether there is modular furniture in the space

Punishment factors

Define the level of traffic you expect. Is it consistent over the whole area, or is it concentrated in one small area? Here are some guidelines that will help you determine the type of installation you have:

Extra-heavy > 2000 foot traffics per day

examples of use:

Healthcare: emergency room lobby, commons

Hospitality: front desk, commons

Public Space: concourse, commons

Retail: outside entrance, cashier, checkout

Office: outside entrance, high-rise entrance, elevator lobby, fitness area, commons

Education: fitness area, commons

Heavy 200 -2000 traffics per day

examples of use:
Healthcare: lobby, commons, corridor, patient room, dining area

Public Space: regional airport terminal, concourse, commons, auditorium, library, museum

Retail: inside entrance, main aisle

Office: fitness area, meeting room, auditorium, inside entrance, food service/vending, cafeteria

Education: auditorium, food service/vending, cafeteria, dorm, lecture hall

Moderate: 50-200 traffics per day

examples of use:
Healthcare: examination room, open office

Hospitality: meeting room, guest room (outside entrance)

Public Space: local library, open office

Retail: sales area, dressing room

Office: upper floor reception area, conference room, open office

Education: classroom, library, open office

Low: < 50 traffics per day

examples of use:
Healthcare: private office, living unit

Hospitality: guest room (inside entrance)

Public Space: private office

Retail: non-sales area, dressing room

Office: private office

Education: Private office
On a typical day: Will there be spills and stains or dirt tracked into the building? If so, what type of spills? Food stains? Coffee or chemical spills?
What amount of spills? Excessive? Occasional?
Do you need moisture impermeability?
Is there exposure to harsh chemicals, intense sunlight or atmospheric contaminants (such as nitrous oxides or ozone)?
Will it be foot traffic? Wheelchairs? Supply carts?

After you have considered and understand the unique needs and requirements of your interior environment, you can start to look at how each component of carpet construction can impact long-term appearance retention.