Volume: 60 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The Hospitality Design show in Las Vegas this year showcased a multitude of new designs in textile floorcovering materials. Never before has there been such a departure from the "normal" offerings of what many would consider high styled carpet and flooring. This move in design can be considered more art than design. These styles cover all means of manufacture of textile and hard surface flooring materials.

 Volume: 59 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

This is an issue that requires some clarification, explanation and information. The tufted weight of any carpet is the weight of the material at the tufting machine or prior to any shearing being done on the pile surface, if a cut pile product. There are tolerances for face weight and other characteristics of commercial carpet which have to be met that allow a variance of 5% + or – according to GSA guidelines. All carpet has a published tufted weight though this issue is particularly critical in the commercial segment of the market. To explain further, the tufted weight is the weight of the carpet as it is set up to be produced on the tufting or weaving machine. In other words, if a carpet is supposed to be 30 ounces a calculation is made by the manufacturer as to how much yarn has to be used to achieve this weight.

 Volume: 58 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

What causes planar instability? Planar instability, that which prevents a modular flooring material, hard or soft surface from lying flat, is caused by internal forces generated by materials or layers in the flooring material, that exert forces or stress across or within the material, which create lifting or curling edges. This can occur on all four sides or two sides and is often in the "machine" direction or length, of the material. If, for example, a product is quarter turned the lifted edges will alternate — North South to East West and vice versa with every other tile. Planar stability is influenced by the forces within the flooring material and by changes in heat or humidity. There are tests to detect or prove the condition exists such as the cycled humidity test for carpet tile.