Australian Carpet by Allan Firth, Executive Director of the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited.

The Australian hospitality sector is fortunate to have a strong carpet manufacturing industry to draw on and realise its flooring décor visions. Carpet is by far the most popular and versatile floor covering solution on the market. And it’s easy to see why:

Décor Versatility – complement the existing décor theme – or create an entirely new one – from the extensive range of carpet styles, surface textures and constructions.

Warmth – a carpet’s surface temperature is substantially higher than that of a hard surface tile thanks to reduced heat dissipation. Carpet gives a soft, warm, cosy feeling. It therefore provides a more comfortable working environment.

Comfort – soft floor coverings such as carpet result in less postural discomfort than standing on hard surfaces.

Safety – flooring can be a risk factor for slips and falls, especially in high traffic areas like lobbies. Carpet improves safety by reducing slipping accidents and personal injuries if a fall does occur.

Noise Reduction – carpet is one of the most effective acoustical materials. Carpet absorbs more exigent sound than any hard flooring. Reverberation time is half that of hard flooring. With carpet, impact noise is reduced by 25 to 34 dB compared to only 1 to 6 dB with laminate. This makes the difference between noise and tranquillity. With carpet, the generated sounds are lower than with hard flooring, and the duration of the reflected sounds is shorter. By creating more quietness, carpet considerably enhances the feeling of well-being.

Ease of Maintenance – you can keep your carpet looking good by having a carpet maintenance plan tailored to the needs of your facility.

Value for Money – with the wide range of carpet styles, textures and weights (or constructions) available, there is a solution for practically every budget and décor need.

Indoor Air Quality – carpets help to purify the air we breathe by trapping in the fibre mass a range of inhalable substances, called allergens that have been linked to asthma and other respiratory problems. A recent scientific study conducted by the German Asthma and Allergy Foundation found that carpet reduces dust in the air to half that found with hard flooring. With a good vacuuming, dust removal from a carpet is easy. In addition carpet has a positive impact on indoor air quality by absorbing some toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde.

Carpet Selection

For the uninformed, there can be many pitfalls in the selection and specification process, but with a little knowledge and the right approach, customers can be assured of making the right choice for their installation. Because there are so many potential variables to consider and control, professional specification can play an important part in selection of the right carpet. Without a pragmatic specification and a design that balances performance and décor requirements – and framed around the traffic parameters of the installation – costly mistakes can result. Professional advice on colour and pattern should always be obtained. Another important player in the specification process is the carpet contractor and in some cases the carpet consultant. A contractor will be a specialist company that takes care of the ‘end to end’ installation process – specifying the carpet according to required performance levels and BCA regulatory requirements, supervising any manufacturing issues and liaising with the mill, advising on appropriate installation methods, sourcing other products such as underlay, attending to and special requirements such as anti-static treatments, installing the carpet to the Australian Standard, and recommending an appropriate maintenance program. Carpet consultants tend to be involved more in the specification process and are sometimes employed as project managers to major installations.

Australian Carpet Classification Scheme (ACCS) The Australian carpet industry is one of the few carpet industries in the world to have established a national carpet grading scheme. The Australian Carpet classification Scheme (ACCS) has a rating scheme for residential and commercial products.

62 Carpets are classified under the ACCS according to their performance characteristics. The carpet classification is determined using technical data supplied by manufacturers and results from testing conducted by independent (NATA or equivalent) laboratories. An expert panel assesses the test results and samples of carpet provided by the manufacturer to determine a ‘star’ classification for that particular carpet, which relates to the performance characteristics of the carpet. The more stars the higher the ACCS grading. Carpets are classified according to suitability for use in residential and/or contract installations and in different walking ‘traffic’ conditions described as light, medium, heavy and extra heavy. In determining the ACCS end-use classification, the overriding criterion is the appearance retention properties of the carpet. Carpets submitted to the ACCS must also meet minimum standards for a range of construction and performance properties before they will be graded. The gold and black labels identify carpets graded for contract use and have a maximum of four stars. The Environmental Certification Scheme (ECS) is an environmental labelling scheme for carpets. ECS provides a guide to the environmental performance of certified carpets throughout the full product lifecycle and has 4 certification levels with incrementally more demanding performance criteria. Levels 2, 3 & 4 (with 2 options) have been developed to comply with the requirements of Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Assessment Framework for Product Certification Schemes. Carpets certified under ECS Levels 2, 3 and 4 certification may achieve points under the Materials category in the Green Star environmental rating tools for buildings. See the table below and for further information, visit http://www.gbca.org.au/green-star/rating-tools/product-and-forest-certification schemes/. Note: ECS Level 1 is the pre-qualifier for higher ECS certification levels.

Carpet Installation

Conditions of use (open plan, placement and weight of furniture, wheeled chairs and trolleys) trafficking volume and points of high trafficking, as well as the adherence to an adequate cleaning maintenance schedule, all play a key role in any decision regarding the best option for the method of installation. Australasian Standards AS/NZS 2455.1 for broadloom carpets and AS/NZS 2455.2 for carpet tiles provide a guide to good installation practice. The choice of underlay mainly depends on the volume and type of usage and, the level of comfort required. Australian Standard AS 4288 – Soft underlays for textile floor coverings – provides a classification scheme for guidance on underlay selection.

Carpet Maintenance

Carpet maintenance is essential to retain the original texture and appearance of the carpet for as long as possible and ensure that the carpet is hygienic and contributes positively to the indoor environment. A well planned maintenance schedule should be considered as an essential part of the initial carpet specifications. The main elements of a good carpet maintenance plan include frequent vacuuming, daily spot cleaning and periodic deep cleaning by a trained operator is essential for ensuring carpet stays in good condition. The Standard – AS/NZS 3733 1995 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of Residential and Commercial Carpeting provides guidance for good cleaning practice. It is important when choosing a carpet cleaner to ensure that the company uses formally trained and qualified technicians. Avoid the temptation to choose a carpet cleaner solely on price. Take into consideration their qualifications, experience and whether they have insurance to cover the cost of any damages done to your venue. Most importantly, ask if the company is a member of a not-for profit industry trade association such as the Specialized Cleaning and Restoration Industry Association (SCRIA) and the Individual Cleaners Association of Australia and New Zealand (ICAN).

Allan Firth is Executive Director of the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited. CIAL is a non-profit industry association dedicated to the development of Australia’s $1.6 billion carpet industry. Formed in 1967, CIAL represents carpet manufacturers as well as suppliers of goods and services to the carpet industry.

 

About the Carpet Institute of Australia

The Carpet Institute of Australia Limited (CIAL) is the lead industry association for Australia’s $1.6 billion carpet industry. CIAL represents carpet manufacturers accounting for 95% of Australian carpet production, as well as retailers and suppliers of goods and services to the industry.