Facts about Carpet - The Educated Choice for Schools

Carpet offers inherent benefits for schools that no other floor covering offers:

• Safety – helps prevent falls; fewer injuries with softer landings when there is a fall; a non-glare surface that reduces reflection and eye-strain.
• Reduction of noise – less acoustic protection is needed on ceiling and elsewhere. This provides a better learning atmosphere with fewer distractions.
• Comfort for teachers and other staff: a cushioned walking and standing surface for less leg fatigue.
• Insulation – Warmer to sit on or work on, extending learning areas to space on the floor. Thermal comfort exists because carpet retains inside ambient temperatures longer.
• A welcoming, friendlier, less institutional environment, producing pride in the facility that can boost a child’s (and teacher’s) morale and attitude about attending school.
• Lower life-cycle costs for carpet than VCT when product, installation, and maintenance supplies and labor, costs are considered over 15 to 20 years.
• Easy, scheduled maintenance preserves a carpet’s appearance, extends its useful life and enhances indoor air quality.

Carpet is a positive indoor air quality influence.

• Allergies are usually affected by airborne particles. Carpet holds contaminants/particles/allergen out of the air and out of the breathing zone:
  • Does not release them into the air, even with the activity of children (Dander, dust mite, or cock roach allergen are not released into the air above carpet)
  • Easily cleaned from carpet by vacuuming and periodic extraction cleaning
  • Lower fungi/biological levels in the air above carpet
• Is not a "source" for any biological growth.
• Carpet has lower chemical emissions than most indoor furnishings and may be the lowest of all floor covering choices. The slight odor from new carpet is harmless and dissipates quickly.
• Scientists have told us that there is no link between carpet emissions and any health effects.
• Fewer maintenance chemicals are needed for cleaning, impacting the air quality much less.
• The bonding agent used to hold the fibers and backings of carpet together is synthetic latex. It is SB latex or styrene butadiene latex, made from compounds different from those found in natural latex. Latex allergies are the results of protein enzymes in natural latex. SB latex used in carpet does not cause the allergic, dermatological reaction associated with natural latex.
• The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Indoor Air Quality Testing Program green label assures the purchaser that this product has been tested and meets stringent indoor air quality requirements for very low emissions. There are testing programs for carpet, carpet cushion, and floor covering installation adhesives. Purchase products that display the label and be assured that the products are environmentally friendly.

The carpet industry’s research is unequalled in any other furnishings industry. Risk analysis was done and all facts

• have been verified by scientists from academia, government, independent, and industry;
• have been peer reviewed;
• have been communicated to the public through the IAQ label;
• follow government agency guidelines; and
• have been upheld by the courts.

Specify the appropriate carpet for a school, ensure that it is installed correctly, and plan and implement a scheduled maintenance program.

• Choose a carpet that meets or exceeds the minimum CRI specification.
• Require a carpet, cushion, and/or adhesive that displays the CRI Indoor Air Quality Testing Program label.
• Require a qualified installer who adhered to CRI 104, Standard for Commercial Carpet Installation and the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Specify a planned, scheduled, maintenance program – one that is suggested (or required by the warranty) by the manufacturer.

Best steps toward improving and maintaining good indoor air quality in schools:

• Cleaning air ducts and checking for adequacy of the air flow and filtration of the heat and air system to provide plenty of circulation and to minimize dust and dirt
• Checking for and removing soil, mold and mildew on ceilings, walls, and all other surfaces
• Regular use of a well-functioning vacuum cleaner with strong suction and a high filtration bag on all floor surfaces.