Carpets in 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.
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