−---
−title: Carpet
−category: Architectural / Finishes
−toc_depth: 3
−description: >
− When to use: Tufted and woven carpet for commercial, institutional, healthcare, educational, hospitality, and multi-family interior applications — modular carpet tile and broadloom. Covers product format and construction, face fiber and dye method, face weight and pile, primary and secondary backing, flammability and smoke performance, static control, indoor-air-quality (IAQ) certification, accessories (adhesives, tackifier, separate cushion, transition strips), concrete and wood subfloor preparation, moisture and alkalinity acceptance and testing, direct glue-down, double-glue, free-lay, and stretch-in installation methods, seaming, transitions and accessibility, field quality, initial maintenance, and warranty.
− Not intended for: Resilient flooring such as vinyl, rubber, and linoleum (see [[sync/resilient-flooring]]); ceramic and porcelain tile (see [[sync/ceramic-tile]]); terrazzo (see [[sync/terrazzo]]); fluid-applied resinous floors (see [[sync/resinous-flooring]]); entrance and walk-off matting systems specified as standalone assemblies (see [[sync/entrance-flooring]]); wood and engineered-wood flooring; static-dissipative or conductive flooring requiring a grounded ESD system beyond the static-control provisions herein; broadloom area rugs and loose rugs under 24 square feet; concrete slab design and placement (see [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]]).
−---
−
−# Scope
−
−This standard governs the materials and installation of tufted and woven carpet — both modular carpet tile and broadloom — over concrete and approved wood subfloors in commercial and institutional construction. Carpet is specified across offices, classrooms, libraries, healthcare administrative areas, hospitality guest rooms and corridors, conference and assembly spaces, and multi-family interiors because it provides acoustic absorption, underfoot comfort, slip resistance, and a wide range of color and pattern at a competitive installed cost. The performance and service life of a carpet installation, however, are determined as much by the subfloor condition, the attachment method, and the seam discipline as by the carpet itself: the majority of premature carpet failures in the field are moisture-related debonding, edge ravel and seam failure, or delamination, and they originate in inadequate subfloor preparation or installation error rather than in a defect of the carpet.
−
−A carpet installation is a system consisting of the subfloor, any moisture-mitigation membrane, the attachment method (adhesive, tackifier, separate cushion and tackless strip, or free-lay), the carpet, the seam treatment, and the perimeter and transition accessories. Each element shall be coordinated with the others — an adhesive correct for a glue-down broadloom is wrong for a free-lay carpet tile, a moisture condition acceptable for a permeable installation may debond a moisture-sensitive adhesive, and a face construction that performs well in a private office will mat and crush prematurely in a high-traffic corridor. The Contractor shall treat the carpet as a system, shall verify that the carpet, attachment method, and any mitigation selected are mutually compatible and approved by the carpet manufacturer for the measured subfloor condition, and shall not begin installation until the subfloor has passed the moisture, alkalinity, and surface-preparation acceptance criteria of this standard.
−
−Coordinate the concrete slab, its vapor retarder, and its surface finish with [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]]; the single most important moisture-control measure for slab-on-grade carpet is a properly installed under-slab vapor retarder placed long before this work begins. Coordinate transitions to adjacent finishes — resilient flooring, ceramic tile, and terrazzo — with [[sync/resilient-flooring]], [[sync/ceramic-tile]], and [[sync/terrazzo]] respectively, so that transition strips, thresholds, and finish-floor elevations reconcile and accessible-route level changes are within limits.
−
−# Referenced Standards
−
−All materials, testing, and installation shall comply with the latest edition adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction for each of the following standards. Where the contract documents, a referenced standard, or the carpet manufacturer's written instructions impose a more stringent requirement than the minimum of any other standard, the more stringent requirement governs unless the Architect of Record directs otherwise in writing. The carpet manufacturer's written installation instructions are not merely advisory — they define the conditions under which the product warranty is valid, and the Contractor shall follow them in addition to this standard.
−
−| Standard | Title |
−|----------|-------|
−| ASTM D5684 | Standard Terminology Relating to Pile Floor Coverings |
−| ASTM D5848 | Standard Test Method for Mass per Unit Area of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
−| ASTM D5848 §pile | Standard Test Method for Measuring Pile Yarn Floor Covering Mass |
−| ASTM D6859 | Standard Test Method for Pile Thickness of Finished Level Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
−| ASTM D1335 | Standard Test Method for Tuft Bind of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
−| ASTM D3936 | Standard Test Method for Delamination Strength of Secondary Backing of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
−| ASTM D5252 | Standard Practice for the Operation of the Hexapod Drum Tester |
−| ASTM D5417 | Standard Practice for Operation of the Vetterman Drum Tester |
−| AATCC 134 | Electrostatic Propensity of Carpets |
−| AATCC 16 | Colorfastness to Light |
−| AATCC 165 | Colorfastness to Crocking — Textile Floor Coverings (Crockmeter Method) |
−| ASTM E648 | Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source |
−| NFPA 253 | Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source |
−| ASTM D2859 | Standard Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials (Pill Test) |
−| 16 CFR 1630 (DOC FF 1-70) | Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs |
−| ASTM E662 | Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials |
−| NFPA 258 | Standard Research Test Method for Determining Smoke Generation of Solid Materials |
−| ASTM F710 | Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring |
−| ASTM F1869 | Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride |
−| ASTM F2170 | Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes |
−| CRI 104 | Standard for Installation of Commercial Carpet |
−| CRI 105 | Standard for Installation of Residential Carpet |
−| CRI Green Label Plus | Carpet and Rug Institute Indoor Air Quality Testing Program |
−| CDPH/EHLB Standard Method v1.2 (Section 01350) | Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources |
−| IBC | International Building Code (current edition adopted by jurisdiction) |
−
−Every textile floor covering manufactured or imported into the United States shall comply with the surface-flammability pill test of 16 CFR 1630 (DOC FF 1-70), which is technically equivalent to ASTM D2859; this is a baseline federal requirement, not a discretionary selection. ASTM E648 (critical radiant flux), technically equivalent to NFPA 253, is the additional flammability test that the International Building Code references for floor-covering systems in corridors and exits, and the Class I or Class II designation derived from E648 is a code requirement where applicable. ASTM F710 is the foundational document for concrete subfloor acceptance, and the moisture and alkalinity test methods it invokes (F1869, F2170, and the surface pH procedure) are referenced by CRI 104 and by carpet manufacturers as a precondition of most warranties. CRI 104 is the consensus installation standard for commercial carpet and governs layout, conditioning, subfloor acceptance, seaming, and attachment.
−
−# Submittals
−
−## Action Submittals
−
−The Contractor shall submit the following for the Architect's review prior to procurement and installation. Installation shall not begin until the moisture and alkalinity test reports have been submitted and reviewed, because the measured subfloor condition determines both product and adhesive compatibility and the mitigation requirement.
−
−- Product data for each carpet product, identifying the format (tile or broadloom), construction (tufted or woven), face fiber and dye method, face weight, pile height, gauge, stitches per inch, primary and secondary backing, tuft bind, delamination strength, and the manufacturer's written installation instructions
−- Product data for each adhesive, releasable adhesive or tackifier, separate cushion, moisture-mitigation membrane, patching and leveling compound, tackless strip, and transition or edge accessory, including the adhesive bond and compatibility statement for the specific carpet and subfloor condition
−- Samples of each carpet product in the full range of colors and patterns specified, of sufficient size to show the pattern repeat, and samples of each transition strip, edge guard, and base or wall-trim profile and color
−- Moisture and alkalinity test reports for the actual subfloor, conducted in accordance with ASTM F2170 (relative humidity), ASTM F1869 (moisture vapor emission rate, where used), and the ASTM F710 surface pH procedure, identifying test locations and ambient conditions at the time of testing
−- Flammability documentation: the 16 CFR 1630 / ASTM D2859 pass result for the carpet, the ASTM E648 critical radiant flux value and class where corridor or exit installation applies, and the ASTM E662 smoke density value where required
−- Indoor-air-quality certification documentation (CRI Green Label Plus, or FloorScore / CDPH Section 01350 equivalent) for the carpet, cushion, and adhesive where low-emitting materials are specified
−- A seaming diagram for broadloom showing seam locations, seam direction, and pile direction relative to the layout, and a layout diagram for carpet tile showing tile orientation and the starting reference lines
−- Maintenance instructions describing initial cleaning, the recommended periodic maintenance program, and approved cleaning agents for each product
−
−```datasheet
−label: Action Submittals Required
−type: checkbox
−options:
− - "Product data — each carpet product"
− - "Product data — adhesives, tackifier, cushion, accessories"
− - "Samples — carpet (full color/pattern range)"
− - "Samples — transition strips, edge guards, base/trim"
− - "Subfloor moisture and alkalinity test reports (F2170 / F1869 / F710 pH)"
− - "Flammability documentation (16 CFR 1630 / ASTM E648 / ASTM E662)"
− - "Indoor air quality certification (CRI Green Label Plus / FloorScore)"
− - "Seaming diagram (broadloom) / layout diagram (tile)"
− - "Maintenance instructions"
−default: "Subfloor moisture and alkalinity test reports (F2170 / F1869 / F710 pH)"
−```
−
−## Closeout Submittals
−
−- Manufacturer warranty documentation for each carpet product, executed in the Owner's name
−- Record of the final subfloor moisture, relative humidity, and pH test results, the mitigation method installed (if any), and the adhesive or tackifier used, retained for warranty purposes
−- Attic-stock transmittal documenting the quantity, product, color, and dye lot of spare material delivered to the Owner
−
−# Quality Assurance
−
−## Installer Qualifications
−
−Carpet shall be installed by an installer with documented experience in commercial installations of the specific format and attachment method required, working in accordance with CRI 104. Broadloom seaming and pattern matching are the most skill-dependent operations in carpet installation; a poorly cut and sealed seam ravels, peaks, or telegraphs, and a misaligned pattern at a seam or a door opening is conspicuous and difficult to correct after the adhesive has cured. The Contractor shall not assign seaming and pattern-critical work to untrained labor. Where the work includes power-stretched stretch-in installation over separate cushion, the installer shall be experienced in the use of a power stretcher; carpet that is kicked in rather than power-stretched will buckle and wrinkle in service.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Installer Qualification
−type: radio
−options:
− - "CRI 104 — experienced commercial carpet installer"
− - "CRI 104 — installer with power-stretch (stretch-in) experience required"
− - "Manufacturer-certified installer (where required to validate warranty)"
−default: "CRI 104 — experienced commercial carpet installer"
−```
−
−## Mock-Up
−
−```datasheet
−label: Mock-Up Required
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Yes — install a representative area of each carpet type, including a seam and a transition"
− - "No"
−default: "No"
−```
−
−Where a mock-up is required, the Contractor shall install a representative area of each carpet type at a location directed by the Architect, including at least one seam where broadloom is specified, the tile orientation pattern where carpet tile is specified, and one transition to an adjacent finish. The mock-up establishes the acceptable standard for pattern alignment, seam appearance, pile direction, and transition detailing, and shall remain available for comparison throughout the work.
−
−## Pre-Installation Conference
−
−Before installation begins, the Contractor shall hold a pre-installation conference with the Architect and the carpet installer to review the moisture and alkalinity test results, the mitigation requirement, the adhesive or attachment selection, the layout, seam, and pile-direction plan, the acclimatization status of the material, and the environmental conditions in the space. Most carpet disputes trace back to a condition that was known but not acted upon before installation — a marginal moisture reading, a slab that was not flat or clean enough, a seam planned in a high-traffic path, or material that had not acclimatized. The conference exists to surface and resolve those conditions before the carpet goes down.
−
−# Environmental and Service Conditions
−
−## Acclimatization
−
−Carpet, adhesives, and the spaces to receive them shall be conditioned to the service environment before, during, and after installation in accordance with CRI 104. Carpet material shall be delivered to the installation area and acclimatized for not less than 48 hours before installation. Carpet, and especially carpet tile and certain backings, expands and contracts with temperature and humidity; material installed before it has reached a stable dimension will gap, peak at seams, or develop dimensional bow. Acclimatization shall continue throughout installation and for not less than 48 hours after completion.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Acclimatization Period Before Installation
−type: range
−unit: hours
−options:
− min: 48
− max: 72
− step: 24
−default: 48
−```
−
−## Temperature and Humidity During Installation
−
−The installation area shall be maintained at a minimum of 65 °F (18 °C) and a maximum of 95 °F (35 °C), with relative humidity between 10 and 65 percent, for at least 48 hours before, during, and for at least 48 hours after installation, in accordance with CRI 104. The permanent HVAC system shall be operational and controlling the space to its normal occupied range; temporary heat that does not control humidity shall not be substituted for permanent conditioning, because adhesive cure, dimensional stability, and the subfloor moisture condition all depend on the space being at service conditions. Installing carpet in a space later conditioned to a markedly different temperature or humidity than it was installed in is a common cause of subsequent seam peaking, tile gapping, and edge curl.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Minimum Ambient Temperature During Installation
−type: range
−unit: °F
−options:
− min: 65
− max: 70
− step: 5
−default: 65
−```
−
−## Subfloor Relative Humidity Limit
−
−The acceptable subfloor moisture condition is the governing service condition for glue-down and tackifier carpet, and it shall be established by test before installation and confirmed against both the carpet and adhesive manufacturer's limit and the limits of this standard. The relative humidity within a concrete slab measured by in-situ probe per ASTM F2170 shall not exceed the limit stated below; many carpet adhesives are warranted to a maximum internal relative humidity of 75 to 85 percent, but some products and adhesives carry higher or lower limits, and the lower of the manufacturer's limit and the project limit governs. Internal relative humidity per F2170 is the more reliable predictor of long-term moisture behavior than a surface emission measurement, because it reflects the moisture distributed through the slab thickness rather than only the surface condition at the moment of test.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Maximum Slab Internal Relative Humidity (ASTM F2170)
−type: range
−unit: % RH
−options:
− min: 75
− max: 90
− step: 5
−default: 80
−```
−
−## Subfloor Moisture Vapor Emission Limit
−
−Where moisture vapor emission rate is used as a screening or supplementary measure per ASTM F1869, the rate shall not exceed the limit stated below. A moisture vapor emission rate of 3 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours is the traditional acceptance range for many carpet adhesives, but the calcium chloride method measures only the surface condition and shall not be used as the sole acceptance criterion for slabs on grade or below grade — F2170 internal relative humidity is required for those conditions because surface emission can read deceptively low while the slab interior remains wet.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Maximum Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (ASTM F1869)
−type: range
−unit: lb/1000 sq ft/24 hr
−options:
− min: 3
− max: 5
− step: 1
−default: 5
−```
−
−## Subfloor Alkalinity (pH)
−
−The surface pH of the concrete subfloor shall be measured per the ASTM F710 procedure and shall fall within the range accepted by the adhesive manufacturer, typically between 7 and 9. High slab alkalinity — common in newer concrete and in slabs where moisture has carried alkaline salts to the surface — chemically attacks many carpet adhesives and is a frequent cause of debonding that is mistaken for a moisture failure. Where the measured pH exceeds the adhesive manufacturer's limit, the surface shall be treated, an alkalinity-tolerant adhesive selected, or a mitigation membrane installed, as appropriate to the condition.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Acceptable Subfloor Surface pH Range (ASTM F710)
−type: range
−unit: pH
−options:
− min: 7
− max: 9
− step: 0.5
−setpoints: [7, 9]
−default: 9
−```
−
−## Lighting for Inspection
−
−Permanent or equivalent temporary lighting shall be operating during installation and inspection so that pile direction, pattern alignment, seam quality, soiling, and telegraphing of subfloor irregularities can be evaluated under realistic conditions. Carpet is frequently inspected and accepted under construction lighting that conceals defects which become obvious once the permanent lighting is energized; the carpet shall be inspected under the lighting in which it will be viewed in service.
−
−# Carpet Products
−
−## Format
−
−The carpet format determines the appropriate installation method, the seam strategy, the replacement strategy, and the dimensional behavior of the floor, and shall be indicated in the [[drawing: finish schedule]].
−
−```datasheet
−label: Carpet Format
−type: radio
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Modular carpet tile"
− - "Broadloom (roll goods)"
−default: "Modular carpet tile"
−```
−
−Modular carpet tile is the dominant commercial format for offices, education, healthcare administration, and institutional spaces because it installs without seams to match across a roll width, allows selective replacement of soiled or worn tiles without disturbing the field, accommodates access flooring and frequent reconfiguration, and tolerates minor residual moisture better than glue-down broadloom when installed with a releasable adhesive. Broadloom is specified where a continuous, monolithic field is desired — hospitality corridors and ballrooms, conference centers, and high-end office and assembly spaces — and where wall-to-wall pattern continuity or a custom pattern repeat is required; it is installed glue-down, double-glue over separate cushion, or stretch-in over separate cushion.
−
−## Construction
−
−```datasheet
−label: Carpet Construction
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Tufted"
− - "Woven"
−default: "Tufted"
−```
−
−Tufted construction, in which face yarn is needle-punched through a primary backing and locked with a coating and secondary backing, accounts for the overwhelming majority of commercial carpet because it is economical, fast to produce, and available in a wide range of constructions and patterns. Woven construction (such as Axminster and Wilton), in which face and backing yarns are interlaced on a loom in a single operation, is specified in hospitality and high-end assembly spaces where intricate patterns, dimensional stability, and a dense, durable face are desired; woven carpet generally carries a higher cost and longer lead time.
−
−## Pile Configuration
−
−```datasheet
−label: Pile Configuration
−type: select
−options:
− - "Level loop"
− - "Multi-level loop / patterned loop"
− - "Cut pile"
− - "Cut-and-loop (tip-shear / pattern)"
−default: "Level loop"
−```
−
−Pile configuration drives appearance, durability, and soil-hiding behavior. Level loop is the workhorse commercial construction: the looped, uncut yarn resists crushing, hides soil and traffic patterns well, and rolls casters and carts easily, which is why it dominates corridors, classrooms, and open offices. Multi-level and patterned loop adds visual texture and further disguises soil. Cut pile presents a softer, more formal appearance favored in executive offices, hospitality guest rooms, and assembly spaces, but it shows footprints and vacuum marks and crushes more readily under traffic. Cut-and-loop combines both for pattern definition. Loop and low, dense cut-pile constructions are appropriate for rolling loads; high, soft cut pile is not.
−
−## Face Fiber
−
−```datasheet
−label: Face Fiber
−type: select
−options:
− - "Nylon (type 6)"
− - "Nylon (type 6,6)"
− - "Polyester (PET)"
− - "Polypropylene (olefin)"
− - "Wool"
−default: "Nylon (type 6,6)"
−```
−
−The face fiber is the single largest determinant of long-term appearance retention and service life. Nylon — type 6 or type 6,6 — is the standard commercial face fiber because it is the most resilient and durable of the common synthetics, recovering from crushing and resisting abrasion better than the alternatives, which is why it is specified for moderate- to heavy-traffic commercial and institutional work. Type 6,6 nylon has a slightly higher melting point and is marketed for premium durability, while type 6 nylon is more readily solution-dyed and recycled; both are appropriate commercial fibers and the choice is often driven by the desired dye method and sustainability program rather than by a meaningful difference in wear. Polyester (PET), increasingly produced from recycled content, offers excellent color clarity and stain resistance at a lower cost and is appropriate for light- to moderate-traffic and value-driven projects, but it is less resilient than nylon and crushes sooner under heavy traffic. Polypropylene (olefin) is inherently stain- and moisture-resistant and inexpensive, suited to specific applications and many tile backings, but it has poor resilience and is not recommended for cut pile in traffic. Wool is a premium natural fiber valued for resilience, appearance, and inherent flame resistance, specified in high-end hospitality and assembly spaces at a premium cost.
−
−## Dye Method
−
−```datasheet
−label: Dye Method
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Solution-dyed (color added to fiber before extrusion)"
− - "Yarn-dyed / piece-dyed (color applied to yarn or finished goods)"
−default: "Solution-dyed (color added to fiber before extrusion)"
−```
−
−Solution-dyed fiber, in which pigment is added to the polymer before the fiber is extruded so that color runs through the fiber rather than being applied to its surface, resists fading from light and bleaching from aggressive cleaning and is strongly preferred for healthcare, education, and any space cleaned with bleach or peroxide or exposed to significant daylight. Yarn-dyed and piece-dyed carpet offers a broader and more nuanced color and pattern palette and is appropriate where color range and aesthetics outweigh maximum colorfastness, but it is more susceptible to fading and to color loss from harsh cleaners.
−
−## Face Weight
−
−```datasheet
−label: Face Weight
−type: range
−unit: oz/sq yd
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− min: 12
− max: 40
− setpoints: [12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40]
−default: 20
−```
−
−Face weight is the mass of face yarn per square yard, measured per ASTM D5848, and is one indicator — though not the sole indicator — of a carpet's density and durability for a given construction. For commercial work, face weights of roughly 18 to 28 ounces per square yard cover most moderate- to heavy-traffic applications; lighter weights suit private offices and light traffic, while heavier weights suit corridors, lobbies, and heavy public traffic. Face weight shall be evaluated together with pile height and density rather than alone — a high face weight in a tall, sparse pile is less durable than a lower face weight in a short, dense pile, because density and the resistance of the pile to crushing govern appearance retention more directly than mass per unit area.
−
−## Pile Height
−
−```datasheet
−label: Pile Height
−type: range
−unit: in
−options:
− min: 0.10
− max: 0.50
− setpoints: [0.10, 0.125, 0.156, 0.187, 0.25, 0.375, 0.50]
−default: 0.156
−```
−
−Pile height, measured per ASTM D6859, together with face weight determines pile density. Lower, denser pile resists crushing and matting and rolls loads more easily, which is why commercial loop carpet is typically specified in the lower part of this range; taller pile presents a more luxurious appearance but crushes and mats sooner under traffic. The pile height shall be coordinated with the configuration and the traffic — a tall cut pile in a corridor will mat within months, while a short, dense loop in the same location will hold its appearance for years.
−
−## Tuft Bind
−
−```datasheet
−label: Minimum Tuft Bind (ASTM D1335)
−type: range
−unit: lbf
−options:
− min: 6.0
− max: 12.0
− step: 0.5
−setpoints: [6.0, 8.0, 10.0]
−default: 8.0
−```
−
−Tuft bind, measured per ASTM D1335, is the force required to pull a tuft of face yarn from the backing, and it governs the carpet's resistance to zippering, ravel, and pull-out from snags, vacuum beater bars, and rolling loads. A minimum tuft bind of not less than 8.0 pounds-force is a common requirement for commercial loop-pile carpet, because edge ravel and zippering at cut edges and seams are among the most common in-service complaints; cut-pile constructions are evaluated by a different criterion appropriate to cut yarn. Loop pile with inadequate tuft bind unravels progressively from a single snagged loop, which is why tuft bind is specified rather than left to the manufacturer's discretion.
−
−## Delamination Strength
−
−```datasheet
−label: Minimum Secondary Backing Delamination Strength (ASTM D3936)
−type: range
−unit: lbf/in
−options:
− min: 2.5
− max: 5.0
− step: 0.5
−setpoints: [2.5, 3.0]
−default: 2.5
−```
−
−Delamination strength, measured per ASTM D3936, is the force required to separate the secondary backing from the primary backing assembly, and a minimum of not less than 2.5 pounds-force per inch is a common commercial requirement. Inadequate delamination strength allows the secondary backing to separate under traffic, rolling loads, and wet cleaning, producing bubbles, edge curl, and eventual failure of the carpet as an integral assembly.
−
−## Primary and Secondary Backing
−
−```datasheet
−label: Secondary Backing System
−type: select
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Modular tile backing — dimensionally stable composite (PVC, polyolefin, or cushion-back)"
− - "Broadloom — woven or non-woven synthetic secondary backing (glue-down)"
− - "Broadloom — unitary / closed-cell back"
− - "Broadloom — secondary backing suited to stretch-in over separate cushion"
−default: "Modular tile backing — dimensionally stable composite (PVC, polyolefin, or cushion-back)"
−```
−
−The backing system shall be appropriate to the format and the planned installation method. Carpet tile uses a heavy, dimensionally stable composite backing — PVC, polyolefin, bitumen, or an integral cushion back — engineered to lie flat without curling, hold dimension, and accept a releasable adhesive; this dimensional stability is what allows tiles to be lifted and replaced. Glue-down broadloom uses a woven or non-woven synthetic secondary backing bonded to the primary backing. Broadloom intended for stretch-in installation requires a backing and edge strength compatible with power-stretching and tackless-strip attachment. The backing system, the attachment method, and the cushion (if any) are interdependent and shall be selected together.
−
−## Critical Radiant Flux — Flammability
−
−```datasheet
−label: Critical Radiant Flux Class (ASTM E648 / NFPA 253)
−type: radio
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Class I — critical radiant flux not less than 0.45 W/cm² (exits, corridors in institutional occupancies)"
− - "Class II — critical radiant flux not less than 0.22 W/cm² (corridors in other occupancies)"
− - "Pill test only (16 CFR 1630 / ASTM D2859) — open rooms not regulated for radiant flux"
−default: "Class I — critical radiant flux not less than 0.45 W/cm² (exits, corridors in institutional occupancies)"
−```
−
−All carpet shall pass the federal surface-flammability pill test of 16 CFR 1630 (DOC FF 1-70), technically equivalent to ASTM D2859, as a baseline. In addition, carpet installed in interior exits, exit passageways, and corridors is regulated by the International Building Code for critical radiant flux measured per ASTM E648 (technically equivalent to NFPA 253), which measures the radiant heat flux at which a horizontally mounted floor covering stops supporting flame propagation; the radiant-panel test applies to corridor and exit installations and does not apply to carpet in open rooms or spaces. A higher critical radiant flux means the floor resists flame spread better. Class I (not less than 0.45 W/cm²) is required in corridors and exits of institutional occupancies such as hospitals, nursing homes, and detention facilities, where occupants cannot self-evacuate; Class II (not less than 0.22 W/cm²) applies to corridors in many other occupancies. The Architect shall confirm the required class from the building code compliance path for each location; the value is a property of the floor-covering system as tested, and the product data shall document the tested critical radiant flux value and class.
−
−## Smoke Density
−
−```datasheet
−label: Smoke Density Limit (ASTM E662 / NFPA 258)
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Required — specific optical density of smoke shall not exceed 450 (flaming mode)"
− - "Not separately regulated at this location"
−default: "Not separately regulated at this location"
−```
−
−Where the building code or the Owner's program requires limiting smoke generation — common in healthcare, transportation, and high-rise occupancies — the specific optical density of smoke generated by the carpet shall be measured per ASTM E662 (NFPA 258) and shall not exceed the limit stated. Smoke obscuration impairs egress visibility independently of flame spread, which is why smoke density is sometimes regulated separately from critical radiant flux.
−
−## Static Control
−
−```datasheet
−label: Maximum Static Generation (AATCC 134)
−type: range
−unit: kV
−options:
− min: 2.0
− max: 3.5
− step: 0.5
−setpoints: [2.0, 3.0, 3.5]
−default: 3.5
−```
−
−The electrostatic propensity of the carpet shall be measured per AATCC 134 and shall not exceed the limit stated under standard test conditions, typically not more than 3.5 kilovolts for general commercial occupancy, which is below the threshold at which most people perceive a static discharge. Lower limits, often 2.0 kilovolts or below, are appropriate where sensitive electronic equipment is present. Static control in standard commercial carpet is achieved with a conductive filament or carbon core integral to the face yarn; this provides static dissipation but does not by itself constitute a grounded electrostatic-discharge (ESD) flooring system. Spaces requiring controlled grounding for ESD protection of electronics or for healthcare and laboratory use shall be specified as a dedicated static-control flooring system rather than relying on the static-control rating of standard carpet.
−
−## Indoor Air Quality — Emissions Certification
−
−```datasheet
−label: Indoor Air Quality Certification
−type: radio
−options:
− - "CRI Green Label Plus — carpet, cushion, and adhesive"
− - "CRI Green Label Plus — carpet only"
− - "FloorScore / CDPH Section 01350 (equivalent low-emitting certification)"
− - "Not required"
−default: "CRI Green Label Plus — carpet, cushion, and adhesive"
−```
−
−Carpet, cushion, and adhesive shall be certified to a recognized low-emitting-materials program where indoor air quality is a project requirement. CRI Green Label Plus, administered by the Carpet and Rug Institute, tests carpet, cushion, and adhesives against stringent volatile organic compound emission criteria aligned with the CDPH Section 01350 program and is the recognized indoor-air-quality certification for carpet; it also satisfies the low-emitting-materials criteria of LEED, WELL, and similar green-building rating systems. Because the adhesive can emit more VOCs than the carpet itself, the adhesive and cushion shall carry the certification where the program requires it; certifying the carpet alone leaves significant emission sources unaddressed.
−
−## Colorfastness
−
−```datasheet
−label: Colorfastness Requirements
−type: checkbox
−options:
− - "Lightfastness — minimum Grade 4 (gray scale) at 40 AFU (AATCC 16)"
− - "Crocking, wet and dry — minimum Class 4 (AATCC 165)"
−default: "Lightfastness — minimum Grade 4 (gray scale) at 40 AFU (AATCC 16)"
−```
−
−Colorfastness to light shall be evaluated per AATCC 16 and colorfastness to crocking (color transfer by rubbing) per AATCC 165. Lightfastness of not less than Grade 4 on the gray scale and crocking of not less than Class 4 are common commercial requirements; carpet that fades unevenly under daylight or transfers color to shoes and clothing is an in-service appearance and liability problem, and these criteria are most reliably met by solution-dyed fiber.
−
−# Accessories
−
−## Adhesives and Tackifier
−
−```datasheet
−label: Attachment Material
−type: select
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Releasable (pressure-sensitive) adhesive — carpet tile"
− - "Tile tackifier — carpet tile, free-lay edge/grid"
− - "Permanent multipurpose carpet adhesive — glue-down broadloom"
− - "Cushion adhesive + carpet adhesive (double-glue) — broadloom over separate cushion"
− - "Tackless strip and seaming tape — stretch-in over separate cushion (no field adhesive)"
− - "Manufacturer-recommended adhesive for product and subfloor"
−default: "Releasable (pressure-sensitive) adhesive — carpet tile"
−```
−
−The attachment material shall be the type recommended by the carpet manufacturer for the specific product, format, subfloor, and measured moisture and pH condition. Attachment materials are not interchangeable: a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive holds carpet tile firmly in plane while permitting individual tiles to be lifted and replaced; a tile tackifier provides a tacky film for free-lay tile fields; a permanent multipurpose adhesive bonds glue-down broadloom and is not removable; and a tackless strip and seaming-tape system attaches stretch-in broadloom over separate cushion using no field adhesive at all. Where slab moisture or alkalinity is elevated but within a moisture-tolerant adhesive's stated limit, the moisture-tolerant adhesive may be used in lieu of a separate mitigation membrane only when the carpet manufacturer confirms the adhesive is warranted for the measured condition.
−
−## Separate Cushion
−
−```datasheet
−label: Separate Cushion (Pad)
−type: radio
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "None — direct glue-down or attached-cushion product"
− - "Separate cushion for double-glue installation"
− - "Separate cushion for stretch-in installation"
−default: "None — direct glue-down or attached-cushion product"
−```
−
−A separate cushion shall be provided only where the installation method and the carpet require it. Direct glue-down carpet and carpet tile with integral or no cushion do not receive a separate cushion. Double-glue and stretch-in installations of broadloom use a separate cushion to add underfoot comfort, acoustic absorption, and resilience that extends appearance retention, but cushion shall not be used under rolling-load areas or under carpet not approved for cushion, because excessive cushion thickness or softness allows the carpet to flex at seams and under loads, causing premature seam and backing failure. The cushion type, thickness, and density shall be as recommended by the carpet manufacturer for the traffic and the installation method.
−
−## Transition Strips and Edge Guards
−
−```datasheet
−label: Transition / Edge Treatment
−type: select
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Carpet-to-hard-surface transition / reducer (accessible bevel)"
− - "Metal or vinyl edge guard at exposed carpet edges"
− - "Carpet-to-carpet seam (no transition)"
− - "Threshold at door openings"
− - "As detailed on drawings"
−default: "As detailed on drawings"
−```
−
−Transitions between carpet and adjacent finishes shall be made with a transition or edge treatment appropriate to the relative finish-floor elevations and the adjacent material, as shown in the [[drawing: details and finish schedule]]. Exposed carpet edges shall be protected with an edge guard or transition so the edge cannot be picked or kicked loose and ravel. Where the carpet meets a lower hard surface, the change in level shall be made with a beveled transition compliant with the accessibility requirements; a change in level at a carpet edge that exceeds the accessible-route limit, or carpet pile and cushion combined thickness that exceeds the accessibility limit on an accessible route, is not permitted. Carpet on accessible routes shall be securely attached with a firm cushion or no cushion and a level, low pile so that wheelchairs and walkers can traverse it.
−
−# Subfloor Preparation and Moisture Testing
−
−## General Subfloor Requirements
−
−Concrete subfloors shall be prepared in accordance with ASTM F710 and CRI 104. The subfloor shall be permanently dry, clean, smooth, structurally sound, and free of dust, paint, oil, grease, residual adhesive, curing and sealing compounds, and any other substance that would interfere with the adhesive or tackifier bond. The condition of the subfloor is the Contractor's responsibility to verify before installation; installing carpet over a noncompliant subfloor transfers a known defect into the finished work, and the resulting failure is not a product defect and is not covered by the carpet warranty.
−
−## Flatness and Surface Profile
−
−```datasheet
−label: Subfloor Flatness Tolerance
−type: radio
−unit: in / 10 ft
−options:
− - "3/16 in in 10 ft (general carpet)"
− - "1/8 in in 10 ft (where manufacturer requires tighter, e.g. thin tile)"
−default: "3/16 in in 10 ft (general carpet)"
−```
−
−The subfloor shall be flat within the tolerance required by the carpet manufacturer, commonly 3/16 inch in 10 feet, and tighter for thin carpet tile that telegraphs subfloor profile. High spots shall be ground down and low spots filled with a cementitious patching or self-leveling underlayment compatible with the carpet and adhesive. Joints, cracks, and surface voids shall be filled so they do not telegraph through the finished carpet as visible lines or depressions — telegraphing is more pronounced under thin, low-pile carpet tile than under cushioned broadloom and is a common and avoidable complaint.
−
−## Moisture Testing — Relative Humidity (ASTM F2170)
−
−In-situ relative humidity testing per ASTM F2170 shall be performed on all concrete slabs before carpet is installed by glue-down or tackifier methods, using probes placed to the depth specified by F2170 (40 percent of slab thickness for slabs drying from one side, 20 percent for slabs drying from two sides) at the test frequency required by the standard — a minimum of three tests for the first 1,000 square feet and one additional test for each additional 1,000 square feet. The slab and the space shall be at service temperature and humidity for the conditioning period required by F2170 before probes are read, because relative humidity within the slab is temperature-dependent and a reading taken in an unconditioned space does not represent the in-service condition. The measured relative humidity shall be compared against the limit established in this standard and against the carpet and adhesive manufacturer's limit, and installation shall not proceed until the slab is within the lower of those limits or mitigation has been installed.
−
−## Moisture Testing — Vapor Emission and Alkalinity
−
−Where moisture vapor emission rate testing per ASTM F1869 is used as a screening or supplementary measure, it shall be conducted with the space at service conditions for the required conditioning period, at the same test frequency as F2170, and the result compared against the project limit. Surface alkalinity (pH) shall be measured per the ASTM F710 procedure at each moisture test location. The Contractor shall record all moisture, relative humidity, and pH test results, locations, dates, and ambient conditions and shall submit them before installation; the test record is the documentary basis for the warranty and shall be retained in the closeout submittals.
−
−## Moisture Mitigation
−
−```datasheet
−label: Moisture Mitigation Method
−type: radio
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "None required — slab passes F2170/F1869 within product limits"
− - "Moisture-tolerant adhesive rated for measured RH"
− - "Epoxy moisture-mitigation coating applied to prepared slab"
− - "Cementitious moisture-suppression underlayment system"
−default: "None required — slab passes F2170/F1869 within product limits"
−```
−
−Where the measured slab relative humidity or moisture vapor emission rate exceeds the carpet and adhesive limits, a moisture-mitigation method shall be provided to reduce the effective vapor transmission reaching the carpet to within the product's tolerance. For moderate excess, a moisture-tolerant adhesive rated by its manufacturer for the relative humidity actually measured may suffice; for higher conditions, a two-component epoxy mitigation coating or a cementitious suppression system shall be installed over the prepared slab. The mitigation product shall be rated for the relative humidity actually measured at the slab, not for a generic condition — a membrane rated to 95 percent RH is required for a 95 percent slab, and a membrane rated to a lower value will fail. Mitigation is a system that includes surface preparation (typically shot-blasting to the required profile), the membrane, and a compatible adhesive; the Contractor shall install the complete system per the membrane manufacturer's instructions.
−
−## Wood and Other Subfloors
−
−Where carpet is installed over a wood subfloor or an approved panel underlayment rather than concrete, the substrate shall be of a type and grade recommended by the carpet manufacturer for carpet, shall be fastened to eliminate deflection and movement, and shall present a smooth, void-free surface with no fastener heads proud of the surface. Wood subfloors over crawl spaces or unconditioned areas shall have the underside moisture condition controlled, because moisture migrating up through a wood subfloor debonds glue-down carpet just as slab moisture does. Single-layer subfloors that flex under load shall receive an approved underlayment; carpet telegraphs and seams fail over a deflecting substrate.
−
−# Installation
−
−## Layout
−
−The Contractor shall establish the layout from the room centerlines or from the control lines shown on the [[drawing: finish plan]] so that pattern, pile direction, and tile orientation run as indicated and border pieces are balanced and of adequate width. For carpet tile, the tile installation direction (monolithic, quarter-turn, ashlar, or other pattern) shall be as indicated and shall be consistent throughout each field; arrows on the tile back establish the as-manufactured pile direction and shall be oriented per the approved layout. For broadloom, the seam layout and pile direction shall follow the approved seaming diagram. Layout shall be dry-laid or chalk-lined and approved before any adhesive or tackifier is applied. A floor installed without a planned layout produces slivers at one wall, misaligned pattern at thresholds, and seams in conspicuous, high-traffic locations.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Installation Method
−type: radio
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Carpet tile — releasable adhesive (full or grid)"
− - "Carpet tile — free-lay with tackifier / perimeter and seam attachment"
− - "Broadloom — direct glue-down"
− - "Broadloom — double-glue over separate cushion"
− - "Broadloom — stretch-in over separate cushion (tackless strip)"
−default: "Carpet tile — releasable adhesive (full or grid)"
−```
−
−The installation method shall match the format, the backing, and the service conditions, and shall be one of the methods the carpet manufacturer approves for the product. Carpet tile is installed with a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive — applied as a full spread or in a grid pattern depending on the product and traffic — or, for approved cushion-back and free-lay products, with a tackifier and perimeter or seam attachment that allows individual tiles to be lifted. Broadloom is installed by direct glue-down (the most durable method for heavy traffic and rolling loads, fully bonding the carpet to the slab), by double-glue (a separate cushion glued to the slab and the carpet glued to the cushion, adding comfort and acoustics while resisting movement), or by stretch-in (power-stretched over a separate cushion and held at the perimeter by tackless strip, providing the most cushioned underfoot feel but the least resistance to rolling loads and the most susceptibility to buckling if not properly stretched). Stretch-in shall not be used in areas of heavy rolling traffic or where wet cleaning is frequent.
−
−## Seaming — Broadloom
−
−```datasheet
−label: Broadloom Seam Method
−type: radio
−drawing_ref: true
−options:
− - "Hot-melt seam tape (glue-down and double-glue)"
− - "Tackless-strip stretch-in with seam tape"
− - "Not applicable — carpet tile"
−default: "Hot-melt seam tape (glue-down and double-glue)"
−```
−
−Seams in broadloom shall be located per the approved seaming diagram, kept to the minimum number consistent with the roll width and the layout, positioned out of the main traffic path and pivot points and away from door openings where practical, and run with the primary traffic direction rather than across it where possible. All cut edges that will form a seam shall be sealed with the seam adhesive or an edge sealer to prevent ravel and edge delamination, and the pile shall run in the same direction across every seam so that the seam is not made conspicuous by a change in light reflectance. Seams shall be hot-melt-taped for glue-down and double-glue work and seam-taped within the stretch-in system; in all cases the seam shall be flat, tight, and without peaking, gapping, or visible adhesive. Failure to seal cut edges is the most common cause of seam ravel and is not correctable without re-seaming.
−
−## Adhesive and Tackifier Application
−
−Adhesive and tackifier shall be applied with the trowel notch or roller, coverage rate, open time, and working time specified by the manufacturer for the product and conditions. For wet-set carpet adhesives the two most common errors are working into wet adhesive before the required open time (which prevents the adhesive from grabbing) and working past the working time (which leaves the carpet sitting on skinned-over adhesive that never transfers); for pressure-sensitive and tackifier products the film shall be allowed to dry clear and tacky before tile is laid. The Contractor shall verify adhesive transfer to the back of the carpet by periodically lifting a piece and shall adjust the open time for the actual temperature and humidity in the space.
−
−## Rolling
−
−```datasheet
−label: Post-Installation Rolling
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Required — roll glue-down broadloom and tile per manufacturer"
− - "Not applicable — stretch-in installation"
−default: "Required — roll glue-down broadloom and tile per manufacturer"
−```
−
−Glue-down broadloom and carpet tile shall be rolled with a roller of the weight specified by the manufacturer, in both directions, after placement, to ensure full adhesive transfer and contact across the entire surface, with particular attention to seams, edges, and tile joints. Carpet that is placed but not properly rolled bonds only at the adhesive-ridge tops and at the tile centers and will release at the edges and seams, where the floor is most vulnerable. Stretch-in installations are not rolled but shall be fully power-stretched in both directions and hooked onto the tackless strip at the perimeter.
−
−# Field Quality
−
−## Moisture Test Verification
−
−The Contractor shall not install glue-down or tackifier carpet until the documented ASTM F2170 relative humidity, ASTM F1869 emission (where used), and ASTM F710 pH results have confirmed the subfloor is within the governing limits or until the specified mitigation has been installed and confirmed. Where mitigation is installed, the Contractor shall verify that the mitigation product was rated for the relative humidity actually measured and was installed over the surface preparation the membrane manufacturer requires.
−
−## Installation Inspection
−
−```datasheet
−label: Post-Installation Inspection Required
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Yes — full-area inspection under permanent lighting"
− - "No"
−default: "Yes — full-area inspection under permanent lighting"
−```
−
−After installation, the carpet shall be inspected under the permanent or equivalent lighting for full bond or proper stretch, with no bubbles, hollow or unbonded areas, edge curl, lifted or peaking seams, raveling edges, gapping or lifting tiles, telegraphing of subfloor defects, pattern or pile-direction misalignment, soiling, or trapped debris. Hollow or unbonded areas shall be re-adhered or replaced, raveling edges re-sealed, and defective seams re-seamed. The Contractor shall confirm by spot inspection that adhesive transfer occurred across the field and not only at edges and tile centers.
−
−# Cleaning and Initial Maintenance
−
−## Initial Cleaning and Protection
−
−After installation, the carpet shall be vacuumed and cleaned of construction soil and debris by the method the carpet manufacturer specifies, and shall not be wet-cleaned until the adhesive has fully cured — typically several days for wet-set adhesives — because introducing water at the bond line before cure can debond the carpet. The finished carpet shall be protected from traffic and from other trades until the project is turned over, using a breathable protective covering that does not trap moisture against the carpet or transfer color or adhesive; non-breathable plastic taped directly to freshly installed carpet can trap moisture and stain or debond it and shall not be used. Heavy furniture and concentrated rolling loads shall be kept off direct-glue and double-glue carpet until the adhesive has cured, because movement over uncured adhesive causes buckling and wrinkling.
−
−# Delivery, Storage, and Handling
−
−Carpet, adhesives, cushion, and accessories shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging with labels intact, identifying product, color, and dye lot. Material shall be stored indoors in the conditioned installation environment, protected from moisture, soiling, freezing, and excessive heat. Broadloom rolls shall be stored flat and not stood on end or stacked in a manner that distorts the roll or crushes the pile; carpet tile shall be stored flat in cartons as the manufacturer directs. Adhesives and tackifiers have a limited shelf life and a minimum storage temperature below which they are damaged; material that has frozen or exceeded its shelf life shall be discarded. All carpet for a continuous area shall be from the same dye lot wherever possible, because color varies between dye lots and a dye-lot change within a single visual field will be apparent; roll and tile sequence numbers shall be installed in manufactured sequence where the product is sequenced.
−
−# Warranty
−
−```datasheet
−label: Manufacturer Wear Warranty Period
−type: select
−unit: years
−options:
− - "10 years (standard commercial)"
− - "15 years (heavy commercial)"
− - "20 years (heavy commercial / institutional)"
− - "Lifetime limited (premium commercial systems)"
−default: "10 years (standard commercial)"
−```
−
−The carpet manufacturer shall warrant the product against manufacturing defects and against excessive surface wear (loss of face fiber) under normal commercial use for the period stated, and where applicable against edge ravel, delamination, static beyond the rated limit, and loss of texture retention. The Contractor shall warrant the installation — including subfloor preparation, adhesive bond or stretch, seaming and edge sealing, and transition work — against defective workmanship for the project warranty period. The Contractor shall be aware that most manufacturer warranties are void unless the subfloor moisture and pH conditions were within the product's stated limits and documented at the time of installation; the moisture and pH test record is therefore part of the warranty basis and shall be retained and delivered. Failures arising from subsequent water exposure, from cleaning or maintenance contrary to the manufacturer's instructions, or from loads or use beyond the product's rated application are excluded from both warranties.
−
−```datasheet
−label: Installation Workmanship Warranty Period
−type: select
−options:
− - "1 year from substantial completion"
− - "2 years from substantial completion"
−default: "1 year from substantial completion"
−```
−
−# Spare and Extra Materials
−
−```datasheet
−label: Attic Stock Quantity
−type: range
−unit: % of installed area
−options:
− min: 2
− max: 5
− step: 1
−default: 3
−```
−
−The Contractor shall deliver to the Owner spare material of each carpet product, color, and pattern installed, in the percentage of installed area stated, in full unopened cartons or rolls labeled with the product, color, and dye lot. Attic stock allows the Owner to repair damaged areas — and to replace individual soiled or worn carpet tiles — with material from the same dye lot as the original installation, which is essential because a later-purchased replacement will be from a different dye lot and may not match. Spare material shall be from the same dye lots as the installed carpet and shall be stored by the Owner in the conditioned environment recommended by the manufacturer.
+---
+title: Carpet
+category: Architectural / Finishes
+toc_depth: 3
+description: >
+ When to use: Tufted and woven carpet for commercial, institutional, healthcare, educational, hospitality, and multi-family interior applications — modular carpet tile and broadloom. Covers product format and construction, face fiber and dye method, face weight and pile, primary and secondary backing, flammability and smoke performance, static control, indoor-air-quality (IAQ) certification, accessories (adhesives, tackifier, separate cushion, transition strips), concrete and wood subfloor preparation, moisture and alkalinity acceptance and testing, direct glue-down, double-glue, free-lay, and stretch-in installation methods, seaming, transitions and accessibility, field quality, initial maintenance, and warranty.
+ Not intended for: Resilient flooring such as vinyl, rubber, and linoleum (see [[sync/resilient-flooring]]); ceramic and porcelain tile (see [[sync/ceramic-tile]]); terrazzo (see [[sync/terrazzo]]); fluid-applied resinous floors (see [[sync/resinous-flooring]]); entrance and walk-off matting systems specified as standalone assemblies (see [[sync/entrance-flooring]]); wood and engineered-wood flooring; static-dissipative or conductive flooring requiring a grounded ESD system beyond the static-control provisions herein; broadloom area rugs and loose rugs under 24 square feet; concrete slab design and placement (see [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]]).
+---
+
+# Scope {toc}
+
+## This standard governs the materials and installation of tufted and woven carpet — both modular carpet tile and broadloom — over concrete and approved wood subfloors in commercial and institutional construction. {note}
+## Carpet is specified across offices, classrooms, libraries, healthcare administrative areas, hospitality guest rooms and corridors, conference and assembly spaces, and multi-family interiors because it provides acoustic absorption, underfoot comfort, slip resistance, and a wide range of color and pattern at a competitive installed cost. {note}
+
+## A carpet installation is a system consisting of the subfloor, any moisture-mitigation membrane, the attachment method, the carpet, the seam treatment, and the perimeter and transition accessories. {note}
+
+## Element compatibility within the system
+
+### Each element of the carpet system shall be coordinated with the others.
+
+### An adhesive correct for a glue-down broadloom is wrong for a free-lay carpet tile, a moisture condition acceptable for a permeable installation will debond a moisture-sensitive adhesive, and a face construction that performs well in a private office mats and crushes prematurely in a high-traffic corridor. {note}
+
+### The Contractor shall treat the carpet as a system.
+
+### The Contractor shall verify that the carpet, attachment method, and any mitigation selected are mutually compatible and approved by the carpet manufacturer for the measured subfloor condition.
+
+### The Contractor shall not begin installation until the subfloor has passed the moisture, alkalinity, and surface-preparation acceptance criteria of this standard.
+
+## Coordination with adjacent work
+
+### Coordinate the concrete slab, its vapor retarder, and its surface finish with [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]].
+
+### Coordinate transitions to adjacent finishes — resilient flooring, ceramic tile, and terrazzo — with [[sync/resilient-flooring]], [[sync/ceramic-tile]], and [[sync/terrazzo]] respectively, so that transition strips, thresholds, and finish-floor elevations reconcile and accessible-route level changes are within limits.
+
+### The majority of premature carpet failures are moisture-related debonding, edge ravel and seam failure, or delamination, originating in inadequate subfloor preparation or installation error rather than in a defect of the carpet. {note}
+
+### The single most important moisture-control measure for slab-on-grade carpet is a properly installed under-slab vapor retarder placed long before this work begins. {note}
+
+# Referenced Standards {toc}
+
+## Where the contract documents, a referenced standard, or the carpet manufacturer's written instructions impose a more stringent requirement than the minimum of any other standard, the more stringent requirement governs unless the Architect of Record directs otherwise in writing. {note}
+
+| Standard | Title |
+|----------|-------|
+| ASTM D5684 | Standard Terminology Relating to Pile Floor Coverings |
+| ASTM D5848 | Standard Test Method for Mass per Unit Area of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
+| ASTM D5848 §pile | Standard Test Method for Measuring Pile Yarn Floor Covering Mass |
+| ASTM D6859 | Standard Test Method for Pile Thickness of Finished Level Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
+| ASTM D1335 | Standard Test Method for Tuft Bind of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
+| ASTM D3936 | Standard Test Method for Delamination Strength of Secondary Backing of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings |
+| ASTM D5252 | Standard Practice for the Operation of the Hexapod Drum Tester |
+| ASTM D5417 | Standard Practice for Operation of the Vetterman Drum Tester |
+| AATCC 134 | Electrostatic Propensity of Carpets |
+| AATCC 16 | Colorfastness to Light |
+| AATCC 165 | Colorfastness to Crocking — Textile Floor Coverings (Crockmeter Method) |
+| ASTM E648 | Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source |
+| NFPA 253 | Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source |
+| ASTM D2859 | Standard Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials (Pill Test) |
+| 16 CFR 1630 (DOC FF 1-70) | Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs |
+| ASTM E662 | Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials |
+| NFPA 258 | Standard Research Test Method for Determining Smoke Generation of Solid Materials |
+| ASTM F710 | Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring |
+| ASTM F1869 | Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride |
+| ASTM F2170 | Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes |
+| CRI 104 | Standard for Installation of Commercial Carpet |
+| CRI 105 | Standard for Installation of Residential Carpet |
+| CRI Green Label Plus | Carpet and Rug Institute Indoor Air Quality Testing Program |
+| CDPH/EHLB Standard Method v1.2 (Section 01350) | Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources |
+| IBC | International Building Code (current edition adopted by jurisdiction) |
+
+## All materials, testing, and installation shall comply with the latest edition adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction for each referenced standard.
+
+## The Contractor shall follow the carpet manufacturer's written installation instructions in addition to this standard.
+
+## The carpet manufacturer's written installation instructions define the conditions under which the product warranty is valid. {note}
+
+## Every textile floor covering manufactured or imported into the United States shall comply with the surface-flammability pill test of 16 CFR 1630 (DOC FF 1-70), which is technically equivalent to ASTM D2859.
+
+## ASTM E648 (critical radiant flux), technically equivalent to NFPA 253, is the additional flammability test that the International Building Code references for floor-covering systems in corridors and exits, and the Class I or Class II designation derived from E648 is a code requirement where applicable. {note}
+
+## ASTM F710 is the foundational document for concrete subfloor acceptance, and the moisture and alkalinity test methods it invokes (F1869, F2170, and the surface pH procedure) are referenced by CRI 104 and by carpet manufacturers as a precondition of most warranties. {note}
+
+## CRI 104 is the consensus installation standard for commercial carpet and governs layout, conditioning, subfloor acceptance, seaming, and attachment. {note}
+
+# Submittals {toc}
+
+## Action Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following for the Architect's review prior to procurement and installation:
+
+- Product data for each carpet product, identifying the format (tile or broadloom), construction (tufted or woven), face fiber and dye method, face weight, pile height, gauge, stitches per inch, primary and secondary backing, tuft bind, delamination strength, and the manufacturer's written installation instructions
+- Product data for each adhesive, releasable adhesive or tackifier, separate cushion, moisture-mitigation membrane, patching and leveling compound, tackless strip, and transition or edge accessory, including the adhesive bond and compatibility statement for the specific carpet and subfloor condition
+- Samples of each carpet product in the full range of colors and patterns specified, of sufficient size to show the pattern repeat, and samples of each transition strip, edge guard, and base or wall-trim profile and color
+- Moisture and alkalinity test reports for the actual subfloor, conducted in accordance with ASTM F2170 (relative humidity), ASTM F1869 (moisture vapor emission rate, where used), and the ASTM F710 surface pH procedure, identifying test locations and ambient conditions at the time of testing
+- Flammability documentation: the 16 CFR 1630 / ASTM D2859 pass result for the carpet, the ASTM E648 critical radiant flux value and class where corridor or exit installation applies, and the ASTM E662 smoke density value where required
+- Indoor-air-quality certification documentation (CRI Green Label Plus, or FloorScore / CDPH Section 01350 equivalent) for the carpet, cushion, and adhesive where low-emitting materials are specified
+- A seaming diagram for broadloom showing seam locations, seam direction, and pile direction relative to the layout, and a layout diagram for carpet tile showing tile orientation and the starting reference lines
+- Maintenance instructions describing initial cleaning, the recommended periodic maintenance program, and approved cleaning agents for each product
+
+```datasheet
+label: Action Submittals Required
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - "Product data — each carpet product"
+ - "Product data — adhesives, tackifier, cushion, accessories"
+ - "Samples — carpet (full color/pattern range)"
+ - "Samples — transition strips, edge guards, base/trim"
+ - "Subfloor moisture and alkalinity test reports (F2170 / F1869 / F710 pH)"
+ - "Flammability documentation (16 CFR 1630 / ASTM E648 / ASTM E662)"
+ - "Indoor air quality certification (CRI Green Label Plus / FloorScore)"
+ - "Seaming diagram (broadloom) / layout diagram (tile)"
+ - "Maintenance instructions"
+default: "Subfloor moisture and alkalinity test reports (F2170 / F1869 / F710 pH)"
+```
+
+### Installation shall not begin until the moisture and alkalinity test reports have been submitted and reviewed.
+
+### The measured subfloor condition determines both product and adhesive compatibility and the mitigation requirement. {note}
+
+## Closeout Submittals {toc}
+
+### Provide the following at project closeout: {note}
+
+- Manufacturer warranty documentation for each carpet product, executed in the Owner's name
+- Record of the final subfloor moisture, relative humidity, and pH test results, the mitigation method installed (if any), and the adhesive or tackifier used, retained for warranty purposes
+- Attic-stock transmittal documenting the quantity, product, color, and dye lot of spare material delivered to the Owner
+
+```datasheet
+label: Required Closeout Submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Manufacturer warranty documentation executed in Owner's name
+ - Final subfloor moisture, RH, and pH test record with mitigation and adhesive used
+ - Attic-stock transmittal (quantity, product, color, dye lot)
+default: [Manufacturer warranty documentation executed in Owner's name, Final subfloor moisture, RH, and pH test record with mitigation and adhesive used, Attic-stock transmittal (quantity, product, color, dye lot)]
+```
+
+# Quality Assurance {toc}
+
+## Installer Qualifications {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Installer Qualification
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "CRI 104 — experienced commercial carpet installer"
+ - "CRI 104 — installer with power-stretch (stretch-in) experience required"
+ - "Manufacturer-certified installer (where required to validate warranty)"
+default: "CRI 104 — experienced commercial carpet installer"
+```
+
+### Carpet shall be installed by an installer with documented experience in commercial installations of the specific format and attachment method required, working in accordance with CRI 104.
+
+### The Contractor shall not assign seaming and pattern-critical work to untrained labor.
+
+### Where the work includes power-stretched stretch-in installation over separate cushion, the installer shall be experienced in the use of a power stretcher.
+
+### Broadloom seaming and pattern matching are the most skill-dependent operations in carpet installation; a poorly cut and sealed seam ravels, peaks, or telegraphs, and a misaligned pattern at a seam or door opening is conspicuous and difficult to correct after the adhesive has cured. {note}
+
+### Carpet that is kicked in rather than power-stretched will buckle and wrinkle in service. {note}
+
+## Mock-Up {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Mock-Up Required
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Yes — install a representative area of each carpet type, including a seam and a transition"
+ - "No"
+default: "No"
+```
+
+### Where a mock-up is required, the Contractor shall install a representative area of each carpet type at a location directed by the Architect, including at least one seam where broadloom is specified, the tile orientation pattern where carpet tile is specified, and one transition to an adjacent finish.
+
+### The mock-up, once approved, shall remain available for comparison throughout the work.
+
+### The mock-up establishes the acceptable standard for pattern alignment, seam appearance, pile direction, and transition detailing. {note}
+
+## Pre-Installation Conference {toc}
+
+### Before installation begins, the Contractor shall hold a pre-installation conference with the Architect and the carpet installer to review the moisture and alkalinity test results, the mitigation requirement, the adhesive or attachment selection, the layout, seam, and pile-direction plan, the acclimatization status of the material, and the environmental conditions in the space.
+
+### Most carpet disputes trace back to a condition that was known but not acted upon before installation — a marginal moisture reading, a slab that was not flat or clean enough, a seam planned in a high-traffic path, or material that had not acclimatized; the conference exists to surface and resolve those conditions before the carpet goes down. {note}
+
+# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+
+## Acclimatization {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Acclimatization Period Before Installation
+type: range
+unit: hours
+options:
+ min: 48
+ max: 72
+ step: 24
+default: 48
+```
+
+### Carpet, adhesives, and the spaces to receive them shall be conditioned to the service environment before, during, and after installation in accordance with CRI 104.
+
+### Carpet material shall be delivered to the installation area and acclimatized for not less than 48 hours before installation.
+
+### Acclimatization shall continue throughout installation and for not less than 48 hours after completion.
+
+### Carpet, and especially carpet tile and certain backings, expands and contracts with temperature and humidity; material installed before it has reached a stable dimension will gap, peak at seams, or develop dimensional bow. {note}
+
+## Temperature and Humidity During Installation {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum Ambient Temperature During Installation
+type: range
+unit: °F
+options:
+ min: 65
+ max: 70
+ step: 5
+default: 65
+```
+
+### The installation area shall be maintained at a minimum of 65 °F (18 °C) and a maximum of 95 °F (35 °C), with relative humidity between 10 and 65 percent, for at least 48 hours before, during, and for at least 48 hours after installation, in accordance with CRI 104.
+
+### The permanent HVAC system shall be operational and controlling the space to its normal occupied range.
+
+### Temporary heat that does not control humidity shall not be substituted for permanent conditioning.
+
+### Adhesive cure, dimensional stability, and the subfloor moisture condition all depend on the space being at service conditions, and installing carpet in a space later conditioned to a markedly different temperature or humidity is a common cause of subsequent seam peaking, tile gapping, and edge curl. {note}
+
+## Subfloor Relative Humidity Limit {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Maximum Slab Internal Relative Humidity (ASTM F2170)
+type: range
+unit: % RH
+options:
+ min: 75
+ max: 90
+ step: 5
+default: 80
+```
+
+### The acceptable subfloor moisture condition shall be established by test before installation and confirmed against both the carpet and adhesive manufacturer's limit and the limits of this standard.
+
+### The relative humidity within a concrete slab measured by in-situ probe per ASTM F2170 shall not exceed the limit stated, and where the manufacturer's limit is lower than the project limit, the lower limit governs.
+
+### The acceptable subfloor moisture condition is the governing service condition for glue-down and tackifier carpet, and internal relative humidity per F2170 is a more reliable predictor of long-term moisture behavior than a surface emission measurement because it reflects the moisture distributed through the slab thickness. {note}
+
+## Subfloor Moisture Vapor Emission Limit {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Maximum Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (ASTM F1869)
+type: range
+unit: lb/1000 sq ft/24 hr
+options:
+ min: 3
+ max: 5
+ step: 1
+default: 5
+```
+
+### Where moisture vapor emission rate is used as a screening or supplementary measure per ASTM F1869, the rate shall not exceed the limit stated.
+
+### The ASTM F1869 calcium chloride method shall not be used as the sole acceptance criterion for slabs on grade or below grade; ASTM F2170 internal relative humidity is required for those conditions.
+
+### A moisture vapor emission rate of 3 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours is the traditional acceptance range for many carpet adhesives, but surface emission can read deceptively low while the slab interior remains wet. {note}
+
+## Subfloor Alkalinity (pH) {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Acceptable Subfloor Surface pH Range (ASTM F710)
+type: range
+unit: pH
+options:
+ min: 7
+ max: 9
+ step: 0.5
+setpoints: [7, 9]
+default: 9
+```
+
+### The surface pH of the concrete subfloor shall be measured per the ASTM F710 procedure and shall fall within the range accepted by the adhesive manufacturer, typically between 7 and 9.
+
+### Where the measured pH exceeds the adhesive manufacturer's limit, the surface shall be treated, an alkalinity-tolerant adhesive selected, or a mitigation membrane installed, as appropriate to the condition.
+
+### High slab alkalinity — common in newer concrete and in slabs where moisture has carried alkaline salts to the surface — chemically attacks many carpet adhesives and is a frequent cause of debonding that is mistaken for a moisture failure. {note}
+
+## Lighting for Inspection {toc}
+
+### Permanent or equivalent temporary lighting shall be operating during installation and inspection so that pile direction, pattern alignment, seam quality, soiling, and telegraphing of subfloor irregularities can be evaluated under realistic conditions.
+
+### The carpet shall be inspected under the lighting in which it will be viewed in service.
+
+### Carpet is frequently inspected and accepted under construction lighting that conceals defects which become obvious once the permanent lighting is energized. {note}
+
+# Carpet Products {toc}
+
+## Format {toc}
+
+### The carpet format determines the appropriate installation method, the seam strategy, the replacement strategy, and the dimensional behavior of the floor. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Carpet Format
+type: radio
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Modular carpet tile"
+ - "Broadloom (roll goods)"
+default: "Modular carpet tile"
+```
+
+### The carpet format shall be indicated in the [[drawing: finish schedule]].
+
+### Modular carpet tile is the dominant commercial format for offices, education, healthcare administration, and institutional spaces because it installs without seams to match across a roll width, allows selective replacement of soiled or worn tiles, accommodates access flooring and frequent reconfiguration, and tolerates minor residual moisture better than glue-down broadloom when installed with a releasable adhesive. {note}
+
+### Broadloom is specified where a continuous, monolithic field is desired — hospitality corridors and ballrooms, conference centers, and high-end office and assembly spaces — and where wall-to-wall pattern continuity or a custom pattern repeat is required; it is installed glue-down, double-glue over separate cushion, or stretch-in over separate cushion. {note}
+
+## Construction {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Carpet Construction
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Tufted"
+ - "Woven"
+default: "Tufted"
+```
+
+### Tufted construction, in which face yarn is needle-punched through a primary backing and locked with a coating and secondary backing, accounts for the overwhelming majority of commercial carpet because it is economical, fast to produce, and available in a wide range of constructions and patterns. {note}
+
+### Woven construction (such as Axminster and Wilton), in which face and backing yarns are interlaced on a loom in a single operation, is specified in hospitality and high-end assembly spaces where intricate patterns, dimensional stability, and a dense, durable face are desired; woven carpet generally carries a higher cost and longer lead time. {note}
+
+## Pile Configuration {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Pile Configuration
+type: select
+options:
+ - "Level loop"
+ - "Multi-level loop / patterned loop"
+ - "Cut pile"
+ - "Cut-and-loop (tip-shear / pattern)"
+default: "Level loop"
+```
+
+### Pile configuration drives appearance, durability, and soil-hiding behavior; level loop is the workhorse commercial construction that resists crushing, hides soil and traffic patterns, and rolls casters and carts easily, while cut pile presents a softer, more formal appearance but shows footprints and crushes more readily under traffic. {note}
+
+### Loop and low, dense cut-pile constructions are appropriate for rolling loads; high, soft cut pile is not. {note}
+
+## Face Fiber {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Face Fiber
+type: select
+options:
+ - "Nylon (type 6)"
+ - "Nylon (type 6,6)"
+ - "Polyester (PET)"
+ - "Polypropylene (olefin)"
+ - "Wool"
+default: "Nylon (type 6,6)"
+```
+
+### The face fiber is the single largest determinant of long-term appearance retention and service life. {note}
+
+### Nylon — type 6 or type 6,6 — is the standard commercial face fiber because it is the most resilient and durable of the common synthetics; type 6,6 has a slightly higher melting point marketed for premium durability, while type 6 is more readily solution-dyed and recycled, and both are appropriate commercial fibers. {note}
+
+### Polyester (PET), increasingly produced from recycled content, offers excellent color clarity and stain resistance at a lower cost and suits light- to moderate-traffic and value-driven projects, but it is less resilient than nylon and crushes sooner under heavy traffic. {note}
+
+### Polypropylene (olefin) is inherently stain- and moisture-resistant and inexpensive, suited to specific applications and many tile backings, but it has poor resilience and is not recommended for cut pile in traffic. {note}
+
+### Wool is a premium natural fiber valued for resilience, appearance, and inherent flame resistance, specified in high-end hospitality and assembly spaces at a premium cost. {note}
+
+## Dye Method {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Dye Method
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Solution-dyed (color added to fiber before extrusion)"
+ - "Yarn-dyed / piece-dyed (color applied to yarn or finished goods)"
+default: "Solution-dyed (color added to fiber before extrusion)"
+```
+
+### Solution-dyed fiber, in which pigment is added to the polymer before the fiber is extruded so that color runs through the fiber rather than being applied to its surface, resists fading from light and bleaching from aggressive cleaning and is strongly preferred for healthcare, education, and any space cleaned with bleach or peroxide or exposed to significant daylight. {note}
+
+### Yarn-dyed and piece-dyed carpet offers a broader and more nuanced color and pattern palette and is appropriate where color range and aesthetics outweigh maximum colorfastness, but it is more susceptible to fading and to color loss from harsh cleaners. {note}
+
+## Face Weight {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Face Weight
+type: range
+unit: oz/sq yd
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ min: 12
+ max: 40
+ setpoints: [12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40]
+default: 20
+```
+
+### Face weight, measured per ASTM D5848, shall be evaluated together with pile height and density rather than alone.
+
+### Face weight is the mass of face yarn per square yard and is one indicator — though not the sole indicator — of a carpet's density and durability; for commercial work, face weights of roughly 18 to 28 ounces per square yard cover most moderate- to heavy-traffic applications, and density and the resistance of the pile to crushing govern appearance retention more directly than mass per unit area. {note}
+
+## Pile Height {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Pile Height
+type: range
+unit: in
+options:
+ min: 0.10
+ max: 0.50
+ setpoints: [0.10, 0.125, 0.156, 0.187, 0.25, 0.375, 0.50]
+default: 0.156
+```
+
+### Pile height, measured per ASTM D6859, shall be coordinated with the configuration and the traffic.
+
+### Pile height together with face weight determines pile density; lower, denser pile resists crushing and matting and rolls loads more easily, which is why commercial loop carpet is typically specified in the lower part of this range, while a tall cut pile in a corridor will mat within months. {note}
+
+## Tuft Bind {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum Tuft Bind (ASTM D1335)
+type: range
+unit: lbf
+options:
+ min: 6.0
+ max: 12.0
+ step: 0.5
+setpoints: [6.0, 8.0, 10.0]
+default: 8.0
+```
+
+### Tuft bind, measured per ASTM D1335, shall be not less than 8.0 pounds-force for commercial loop-pile carpet; cut-pile constructions are evaluated by a different criterion appropriate to cut yarn.
+
+### Tuft bind is the force required to pull a tuft of face yarn from the backing and governs resistance to zippering, ravel, and pull-out from snags, vacuum beater bars, and rolling loads; loop pile with inadequate tuft bind unravels progressively from a single snagged loop. {note}
+
+## Delamination Strength {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum Secondary Backing Delamination Strength (ASTM D3936)
+type: range
+unit: lbf/in
+options:
+ min: 2.5
+ max: 5.0
+ step: 0.5
+setpoints: [2.5, 3.0]
+default: 2.5
+```
+
+### Secondary backing delamination strength, measured per ASTM D3936, shall be not less than 2.5 pounds-force per inch.
+
+### Delamination strength is the force required to separate the secondary backing from the primary backing assembly; inadequate strength allows the secondary backing to separate under traffic, rolling loads, and wet cleaning, producing bubbles, edge curl, and eventual failure of the carpet as an integral assembly. {note}
+
+## Primary and Secondary Backing {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Secondary Backing System
+type: select
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Modular tile backing — dimensionally stable composite (PVC, polyolefin, or cushion-back)"
+ - "Broadloom — woven or non-woven synthetic secondary backing (glue-down)"
+ - "Broadloom — unitary / closed-cell back"
+ - "Broadloom — secondary backing suited to stretch-in over separate cushion"
+default: "Modular tile backing — dimensionally stable composite (PVC, polyolefin, or cushion-back)"
+```
+
+### The backing system shall be appropriate to the format and the planned installation method.
+
+### Broadloom intended for stretch-in installation shall have a backing and edge strength compatible with power-stretching and tackless-strip attachment.
+
+### The backing system, the attachment method, and the cushion (if any) shall be selected together.
+
+### Carpet tile uses a heavy, dimensionally stable composite backing — PVC, polyolefin, bitumen, or an integral cushion back — engineered to lie flat without curling, hold dimension, and accept a releasable adhesive, and this dimensional stability is what allows tiles to be lifted and replaced; glue-down broadloom uses a woven or non-woven synthetic secondary backing bonded to the primary backing. {note}
+
+## Critical Radiant Flux — Flammability {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Critical Radiant Flux Class (ASTM E648 / NFPA 253)
+type: radio
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Class I — critical radiant flux not less than 0.45 W/cm² (exits, corridors in institutional occupancies)"
+ - "Class II — critical radiant flux not less than 0.22 W/cm² (corridors in other occupancies)"
+ - "Pill test only (16 CFR 1630 / ASTM D2859) — open rooms not regulated for radiant flux"
+default: "Class I — critical radiant flux not less than 0.45 W/cm² (exits, corridors in institutional occupancies)"
+```
+
+### All carpet shall pass the federal surface-flammability pill test of 16 CFR 1630 (DOC FF 1-70), technically equivalent to ASTM D2859, as a baseline.
+
+### Carpet installed in interior exits, exit passageways, and corridors shall meet the critical radiant flux required by the International Building Code measured per ASTM E648 (technically equivalent to NFPA 253) — Class I (not less than 0.45 W/cm²) in corridors and exits of institutional occupancies, and Class II (not less than 0.22 W/cm²) in corridors of many other occupancies.
+
+### The Architect shall confirm the required class from the building code compliance path for each location.
+
+### The product data shall document the tested critical radiant flux value and class.
+
+### The radiant-panel test measures the radiant heat flux at which a horizontally mounted floor covering stops supporting flame propagation, applies to corridor and exit installations, and does not apply to carpet in open rooms; a higher critical radiant flux means the floor resists flame spread better. {note}
+
+## Smoke Density {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Smoke Density Limit (ASTM E662 / NFPA 258)
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Required — specific optical density of smoke shall not exceed 450 (flaming mode)"
+ - "Not separately regulated at this location"
+default: "Not separately regulated at this location"
+```
+
+### Where the building code or the Owner's program requires limiting smoke generation, the specific optical density of smoke generated by the carpet shall be measured per ASTM E662 (NFPA 258) and shall not exceed the limit stated.
+
+### Smoke obscuration impairs egress visibility independently of flame spread, which is why smoke density is sometimes regulated separately from critical radiant flux. {note}
+
+## Static Control {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Maximum Static Generation (AATCC 134)
+type: range
+unit: kV
+options:
+ min: 2.0
+ max: 3.5
+ step: 0.5
+setpoints: [2.0, 3.0, 3.5]
+default: 3.5
+```
+
+### The electrostatic propensity of the carpet shall be measured per AATCC 134 and shall not exceed the limit stated under standard test conditions, typically not more than 3.5 kilovolts for general commercial occupancy and often 2.0 kilovolts or below where sensitive electronic equipment is present.
+
+### Spaces requiring controlled grounding for ESD protection of electronics or for healthcare and laboratory use shall be specified as a dedicated static-control flooring system rather than relying on the static-control rating of standard carpet.
+
+### Static control in standard commercial carpet is achieved with a conductive filament or carbon core integral to the face yarn; this provides static dissipation but does not by itself constitute a grounded electrostatic-discharge (ESD) flooring system. {note}
+
+## Indoor Air Quality — Emissions Certification {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Indoor Air Quality Certification
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "CRI Green Label Plus — carpet, cushion, and adhesive"
+ - "CRI Green Label Plus — carpet only"
+ - "FloorScore / CDPH Section 01350 (equivalent low-emitting certification)"
+ - "Not required"
+default: "CRI Green Label Plus — carpet, cushion, and adhesive"
+```
+
+### Carpet, cushion, and adhesive shall be certified to a recognized low-emitting-materials program where indoor air quality is a project requirement.
+
+### Where the program requires it, the adhesive and cushion shall carry the certification, not the carpet alone.
+
+### CRI Green Label Plus, administered by the Carpet and Rug Institute, tests carpet, cushion, and adhesives against stringent volatile organic compound emission criteria aligned with the CDPH Section 01350 program, satisfies the low-emitting-materials criteria of LEED, WELL, and similar rating systems, and is significant because the adhesive can emit more VOCs than the carpet itself. {note}
+
+## Colorfastness {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Colorfastness Requirements
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - "Lightfastness — minimum Grade 4 (gray scale) at 40 AFU (AATCC 16)"
+ - "Crocking, wet and dry — minimum Class 4 (AATCC 165)"
+default: "Lightfastness — minimum Grade 4 (gray scale) at 40 AFU (AATCC 16)"
+```
+
+### Colorfastness to light shall be evaluated per AATCC 16 to not less than Grade 4 on the gray scale.
+
+### Colorfastness to crocking (color transfer by rubbing) shall be evaluated per AATCC 165 to not less than Class 4.
+
+### Carpet that fades unevenly under daylight or transfers color to shoes and clothing is an in-service appearance and liability problem, and these criteria are most reliably met by solution-dyed fiber. {note}
+
+# Accessories {toc}
+
+## Adhesives and Tackifier {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Attachment Material
+type: select
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Releasable (pressure-sensitive) adhesive — carpet tile"
+ - "Tile tackifier — carpet tile, free-lay edge/grid"
+ - "Permanent multipurpose carpet adhesive — glue-down broadloom"
+ - "Cushion adhesive + carpet adhesive (double-glue) — broadloom over separate cushion"
+ - "Tackless strip and seaming tape — stretch-in over separate cushion (no field adhesive)"
+ - "Manufacturer-recommended adhesive for product and subfloor"
+default: "Releasable (pressure-sensitive) adhesive — carpet tile"
+```
+
+### The attachment material shall be the type recommended by the carpet manufacturer for the specific product, format, subfloor, and measured moisture and pH condition.
+
+### Where slab moisture or alkalinity is elevated but within a moisture-tolerant adhesive's stated limit, the moisture-tolerant adhesive may be used in lieu of a separate mitigation membrane only when the carpet manufacturer confirms the adhesive is warranted for the measured condition.
+
+### Attachment materials are not interchangeable: a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive holds carpet tile firmly in plane while permitting individual tiles to be lifted and replaced; a tile tackifier provides a tacky film for free-lay tile fields; a permanent multipurpose adhesive bonds glue-down broadloom and is not removable; and a tackless strip and seaming-tape system attaches stretch-in broadloom over separate cushion using no field adhesive at all. {note}
+
+## Separate Cushion {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Separate Cushion (Pad)
+type: radio
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "None — direct glue-down or attached-cushion product"
+ - "Separate cushion for double-glue installation"
+ - "Separate cushion for stretch-in installation"
+default: "None — direct glue-down or attached-cushion product"
+```
+
+### A separate cushion shall be provided only where the installation method and the carpet require it.
+
+### Cushion shall not be used under rolling-load areas or under carpet not approved for cushion.
+
+### The cushion type, thickness, and density shall be as recommended by the carpet manufacturer for the traffic and the installation method.
+
+### Direct glue-down carpet and carpet tile with integral or no cushion do not receive a separate cushion, while double-glue and stretch-in installations of broadloom use a separate cushion to add comfort, acoustic absorption, and resilience; excessive cushion thickness or softness allows the carpet to flex at seams and under loads, causing premature seam and backing failure. {note}
+
+## Transition Strips and Edge Guards {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Transition / Edge Treatment
+type: select
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Carpet-to-hard-surface transition / reducer (accessible bevel)"
+ - "Metal or vinyl edge guard at exposed carpet edges"
+ - "Carpet-to-carpet seam (no transition)"
+ - "Threshold at door openings"
+ - "As detailed on drawings"
+default: "As detailed on drawings"
+```
+
+### Transitions between carpet and adjacent finishes shall be made with a transition or edge treatment appropriate to the relative finish-floor elevations and the adjacent material, as shown in the [[drawing: details and finish schedule]].
+
+### Exposed carpet edges shall be protected with an edge guard or transition so the edge cannot be picked or kicked loose and ravel.
+
+### Where the carpet meets a lower hard surface, the change in level shall be made with a beveled transition compliant with the accessibility requirements.
+
+### A change in level at a carpet edge that exceeds the accessible-route limit, or carpet pile and cushion combined thickness that exceeds the accessibility limit on an accessible route, is not permitted.
+
+### Carpet on accessible routes shall be securely attached with a firm cushion or no cushion and a level, low pile so that wheelchairs and walkers can traverse it.
+
+# Subfloor Preparation and Moisture Testing {toc}
+
+## General Subfloor Requirements {toc}
+
+### Concrete subfloors shall be prepared in accordance with ASTM F710 and CRI 104.
+
+### The subfloor shall be permanently dry, clean, smooth, structurally sound, and free of dust, paint, oil, grease, residual adhesive, curing and sealing compounds, and any other substance that would interfere with the adhesive or tackifier bond.
+
+### The Contractor shall verify the condition of the subfloor before installation.
+
+### Installing carpet over a noncompliant subfloor transfers a known defect into the finished work, and the resulting failure is not a product defect and is not covered by the carpet warranty. {note}
+
+## Flatness and Surface Profile {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Subfloor Flatness Tolerance
+type: radio
+unit: in / 10 ft
+options:
+ - "3/16 in in 10 ft (general carpet)"
+ - "1/8 in in 10 ft (where manufacturer requires tighter, e.g. thin tile)"
+default: "3/16 in in 10 ft (general carpet)"
+```
+
+### The subfloor shall be flat within the tolerance required by the carpet manufacturer, commonly 3/16 inch in 10 feet, and tighter for thin carpet tile that telegraphs subfloor profile.
+
+### High spots shall be ground down and low spots filled with a cementitious patching or self-leveling underlayment compatible with the carpet and adhesive.
+
+### Joints, cracks, and surface voids shall be filled so they do not telegraph through the finished carpet as visible lines or depressions.
+
+### Telegraphing is more pronounced under thin, low-pile carpet tile than under cushioned broadloom and is a common and avoidable complaint. {note}
+
+## Moisture Testing — Relative Humidity (ASTM F2170) {toc}
+
+### In-situ relative humidity testing per ASTM F2170 shall be performed on all concrete slabs before carpet is installed by glue-down or tackifier methods, using probes placed to the depth specified by F2170 (40 percent of slab thickness for slabs drying from one side, 20 percent for slabs drying from two sides) at a minimum of three tests for the first 1,000 square feet and one additional test for each additional 1,000 square feet.
+
+### The slab and the space shall be at service temperature and humidity for the conditioning period required by F2170 before probes are read.
+
+### The measured relative humidity shall be compared against the limit established in this standard and against the carpet and adhesive manufacturer's limit, and installation shall not proceed until the slab is within the lower of those limits or mitigation has been installed.
+
+### Relative humidity within the slab is temperature-dependent, and a reading taken in an unconditioned space does not represent the in-service condition. {note}
+
+## Moisture Testing — Vapor Emission and Alkalinity {toc}
+
+### Where moisture vapor emission rate testing per ASTM F1869 is used as a screening or supplementary measure, it shall be conducted with the space at service conditions for the required conditioning period, at the same test frequency as F2170, and the result compared against the project limit.
+
+### Surface alkalinity (pH) shall be measured per the ASTM F710 procedure at each moisture test location.
+
+### The Contractor shall record all moisture, relative humidity, and pH test results, locations, dates, and ambient conditions and shall submit them before installation.
+
+### The test record is the documentary basis for the warranty and shall be retained in the closeout submittals.
+
+## Moisture Mitigation {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Moisture Mitigation Method
+type: radio
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "None required — slab passes F2170/F1869 within product limits"
+ - "Moisture-tolerant adhesive rated for measured RH"
+ - "Epoxy moisture-mitigation coating applied to prepared slab"
+ - "Cementitious moisture-suppression underlayment system"
+default: "None required — slab passes F2170/F1869 within product limits"
+```
+
+### Where the measured slab relative humidity or moisture vapor emission rate exceeds the carpet and adhesive limits, a moisture-mitigation method shall be provided to reduce the effective vapor transmission reaching the carpet to within the product's tolerance.
+
+### The mitigation product shall be rated for the relative humidity actually measured at the slab, not for a generic condition.
+
+### The Contractor shall install the complete mitigation system — surface preparation (typically shot-blasting to the required profile), the membrane, and a compatible adhesive — per the membrane manufacturer's instructions.
+
+### For moderate excess a moisture-tolerant adhesive rated by its manufacturer for the relative humidity actually measured often suffices, while for higher conditions a two-component epoxy mitigation coating or a cementitious suppression system is installed over the prepared slab; a membrane rated to 95 percent RH is required for a 95 percent slab, and a membrane rated to a lower value will fail. {note}
+
+## Wood and Other Subfloors {toc}
+
+### Where carpet is installed over a wood subfloor or an approved panel underlayment rather than concrete, the substrate shall be of a type and grade recommended by the carpet manufacturer for carpet, shall be fastened to eliminate deflection and movement, and shall present a smooth, void-free surface with no fastener heads proud of the surface.
+
+### Wood subfloors over crawl spaces or unconditioned areas shall have the underside moisture condition controlled.
+
+### Single-layer subfloors that flex under load shall receive an approved underlayment.
+
+### Moisture migrating up through a wood subfloor debonds glue-down carpet just as slab moisture does, and carpet telegraphs and seams fail over a deflecting substrate. {note}
+
+# Installation {toc}
+
+## Layout {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Installation Method
+type: radio
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Carpet tile — releasable adhesive (full or grid)"
+ - "Carpet tile — free-lay with tackifier / perimeter and seam attachment"
+ - "Broadloom — direct glue-down"
+ - "Broadloom — double-glue over separate cushion"
+ - "Broadloom — stretch-in over separate cushion (tackless strip)"
+default: "Carpet tile — releasable adhesive (full or grid)"
+```
+
+### The Contractor shall establish the layout from the room centerlines or from the control lines shown on the [[drawing: finish plan]] so that pattern, pile direction, and tile orientation run as indicated and border pieces are balanced and of adequate width.
+
+### For carpet tile, the tile installation direction (monolithic, quarter-turn, ashlar, or other pattern) shall be as indicated, shall be consistent throughout each field, and the arrows on the tile back shall be oriented per the approved layout.
+
+### For broadloom, the seam layout and pile direction shall follow the approved seaming diagram.
+
+### Layout shall be dry-laid or chalk-lined and approved before any adhesive or tackifier is applied.
+
+### The installation method shall match the format, the backing, and the service conditions, and shall be one of the methods the carpet manufacturer approves for the product.
+
+### Stretch-in shall not be used in areas of heavy rolling traffic or where wet cleaning is frequent.
+
+### A floor installed without a planned layout produces slivers at one wall, misaligned pattern at thresholds, and seams in conspicuous, high-traffic locations. {note}
+
+### Carpet tile is installed with a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive applied as a full spread or in a grid pattern, or, for approved cushion-back and free-lay products, with a tackifier and perimeter or seam attachment; broadloom is installed by direct glue-down (the most durable method for heavy traffic and rolling loads), by double-glue (cushion glued to the slab and carpet glued to the cushion, adding comfort and acoustics), or by stretch-in (power-stretched over a separate cushion held at the perimeter by tackless strip, providing the most cushioned feel but the least resistance to rolling loads). {note}
+
+## Seaming — Broadloom {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Broadloom Seam Method
+type: radio
+drawing_ref: true
+options:
+ - "Hot-melt seam tape (glue-down and double-glue)"
+ - "Tackless-strip stretch-in with seam tape"
+ - "Not applicable — carpet tile"
+default: "Hot-melt seam tape (glue-down and double-glue)"
+```
+
+### Seams in broadloom shall be located per the approved seaming diagram, kept to the minimum number consistent with the roll width and the layout, positioned out of the main traffic path and pivot points and away from door openings where practical, and run with the primary traffic direction rather than across it where possible.
+
+### All cut edges that will form a seam shall be sealed with the seam adhesive or an edge sealer to prevent ravel and edge delamination.
+
+### The pile shall run in the same direction across every seam so that the seam is not made conspicuous by a change in light reflectance.
+
+### Seams shall be hot-melt-taped for glue-down and double-glue work and seam-taped within the stretch-in system, and in all cases the seam shall be flat, tight, and without peaking, gapping, or visible adhesive.
+
+### Failure to seal cut edges is the most common cause of seam ravel and is not correctable without re-seaming. {note}
+
+## Adhesive and Tackifier Application {toc}
+
+### Adhesive and tackifier shall be applied with the trowel notch or roller, coverage rate, open time, and working time specified by the manufacturer for the product and conditions.
+
+### For pressure-sensitive and tackifier products the film shall be allowed to dry clear and tacky before tile is laid.
+
+### The Contractor shall verify adhesive transfer to the back of the carpet by periodically lifting a piece and shall adjust the open time for the actual temperature and humidity in the space.
+
+### For wet-set carpet adhesives the two most common errors are working into wet adhesive before the required open time (which prevents the adhesive from grabbing) and working past the working time (which leaves the carpet sitting on skinned-over adhesive that never transfers). {note}
+
+## Rolling {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Post-Installation Rolling
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Required — roll glue-down broadloom and tile per manufacturer"
+ - "Not applicable — stretch-in installation"
+default: "Required — roll glue-down broadloom and tile per manufacturer"
+```
+
+### Glue-down broadloom and carpet tile shall be rolled with a roller of the weight specified by the manufacturer, in both directions, after placement, to ensure full adhesive transfer and contact across the entire surface, with particular attention to seams, edges, and tile joints.
+
+### Stretch-in installations shall not be rolled but shall be fully power-stretched in both directions and hooked onto the tackless strip at the perimeter.
+
+### Carpet that is placed but not properly rolled bonds only at the adhesive-ridge tops and at the tile centers and will release at the edges and seams, where the floor is most vulnerable. {note}
+
+# Field Quality {toc}
+
+## Moisture Test Verification {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall not install glue-down or tackifier carpet until the documented ASTM F2170 relative humidity, ASTM F1869 emission (where used), and ASTM F710 pH results have confirmed the subfloor is within the governing limits or until the specified mitigation has been installed and confirmed.
+
+### Where mitigation is installed, the Contractor shall verify that the mitigation product was rated for the relative humidity actually measured and was installed over the surface preparation the membrane manufacturer requires.
+
+## Installation Inspection {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Post-Installation Inspection Required
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Yes — full-area inspection under permanent lighting"
+ - "No"
+default: "Yes — full-area inspection under permanent lighting"
+```
+
+### After installation, the carpet shall be inspected under the permanent or equivalent lighting for full bond or proper stretch, with no bubbles, hollow or unbonded areas, edge curl, lifted or peaking seams, raveling edges, gapping or lifting tiles, telegraphing of subfloor defects, pattern or pile-direction misalignment, soiling, or trapped debris.
+
+### Hollow or unbonded areas shall be re-adhered or replaced, raveling edges re-sealed, and defective seams re-seamed.
+
+### The Contractor shall confirm by spot inspection that adhesive transfer occurred across the field and not only at edges and tile centers.
+
+# Cleaning and Initial Maintenance {toc}
+
+## Initial Cleaning and Protection {toc}
+
+### After installation, the carpet shall be vacuumed and cleaned of construction soil and debris by the method the carpet manufacturer specifies.
+
+### The carpet shall not be wet-cleaned until the adhesive has fully cured — typically several days for wet-set adhesives.
+
+### The finished carpet shall be protected from traffic and from other trades until the project is turned over, using a breathable protective covering that does not trap moisture against the carpet or transfer color or adhesive.
+
+### Non-breathable plastic taped directly to freshly installed carpet shall not be used.
+
+### Heavy furniture and concentrated rolling loads shall be kept off direct-glue and double-glue carpet until the adhesive has cured.
+
+### Introducing water at the bond line before cure can debond the carpet, and movement over uncured adhesive causes buckling and wrinkling. {note}
+
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## Carpet, adhesives, cushion, and accessories shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging with labels intact, identifying product, color, and dye lot.
+
+## Material shall be stored indoors in the conditioned installation environment, protected from moisture, soiling, freezing, and excessive heat.
+
+## Broadloom rolls shall be stored flat and not stood on end or stacked in a manner that distorts the roll or crushes the pile.
+
+## Carpet tile shall be stored flat in cartons as the manufacturer directs.
+
+## Material that has frozen or exceeded its shelf life shall be discarded.
+
+## All carpet for a continuous area shall be from the same dye lot wherever possible, and roll and tile sequence numbers shall be installed in manufactured sequence where the product is sequenced.
+
+## Adhesives and tackifiers have a limited shelf life and a minimum storage temperature below which they are damaged, and a dye-lot change within a single visual field will be apparent because color varies between dye lots. {note}
+
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Manufacturer Wear Warranty Period
+type: select
+unit: years
+options:
+ - "10 years (standard commercial)"
+ - "15 years (heavy commercial)"
+ - "20 years (heavy commercial / institutional)"
+ - "Lifetime limited (premium commercial systems)"
+default: "10 years (standard commercial)"
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Installation Workmanship Warranty Period
+type: select
+options:
+ - "1 year from substantial completion"
+ - "2 years from substantial completion"
+default: "1 year from substantial completion"
+```
+
+## The carpet manufacturer shall warrant the product against manufacturing defects and against excessive surface wear (loss of face fiber) under normal commercial use for the period stated, and where applicable against edge ravel, delamination, static beyond the rated limit, and loss of texture retention.
+
+## The Contractor shall warrant the installation — including subfloor preparation, adhesive bond or stretch, seaming and edge sealing, and transition work — against defective workmanship for the project warranty period.
+
+## The moisture and pH test record shall be retained and delivered as part of the warranty basis.
+
+## Most manufacturer warranties are void unless the subfloor moisture and pH conditions were within the product's stated limits and documented at the time of installation, and failures arising from subsequent water exposure, from cleaning or maintenance contrary to the manufacturer's instructions, or from loads or use beyond the product's rated application are excluded from both warranties. {note}
+
+# Spare and Extra Materials {toc}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Attic Stock Quantity
+type: range
+unit: % of installed area
+options:
+ min: 2
+ max: 5
+ step: 1
+default: 3
+```
+
+## The Contractor shall deliver to the Owner spare material of each carpet product, color, and pattern installed, in the percentage of installed area stated, in full unopened cartons or rolls labeled with the product, color, and dye lot.
+
+## Spare material shall be from the same dye lots as the installed carpet and shall be stored by the Owner in the conditioned environment recommended by the manufacturer.
+
+## Attic stock allows the Owner to repair damaged areas — and to replace individual soiled or worn carpet tiles — with material from the same dye lot as the original installation, which is essential because a later-purchased replacement will be from a different dye lot and might not match. {note}