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INSTALLATION OF TEXTILE FLOOR COVERINGS

This technical specification refers to the installation of textile floor covers on the floor levelling layer above cementitious screed, without underlay. The installation of the skirting is not the subject of this technical specification.


1. Relevant standards

EN 14041 (2018) Resilient, textile, laminate and modular multilayer floor coverings - Essential characteristics

EN 1307 (2014) + A2 /2018) Textile floor coverings - Classification

EN ISO 10874 (2012) + A1 (2020) Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Classification - Amendment 1: Elimination of class 22+

CEN/TS 14472-2 (2003) Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Design, preparation and installation - Part 1: General

CEN/TS 14472-2 (2003) Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Design, preparation and installation - Part 2: Textile floor coverings 

EN 14215 (2018) Textile floor coverings - Classification of machine-made rugs and runners

and other standards mentioned in these standards.


2. Material

The contractor is obliged to submit carpets samples and manufacturer's certificates for all materials to the supervisor for approval, through the submittal process, before procuring the material. Data on the content of volatile organic compounds (VOC) should be provided. The minimum dimension of the sample should be 50 x 50cm.

According to the EN 1307 standard, the carpet should be classified as:

Type of manufacture: tufted
Surface structure: cut pile
Composition: polyamide 100% (nylon)
Backing: there are no special requirements
Total carpet weight: ≥ 1.800g/m2
Total carpet thickness: ≥ 8,5mm
Colour fastness to light (EN ISO 105): ≥5

Level of use classification: at least Class 32
Luxury class: at least Class LC3

Fire resistance (EN 13501-1) should comply with the requirement of the fire protection design.

The manufacturer's warranty should be at least 5 years.

Levelling mass, adhesive and carpet should be compatible with each other. The adhesive must be approved by the carpet manufacturer, meet the requirements for wheelchair-loaded surfaces according to EN 12529 and be non-flammable.


3. Workmanship

Before starting the works, the contractor is obliged to check whether all the works that precede the laying of the carpet have been completed (installation works, installation of suspended ceilings, painting works, carpentry works etc). If the room is ready for the preparation works and installation of carpet, the contractor should, in writing, request the supervisor to approve the commencement of works.

If a seaming diagram is not provided in the design, the contractor should propose a solution and submit it to the supervisor for approval.

The cementitious screed should be dry, without cracks and cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. It should be checked that the moisture content of the screed is in accordance with the requirements of the material manufacturers. A primer to be applied to the old cementitious screeds, followed by a levelling layer. The thickness of the levelling layer should be not less than 2mm and the maximum thickness to be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The floor surface needs to be flat after the installation of the levelling layer.

The air temperature in the room during the works should be from +15ºC to +25ºC, humidity between 50% and 70% and the floor substrate temperature not less than +15ºC, unless otherwise specified in the manufacturer's instructions.

Before installing the carpet, the roll should be unrolled and left the carpet lying on the floor for at least 24 hours.

The carpet to be cut through the rows of cut piles. Finding the row to cut through may require the use of a thinner row-finder tool. Avoid leaving too much selvedge when cutting between the pile. The edge should be cleanly cut with enough backing overhang to support the yarn bond at the base. Each cut edges to be sealed.

A bead of adhesive to be applied to substrate just before the seams are carefully placed together. Carpet should be rolled with a heavy roller in both directions after placement into the adhesive. The time frame before rolling should be within the recommended open (tack off) time to ensure the adhesive is well bedded into the carpet backing. Over rolling should be avoided.
At the completion of the installation all edges should be checked and tuck back down as necessary.

Transition bars to be securely fixed and follow a straight line; work to a laser or string/chalk line.

After finishing the work, the carpet should be vacuumed and then protected with corrugated cardboard or carpet protection film. It should not be allowed to enter the room for at least 24 hours after the installation is completed.


4. Supervision and measurement of works

Before approving the materials, levelling mass - glue - carpet, the level of allowed moisture in the cementitious screed should be checked and whether these conditions can be achieved on the construction site or additional measures are needed (installation of vapour barrier).

The volatile organic compounds (VOC) content should be analysed before approving the proposed material.

After the material is delivered to the site, the supervisor should check whether the material is delivered undamaged and whether it is in accordance with the approved sample.

Supervisor is obliged, before the beginning of the works, to check the condition of the rooms and approve the commencement of works. During the execution of the works, supervisor is obliged, on daily basis, to visually check the appearance of performed works.

Installation of textile floor is calculated per m2, pilasters up to 0.45 m2 and columns up to 0.75 m2 are not deducted from the calculated area.

July 2021
Please note that the technical specifications on this web site are templates only, information provided should be carefully checked and aligned with your project needs.
 
According to the method of construction and/or texture, carpets can be pile carpets, needled carpets, flocked carpets, level loop, multi-level loop, cut pile, berber carpets, velvet, tip sheared, saxony etc.
Polyamide is the most expensive synthetic material and is mostly used in the production of carpets. Polyamide carpets have good mechanical characteristics, wear resistance, good electrostatic properties, behave well in fire, colours are durable, carpets are easy to maintain. Polypropylene has less wear resistance and behaves worse in fire. The disadvantages of wool carpets are the high price, more difficult maintenance and poor electrostatic characteristics, so better characteristics are achieved with a mixed composition, e.g. 80% wool + 20% polyamide.
Level of use classification: classes 21, 22 and 23 means that the carpet has been tested for domestic usage and class 31 (light or occasional use), 32 (medium traffic) and 33 (intensive traffic) for usage in commercial buildings.
Luxury class can be LC1 (lowest class) to LC5 (highest class).
There are also characteristics of textile coverings that can be specified in the technical specification, such as number of knots per m2, electrical behaviour, sound reduction, thermal conductivity, slipperiness, water and moisture resistance etc.