Contract Textile International

Dinarsu Contract Carpet Choice Criteria

Volume 2 / May-August 2010

 Wall to wall carpets are chosen for project applications due to their flexibility and the richness of choices in pattern, color and structure. Carpets that were prepared for the needs of touristic facilities, hotels, offices, restaurants, stores, banks, hospitals, and commercial and social spaces are called as “contract carpet”. They have to be aesthetic, easy to care and purpose oriented. Better quality of a contract carpet is hard to wear out under normal conditions.

When deciding on floor coverings aesthetics considerations and performance of the product should be taken care objectively. It should be the best choice depending on its usages. Most of the time, carpet is the right choice for project (contract) applications. It has a perfect combination of advantages against other floor covering materials. Contract carpets are the product of high technology. Important leaps in the fiber technologies and carpet manufacturing techniques made it possible to produce the best suitable tool for the aim oriented usage.

The density of traffic signals the best choice of performance carpets. The carpet needs of a hotel can be classified under the rooms, corridors and general spaces. The qualities that should be chosen for these areas are as follows: rooms 800-1000 gr/sqm, corridors 1000-1200 gr/sqm, general spaces 1200-1400 gr/sqm.

The decision should be made by balancing the need for suitability for the purpose, the care factors and the decorative and aesthetical considerations.

Measured as the density of steps the level of traffic varies depending on the sections of the building thus the specifications of the carpet should be decided accordingly. Carpets in bedrooms should be luxurious, however it should not be forgotten that these will be used sparingly than other common areas of the building. Continuous and linear movements are dominant in corridors. Bags, service carts, etc. are rolled on them thus they have to be more durable than those in the bedrooms. Dirt and stains are major hazards in bars and restaurants thus they should be easier to care. When needed different kinds of carpets may be laid down at the same room. All these choices should be sharpened by taking account of the status of the facility, needs and the budget of the projects. Every carpet sold in the market may not be suitable for the density of traffic in a hotel.

Technical Criteria

Non-flammability: The term flame proof is not a right word. Like all textile products the fibers of carpets may be inflamed. Retarding the inflammation is more important. When a flame was fall down a contract carpet should not be inflamed. The tendency of inflammation and its rate of diffusion should be eliminated and this is called as non-flammability. A carpet has to be non-flammable if it is to be regarded as contract carpet.

Static Electricity: The threshold to feel static electricity charge for humans is 2 kV. It is used with a minus sign. The electrostatic specs of contract carpets should be less than this.

Color Fastness: Fastness measurements of contract carpets are subject to the tests of TS, EN and ISO. A better contract carpet should be passed the tests of color fastness to light, color fastness to wet, color fastness to rubbing.

PLANNING PROCESS

Basically, the choice of contract carpets lies in the relations between quality and cost. The tendency is to have the best product at the lowest price. But, one should be careful against the cheaper alternatives. A quality contract carpet has special characteristics and advantages over others. These add at your prestige of your facility. Buying cheaper one may cost you more than you think of.

Keeping their first day appearance for a long time, durability and cleaning performance of contract carpets are the major advantages for your facility.

Advantages

Carpet has a beautiful and warm outlook. It offers more alternative for color, pattern and structure that complete the ambiance of decoration and offers a sensuous approach. It is soft, secure, warm and comfortable. It reduces the noise and heat loss by insulation.

Importance of Design

Carpet design means to combine quality, pattern and colors. Depending on the fibers and the structure of the carpet its original outlook is maintained accordingly. The purpose and use of the carpet is the most important factor in design. Wall to wall carpets are considered in two categories.

Carpets for homes: The sense of comfort and aesthetical considerations are in the forefront. Colors, patterns, structures are suitable for the decoration and traffic flow. There are almost unlimited choices in this category.

Carpets for heavy traffic: Durability is important. Performance and care needs are adjusted for the needs of high traffic. They have to be more resistant to stains, to inflammation and static electricity.

Heavy traffic contract carpets are the best choice for hotels, holiday villages, offices and shopping centers. There are more heavy duty contract carpets produced especially for airports and banks.

Pattern, Color and Structure

Where they are used as a major decoration item for larger spaces the colors, patterns and structures of contract carpets become more important. A carpet of light colors makes spaces more spacious and open. Dark and powerful colors produce a warm atmosphere. Color is important for care, it conceals the stains. Rich patterns and medium colors also helpful to conceal the dirt.

Establishing dirt barriers especially in high risk areas such as entrance, etc. is helpful to keep the carpet clean. However, achieving to a perfect level of dirt-free for carpets is impossible as in the other textile products.