Carpet Tile Testing

Specifying floor covering for a commercial application requires at least a passing understanding of how it will perform in the workplace. Unfortunately, markings like "contract quality" or "heavy domestic" are open to interpretation, making it difficult for the specifier to make an informed decision. Simon Lawrence of UK carpet tile specialist, Bürofloor, offers some insight into the standard tests that can be applied to carpet that has to perform - and last - in the punishing commercial environment. Commercial premises place heavy performance requirements on any sort of floor covering. When coffee gets spilt at home there's an immediate flurry of mopping and spraying with stain remover. In the workplace it's more likely to be ignored and then walked on by unwiped outdoor shoes. Your sofa at home gets moved when you need to remove dust or dinky toys from underneath it. The castor chairs in your office travel miles, boring holes in the carpet tiles as they do so. This means that we need a benchmark by which we can judge the suitability of carpet or carpet tiles for commercial contract use. Fortunately there are standardised tests to provide Euronorm (EN) and International Standards Organisation (ISO) certification. Genuine heavy contract products should carry the standards described here.