All information on this page is copied material from Gulvfakta, which is a technical reference material, Source: Gulvfakta

1.2.0.1 Introduction
Textiles is originally a term for products that are produced by a weaving or tufting process. Textiles have a number of good properties that make them suitable for floor coverings. In everyday speech, textile floor coverings are simply called carpets . They can be made from several different material types such as wool and nylon and in different constructions.

Textile floor coverings can be divided into the following main categories according to DS/EN 1307:
• Rugs with pile (tufted and woven)
• Rugs without pile (flat woven)
• Flat needle felt
• Needle felt with pile
They are produced by different methods. The methods tufting and weaving are the most widespread methods. By combining manufacturing methods, backing types and additional materials (auxiliary materials) for the yarns, you can "customize" the carpets and, for example, make them anti-static and improve their fire-technical properties.

The chapter contains:
• Introduction
• CE marking of textile floor coverings
• Production of textile floor coverings
• Choice of carpet type
• Usage classes
• The importance of colors and patterns for the appearance of the carpets
• Requirements for the place of execution
• Testing and classification
• Overview of classified textile floor coverings
• Appendix - Basis for classification
The section deals with textile floor coverings, as defined in the standard ISO 2424. The classification of textile floor coverings is based on DS/EN 1307.

Floor coverings for private homes fall outside the descriptions in Floor Facts. Therefore, only the classification of carpets for the contract market (business) is discussed in what follows. In the sections you can e.g. read about what considerations should be made before deciding to use textile floor coverings. Later in the section, the technical requirements that must be documented in order to have a covering recorded as a classified textile floor covering in the Floor Industry are described.

1.2.0.2 CE marking
Textile floor coverings must be CE marked. The harmonized standard DS/EN 14041, which is the basis for the CE marking, applies to production and use in Europe.
It is the manufacturer or the dealer who markets the product who is responsible for the CE marking.

The properties covered by the standard appear in annex ZA in DS/EN 14041:
• Reaction in case of fire
• Pentachlorophenol (PCP) content
• Release of formaldehyde
• Water tightness
• Slip resistance
• Antistatic properties
• Thermal conductivity
• Durability of response to fire
CE marking is not a quality mark, but is a harmonized standard that acts as the flooring's passport within the European Community.

The CE mark can be printed on the roll's packaging or a label stuck on the packaging.

Figure 1 shows examples of how the CE marks can be designed. Figure 2 shows examples of the pictograms that can be included in the labelling.

Fig. 1

Figure 1. Example of CE marking of textile floor coverings. The example applies to textile floor coverings under system 1 according to the standard's annex ZA.

Fig. 2

Figure 2. Example of CE marking that will appear in the technical data sheet for a textile floor covering.

1.2.0.3 Production of textile floor coverings
Textile floor coverings are mainly produced by either tufting or weaving, with tufting being the most widespread production method. When making tufted carpets, the yarn is sewn into a carrier fabric using a tufting machine. In order to strengthen the anchoring of the pile yarn in the carrier fabric, carpets are provided with a glue coating, on which a backing is laid, which is typically latex, a synthetic fabric, felt, PVC or bitumen.

In the production of woven carpets, the process takes place by interweaving the pile yarn with longitudinal yarns (called warp yarns) and transverse yarns (called weft yarns). The yarn consists of fibers that can be made of wool, polyamide (nylon), polyester, acrylic or polypropylene. Yarns are also used where wool and polyamide are mixed in a ratio of 80/20.

Fig. 3. Construction of tufted carpet

Fig. 4. Construction of woven carpet

Technical information - general
Textile floor coverings are available in different variants, each of which is available in many colors and patterns. Textile floor coverings are primarily produced as track goods, but are also available as carpet tiles . Many people find that textile floor coverings provide good walking comfort and that they have good acoustic properties (sound reduction). In addition, they have a surface structure which means that dust particles are captured and retained. The properties depend on the type/structure and materials used.
Selection of textile floor coverings
A decision about which carpet to use in a specific situation should be made on the basis of an assessment of the carpet's properties. When choosing carpet coverings, at least the following should be taken into account:
• Traffic intensity, especially when using chairs with wheels
• Authority requirements for fire properties
• Electrostatic personal charging
• Maintenance
• Color and pattern

1.2.0.4 Classification
DS/EN 1307, which is a harmonized European standard, is used to document the performance characteristics of carpets.

The standard classifies carpets in 3 classes in relation to the traffic intensity:

Table 1. European symbols for utility classes

Table 2. Guidance. connection between use classes and room types

When choosing carpet coverings, it should be considered whether other properties, which are not included in the classification, are important and decisive for choosing the carpet covering. The following should be considered:
• Footstep sound reduction
• Acoustic attenuation
• Suitability for use in rooms with sensitive electronic equipment
• Suitability for areas where transport vehicles are used
• Heat transmission resistance
• Suitability for use in rooms with underfloor heating
• Vapor diffusion resistance
When designing, it must be ensured that the combination of subfloor, glue and carpet covering fits together.

The importance of colors and patterns for the appearance of the carpets
Colors and patterns are of decisive importance for the perception of the carpet's appearance and cleaning, for example soiling is perceived worse on a bright, solid-coloured carpet than on a patterned carpet with dark colours.

1.2.0.5 Requirements for the place of execution, testing and classification
It is important that textile floor coverings and any lime is acclimatised before application. The materials must therefore be placed in the room at least one day before the start of work. If the carpet is to be fully adhered to the subfloor, the temperature in the air and the subfloor must be 17 - 25 °C and the humidity 30 - 75% RH. Read more about requirement specifications for floor adhesives.
If the carpet is to be glued directly onto cast decks, the concrete's pore moisture (residual build-up moisture) must be no more than 90% RH. Always follow the supplier's instructions.
Read more about moisture technical requirements and moisture measurement.
The subfloor must have the same flatness as required by the finished floor, normally ± 2 mm on a 2 m straight log.
There must not be strong drafts or strong sunlight when the carpet is laid.
Conditions in connection with laying and use
Carpet webs must always lie in the same direction in the room and webs from the same production batch must be used. It is important that the lanes are laid out in the order of the roll numbers within the same batch. If a roll is split lengthwise, it is important that the egg edge is placed against the egg edge to avoid color and texture differences in the joints. As a general rule, the tracks are laid with the joints perpendicular to the most light-giving window wall.
For patterned carpets, it is important that they are checked for pattern matching before laying.
Joints must be made by clean cutting of edges and with pattern matching in the case of patterned carpets. The supplier's instructions on the execution of additions and cuts must be followed. Gatherings should be avoided as far as possible in the most exposed places, e.g. at doorways, entrance areas and under office chairs with wheels. Joints should not be carried out across the production direction of the carpet. Furniture, fixtures etc. must not be placed on the carpet before the glue has hardened. When laying carpet on stairs, you should always finish with a stair front edge.
Laying methods
There are many different methods of carpet laying. It is therefore important to consider which method best suits the task.
• Full fixation - carpets are fixed on the entire floor slope
• Wet gluing - the carpet is laid in a wet dispersion glue laid out with a notched trowel
• Slip gluing - carpets are laid in a wet dispersion glue laid out with a notched trowel on a slip-primed floor
• Wet fixing - the carpet is laid in a wet fixing glue laid out with a roll. Should only be used on a puttyed subfloor
• Adhesive gluing/fixing - the carpet is mounted on finger-dry adhesive applied with a roll. Should only be used on a puttyed subfloor
• Dry fixing - the carpet is mounted on a fixed base of full-surface tape
• Loose laying - the carpet is loosely laid but fixed with tape or glue at the ends and/or at the sides
• On grip strips - the carpet is stretched on grip strips with a felt underlay

Back types and recommended methods
++: Recommended
+: Can be used
0: Not possible/current

1) Coverings larger than 25 m² should always be fully fixed.
Carpeting on grip strips requires a woven backing and is only rarely used in Denmark. The method is therefore not discussed further in Floor Facts.

Cover
To avoid damage to the carpet, the finished floor should be covered with materials that protect against the subsequent load until commissioning takes place. Only diffusion-open materials should be used and not dense plastic or "milk carton". Walkways and other stressed or exposed areas should be covered with hard wood fiber boards, which are taped in the joints.
Cleaning
The future users must be informed about correct cleaning, as incorrect cleaning can cause damage to the carpet.
Vacuuming is used for daily cleaning.
The supplier's instructions on cleaning must be followed.
Classification
Carpets with pile are classified according to DS/EN 1307. The most important properties can be found in table 3 - basic requirements, table 19 - functional requirements and Annex A - Carpet tiles specific requirements
Change in appearance
The carpets are tested according to the ISO 10361 standard.
A carpet sample is placed on the inside of a rotating drum (Vettermann), where a walking load is simulated using a steel ball. The test piece is evaluated after short- and long-term testing. The test items are assessed according to DS/EN ISO 9405.
Suitability for use with office chairs with wheels
The carpets are tested according to DS/EN 985, which simulates the long-term effects of an office chair with wheels. Three wheels placed in a circle rotate about an axis in the center of the circle. The wheels are loaded with 90 kg. The test piece is evaluated after short- and long-term testing. The test items are assessed according to DS/EN ISO 9405.
Edge strength
The carpets are tested according to DS/EN 1814. A carpet sample is placed on the inside of a rotating drum (Vettermann), where a walking load is simulated using a steel ball. The test pieces are provided with an oblique cut lengthwise so that the edges are affected by the steel ball.
The carpet assembly is assessed according to Annex D in DS/EN 1307.
Light fastness
In the test according to DS/EN ISO 105-B02, the color change is determined as a result of exposure to light during indoor use. The carpet sample is illuminated together with 8 reference fabrics.
The carpet sample is assessed by comparison with a reference fabric. The result is given as a grade between 1 and 8, with 8 being the best.
Rub resistance
Testing is carried out according to DS/EN ISO 105-X12, where color transfer is determined on a piece of white cotton in both dry and wet conditions. The contamination is determined using a gray scale (DS/EN ISO 105-A03). The result is given as a grade between 1 and 5, with 5 being the best.
Water resistance
Testing is carried out according to DS/EN ISO 105-E01, where color change and contamination due to water exposure is determined. A piece of multi-fibre fabric is placed on top of the carpet sample and the "sandwich" is soaked with water and subsequently dried. After drying, the carpet sample is compared with the original sample and the color change is determined using a gray scale (DS/EN ISO 105-A02).
Likewise, contamination on multifibre is determined using a gray scale (DS/EN ISO 105-A03).
The result is given as a grade between 1 and 5, with 5 being the best.
Fiber retention
On carpets with pile, testing of fiber retention is carried out according to DS/EN ISO 12951 using the Lisson machine, where a rotating wheel with attached rubber soles exerts an abrasion effect on the carpet.
In the case of loop carpets, the patchiness is assessed by comparison with a reference photo.
For carpets with cut pile, the mass loss is determined.
Pilling
On carpets without pile, the pilling tendency test is carried out according to DS/EN ISO 12951 testing using the Lisson machine, where a rotating wheel with fitted rubber soles exerts an abrasion effect on the carpet.
The sample is compared with a reference scale (photo scale).
Dimensional stability
The dimensional stability of flooring products is tested according to ISO 2551, while the dimensional stability of carpet tiles is tested according to DS/EN 986.
With both methods, the carpet is exposed to varying conditions in terms of temperature and humidity. After which the dimensional changes (under these extreme conditions) are determined.
Electrostatic personal charging
Testing is carried out according to ISO 6356, which determines the electrostatic personal charge when a person wearing standardized footwear walks on a floor covering.
When the test result at 25% RH is less than 2 kV, few people will experience shock discomfort.
The term permanent antistatic means that the electrostatic properties are controlled by conductive permanent antistatic fibers.
Fire properties
Testing of carpets' fire properties is carried out according to DS/EN ISO 9239-1 and classified according to DS/EN 13501-1.
Carpets that are used in escape routes and other areas with requirements for fire and smoke development must in Denmark have documentation to at least meet the European fire class Dfl-s1 (class G floor covering).
Dfl = class for flame spread.s1 = class for smoke development.

1.2.0.6 Expectations for textile floor coverings
Our experience of a product is to a very large extent governed by the expectations we have of it.
The flooring industry has prepared a leaflet that addresses the expectations you as a consumer can rightly have for floors with textile floor coverings.
Read or download the expectations leaflet on textile floor coverings.