After determining the needs and requirements of their interior environment, facilities managers can look at how each component of carpet construction can influence long-term appearance retention, which can affect their maintenance budget and bottom line.

Carpet construction specifications deal with appearance or the look that is desired and will determine the floor covering’s look, size, weight, construction type and coloring method. The Carpet and Rug Institute says that understanding the components of carpet construction and how they influence appearance and performance is an essential part of the specification process. A dense, low pile height, loop-pile carpet is most often used in heavy-traffic areas. In offices and other areas with lighter foot traffic, cut-pile can be a good choice. Cut-pile, loop-pile and cut-loop pile choices may be appropriate for use in areas that receive a moderate amount of traffic.

Appearance retention: For a carpet to retain its new look, a specifier must determine its optimal performance level.

Carpet performance is associated with many things and it’s important for a specifier to understand how all the individual elements work. For example, the yarn size needs to correlate with the gauge; the backing systems should be appropriate with the desired performance; and the dye technique has to be consistent with the end use.

The most common trap is relying on only one single construction factor to determine if a product will meet specifications. Therefore, while pile yarn density is important, so is the gauge, the yarn size and many other construction parameters that can be determined by individual manufacturers. That’s why it’s so important for specifiers and end users to explain how they want the product to perform and allow the manufacturers to make the construction decisions to meet the identified needs.

Performance Considerations: Performance considerations are especially important for the demanding environments of educational and healthcare facilities. Again, it’s important that the specifier or end user identify the highest priority needs for how the carpet will perform.

For example, they could be concerned about wear and tear, or about moisture resistance, or about heavy foot traffic. Refer to manufacturers’ end use recommendations to determine which product will meet the performance expectations that have been set.

Broadloom and modular carpet options: Building owners and facility managers have several options when specifying carpet. You should make your choice between tufted or woven broadloom and modular carpet based on styling preference, budget considerations, backing performance needs (moisture impermeability) and facility requirements (installation, floor access).

Color and Pattern: After looking at construction and fiber type, a specifier must consider how the carpet is dyed. Solution-dyed yarn is becoming a popular option. In solution-dyed yarn, the color pigment is inserted into the melted polymers during extrusion. The color is throughout the yarn, offering excellent cleanability and colorfastness.

Other dyeing methods are:

Stock Dyeing — Color applied after extrusion but prior to spinning;

Yarn Dyeing — The finished yarn is dyed;

Printing — Color normally occurs on finished carpet;

Piece or continuous dyeing — Dye is injected into the face of carpet in a continuous process.

What color to select is an important aesthetic consideration, and it determines the amount of soil carpet can disguise. While light colors show soil more readily, dark colors show light-colored soil and lint. Medium-value colors most effectively reduce the visible effects of soiling. Pattern also plays a role in hiding soil.

Solid colors show soil most easily, followed by heathers and tweeds. More effective are patterns, such as organic, geometric, linear and random:

Organic — A design using free form, contour lines to create objects within a pattern.

Geometric — A design using straight lines to create shapes within the pattern.

Linear — A repeat in design that clearly represents either horizontal or vertical movement.

Random patterns — Allows for random color placement, provide the best soil hiding capabilities. For more heavily trafficked areas, multicolored carpet with medium-value colors and random patterns should be considered for optimal soil and stain performance.

Cushion: It is important to select the right backing system, and this will include whether some type of cushion is attached. While cushion can provide resilience, acoustical/thermal insulation properties, and comfort underfoot, the majority of commercial carpet today is direct glued to the floor without a cushion. The carpet product and backing should be selected according to the traffic patterns of the application area and the manufacturer’s requirements for thickness and density.

There are three main types of carpet cushion that are used in commercial applications: fiber, rubber and polyurethane foam.

Fiber cushion is made of rubberized hair, rubberized jute, synthetic fibers and resinated recycled textile fiber. Rubber cushion consists of flat rubber, textured flat rubber, rippled waffle (Class I only) and reinforced rubber.

Polyurethane foam cushion is made of grafted prime polyurethane, densified polyurethane, bonded polyurethane and mechanically frothed polyurethane. The three classes of commercial carpet cushion applications are Class I, Class II and Class III.

Class I (moderate traffic) — Typically, this class includes executive, administrative or private offices in office buildings, banks, schools and healthcare facilities.