Form follows flooring function

Building Operating Management, Nov 1998 by Mersch, Laurie

THE DEMAND FOR MODULAR CARPET tiles continues to grow. The size of the market has risen 40 percent in this decade. Carpet tile now accounts for nearly 10 percent of the commercial carpet market. What is driving growth? The changing needs of corporate offices. With the growing use of teaming, outsourcing and hoteling, office space has to provide a flexible environment. In addition, office employees are becoming technologically dependent. After all, this is an age where every office worker has a personal computer and phone, among the other electronic office needs, like fax machines and copiers.

The result has been an increase in the willingness of facility executives to invest in flexibility: spending more up front in order to reduce life-cycle costs related to change. Increasingly, that has translated into the use of modular carpet.

Another driver in the carpet tile market is aesthetics. Modular carpeting can now offer a more monolithic look - the ability to incorporate seams into the design. "It's like the seams of a shirt," says Tim Baucom, vice president, marketing, Shaw Industries. "The seams are in logical places, so they don't offend anyone."

Flexibility

When considering carpeting, "the bottom line is that you buy for function first," says Mark Thoman, business director of Modular Systems for Mannington Commercial. That means taking a hard look at the way the carpet will have to perform in a given space.

Consider an office that uses systems furniture and access flooring. "Up to one-third of a company's stations are reconfigured each year," says Baucom. Though the furniture movement itself occurs on top of the carpeting, phone lines and computer cables need to be reconfigured each time a station moves. The ease by which the tiles can be removed and reinstalled make carpet tile the choice in this situation.

The next question is what size tile to use. Because of the increased need to access underfloor systems, 36-inch by 36-inch tiles were introduced in the market about four years ago as an alternative to the traditional 18-inch by 18-inch squares. "The bigger tile means fewer tiles need to be removed when accessing a raised flooring system," says Dean Thompson, director of marketing for Milliken Carpet, Commercial Markets.

Other tile sizes, such as 24-inch by 24inch, are also available.

Most carpet tile manufacturers also have a partnership with a raised flooring company so customers can purchase the raised flooring and carpet tiles as a package.

When it's time to change carpet, the installation of modular tiles causes minimal disruption in work flow. Most manufacturers offer some type of lift system. These systems raise the office furniture a couple of feet off the floor, allowing enough room to remove and replace the carpet tiles. The furniture doesn't need to be broken down, and cables don't need to be disconnected. Gains

One of the major design innovations has been the ability to incorporate seams into the design of a floor. "The design community has become more comfortable incorporating the seams into the design," says Baucom of Shaw Industries. "You're not trying to hide them anymore.

Innovation in the application of patterns has improved the appearance of modular carpeting. Previously, the patterns on the tile were tufted into the fibers. Today, some carpet tile manufacturers have begun to apply the pattern to each tile, allowing for a more precise design.

Design freedom also comes from various tile sizes. For example, it's fairly common to quarter-turn the tiles, transforming a square into a diamond, as part of the design.

The design can also highlight specific areas of a facility and create pathways to control traffic flow.

Carpet tiles also offer the appeal of design flexibility. "Carpet tiles hold unlimited design potential," says Alex Jaurequi, vice president and general manager for modular carpets for Lees Carpets.

Better Backings

Over the last several years, one area of carpet tile has seen many innovations: backing. This includes the manufacturing of the backing, as well as in the comfort and performance levels.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was once the industry standard. However, in the mid-80s concern arose about the toxicity of smoke emitted if tiles burned.

According to CRI, the most commonly used hard-backing system today is a PVC backing that has been modified to reduce smoke emissions and toxicity. At least one manufacturer reinforces its PVC backing with fiberglass, using a closed-cell structure for cushioning.

Today's cushion backings are constructed mostly of primary and secondary polypropylene. One study found that tiles with a cushion backing retained their appearance longer than those with other types of backing. Also, according to the study, the cushioned carpet reduced the amount of shock to the leg muscles.

One manufacturer recently introduced a high-density polycarbite urethane cushion backing that, according to the company, offers improved comfort and can be recycled after components are separated.