09 68 00 – CARPETING

A. General Requirements:

1. Carpet tiles are preferred over rolled goods for durability and ease of replacement.

a. HDS – Broadloom carpet is not allowed.

2. Classrooms and lecture rooms shall be carpeted only when necessary for acoustic reasons.

3. Show layout of each carpet type installation on Layout Drawings at 1/8” scale or larger.

4. Submit for verification purposes a minimum of a 9” x 9” sample of each carpet required.

a. Samples shall be accompanied by Manufacturer’s Specification for each carpet required using terminology characteristics as listed in this Specification.

b. Also include a complete representation in sample form of all available colorations.

5. Submit Manufacturer’s printed maintenance recommendations for the care, cleaning, and maintenance of the carpet, including detailed instructions pertaining to hot water extraction methods.

6. All carpet of the same type in continuous areas shall be from the same dye lots.

a. Carpets that are piece dyed and are limited to dye batch sizes must be approved by the Project Representative.

b.  Transition from one dye lot to another shall be detailed on Shop Drawings and approved by Project Representative.

7. Deliver carpeting materials in original mill protective wrapping with mill register numbers and tags attached.

a. Maintain wrappers and protective covers in place until carpet is ready for installation.

b. Store inside, in well–ventilated areas, protected from weather, moisture and soiling.

8. Maintain temperatures in space in accordance with carpet or adhesive Manufacturer’s recommendations, but in no case less than 65°F for 24 hours prior to, during and after installation.

a. Subfloor temperature shall be a minimum 65°F for 24 hours prior to and after installation.

9. All carpet shall be stored in a room on site 24 hours prior to actual installation with the room preconditioned at a minimum of 65°F with relative humidity between 10% and 65%.

10. A calcium chloride test shall be performed on the concrete to detect the presence of moisture. Acceptable results require that moisture content does not exceed 8 lbs. per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours.

a. One calcium chloride test shall be performed for every 300 yards of carpet.

b. Relative Humidity ASTM F–2170 test method may be used in place of calcium chloride test.

c. Acceptable moisture limits are 85% maximum relative humidity.

d. Alkalinity tests shall also be performed at all moisture test locations.

e. PH shall register between 5 and 9.

f. All tests shall be documented and submitted to the Project Representative for approval prior to installation.

11. Carpet installation shall not begin until the Work of other trades is substantially completed.

12. Comply with Manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for installation of this type of carpet by the full glue down methods, including preparation of the subfloor.

13. Adhesives shall be waterproof, non–flammable, and recommended and approved by the carpet Manufacturer in writing for compatibility with carpet backing.

a. Adhesives shall have no calculated VOCs, be non–flammable, and meet the criteria of the CRI Green Label Plus Certification Program.

b. SDS and samples of product used shall be submitted. Adhesive shall have a Lifetime Bond Warranty from Manufacturer.

14. Carpeting shall be installed with the pile lying in the same direction (monolithic), unless another specified method is recommended by the Manufacturer or at Project Representative’s approval.

a. Cut carpet tile evenly and accurately to fit neatly at walls, columns and projections.

b. Extend carpet under open–bottomed and raised–bottom obstructions, and under removable flanges of obstructions.

15. Installed carpet tiles shall be free from ripples, ravels, frays and puckers.

a. All loop pile carpets shall demonstrate some fuzzy edges due to normal manufacturing conditions.

16. Do not bridge building expansion joins with continuous carpeting, provide for movement.

17. Vacuum installed carpet:

a. Remove spots in accordance with Carpet Manufacturer’s guidelines and replace carpet where spots cannot be removed.

b. Remove any protruding face yarn using sharp scissors.

c. Be certain to trim any loose yarns or fibers at all seams.

18. Following cleaning and vacuum carefully protect the carpeting from soiling and damage until final acceptance.

19. Protection shall be accomplished by using a protection paper.

a. Approved heavy, reinforced, non–staining kraft laminated paper.

i. Edges shall be lapped 6” and secured with non–asphaltic tape.

ii. Covering shall be kept in repair and damaged portions replaced during the construction and move–in period.

20. Furnish 5% additional yardage of each carpet type required; extra yardage is over and above any overage provided by Manufacturer.

a. Normal manufacturing overage not to exceed 10% for under 1000 yards, not to exceed 5% for over 1000 yards.

b. Deliver, prior to commencement of installation, to the Project Representative uncut in clearly market dust proof packages.

21. Deliver open packages of full–sized materials after installation to the Project Representative, properly packaged and identified.

a. Dispose of smaller pieces as construction waste.

B. Low–Traffic Carpeting:

1. General:

a. Fibers shall be 100% Type 6 or 6.6 BCF Nylon

b. Construction:

i. Loop, level, textured, or tip shear

c. Gauge:

i. No gauge restrictions

d. Average Pile Density:

i. Minimum of 5000 oz. per cubic yard as per CRI Density formula (36 in/yd x face weight in oz/sy)/pile thickness (inches)

e. Static Control:

i. < 3.5 kV when tested under American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) 134

f. Flammability:

i. Shall pass DOC–FF–1_70 Pill Test.

ii. Floor Radiant Panel:

a) Meets NFPA Class 1 when tested per ASTM E–648 glue down.

iii. NBS Smoke Chamber:

a) Less than 450 Flaming Mode per ASTM–E–662.

g. Moisture Barrier:

i. Passes Moisture Impact at 10,000 cycles or British Spill Testing

h. Indoor Air Quality:

i. Manufacturer must demonstrate that carpet is certified under the CRI Green Label Plus Program

i. Dyed Method:

i. Printed, solution dyed or yarn dyed, or combination of both (as long as all performance criteria are met)

j. Texture Retention Rating:

i. Vettermann Drum test method ASTM D5417 for 22,000 cycles with a minimum rating of 3.0 or Hexapod Test Method, ASTM D5252 for 12,000 cycles (8.4 lb. tumbler) with a minimum rating of 3.0.

ii. Rating using the appropriate Commercial Reference Scale for the construction per ASTM D7330 test method.

iii. Testing conducted without underpad or brushing.

C. High–Traffic Carpeting:

1. General:

a. Fibers shall be 100% Type 6 or 6.6 BCF Nylon

b. Construction:

i. Loop, level or textured

c. Gauge:

i. No gauge restrictions

d. Average Pile Density:

i. Minimum of 6000 oz. per cubic yard as per CRI Density formula (36 in/yd x face weight in oz/sy)/pile thickness (inches)

e. Static Control:

i. < 3.5 kV when tested under AATCC 134

f. Flammability:

i. Shall pass DOC–FF–1_70 Pill Test

ii. Floor Radiant Panel:

a) Meets NFPA Class 1 when tested per ASTM E–648 glue down

iii. NBS Smoke Chamber:

a) Less than 450 Flaming Mode per ASTM–E–662

g. Moisture Barrier:

i. Passes Moisture Impact at 10,000 cycles or British Spill Testing

h. Indoor Air Quality:

i. Manufacturer must demonstrate that carpet is certified under the CRI Green Label Plus Program

i. Dyed Method:

i. 100% solution dyed or solution dyed/yard dyed combination with a minimum of 75% solution dyed (as long as all performance criteria are met)

ii. Preference shall be given to 100% solution dyed products.

j. Stain Resistance:

i. AATCC TM 171 (HWE) for 2 cleanings to simulate removal of topical treatments by hot water extraction, followed by AATCC TM 175 Stain Resistance test; minimum rating of 8 using AATCC Red 40 Stain Scale

k. Texture Retention Rating:

i. Vettermann Drum test method ASTM D5417 for 22,000 cycles with a minimum rating of 3.5 or Hexapod Test Method, ASTM D5252 for 12,000 cycles (8.4 lb. tumbler) with a minimum rating of 3.5

ii. Rating using the appropriate Commercial Reference Scale for the construction per ASTM D7330 test method.

iii. Testing conducted without underpad or brushing

l. Colorfastness to Light:

i. AATCC TM 16.3 to 200 AFU’ minimum rating of 3–4 using AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change (applies only to 100% solution dyed products)

m. Colorfastness to Atmospheric Contaminants:

i. AATCC TM 164 (resistance to fade from oxides of nitrogen) and AATCC TM 129 (resistance to fade from ozone) for 2 cycles; minimum rating of 3–4 using AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change (applies only to 100% solution dyed products)

n. Colorfastness to Crocking:

i. AATCC TM 165, minimum rating of 4 using the AATCC Chromatic Transfer Scale (applies only to 100% solution dyed products)

D. Backing Characteristics:

1. Broadloom:

a. Primary Backing:

i. Synthetic Woven or Non–Woven

b. Secondary Backing:

i. Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) recyclable composite at a minimum of 12’–0” width, or Closed Cell Vinyl Backing System at a minimum of 6’–0” width where the following conditions are required:

a) Impermeable to moisture

b) Chemical or mechanical welded, water–tight seam impermeable to moisture and airflow

2. Modular:

a. Primary Backing:

i. Synthetic Woven or Non–Woven

b. Secondary Backing:

i. Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) recyclable composite or Closed Cell Vinyl Backing System

c. All tile sizes acceptable.

E. Warranties:

1. Definition of Lifetime:

a. Lifetime is defined as the period from which materials are installed until the date in which the Project Representative removes them from service.

2. Manufacturers shall provide a Lifetime Warranty, non–prorated, against failure covering all costs including freight, labor and material for the following:

a. Edge ravel

b. Back delamination

c. Superior tuft bind in high traffic environments, wet or dry

d. Static protection as stated above

e. Moisture Barrier pre–coat and backing

f.  Wear – no more than 10% face yarn loss

g. Adhesive failure

F. Environmental Attributes:

1. 100% recyclable carpet is preferred.

2. Carpet tile must meet the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) 140 Standard SCS Sustainable Choice – Gold or EPP California Gold.

3. Carpet tile must contain 15% post–or pre–consumer recycled content based on total weight.

4. Carpet mill must be International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certified or similar equal certification.

5. Low Emitting Materials:

a. Carpet and adhesives must meet the Low Emitting Materials standards as outlined in U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria.

b. Adhesives must meet VOC emissions standards per South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule # 1168 and CRIs Green label plus.

6. End of Life Reclamation:

a. Carpet tile must have an existing methodology actively in place to achieve landfill diversion. Carpet reclamation program shall be through Carpet Manufacturer’s recycling program.

7. Products must have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Life Cycle Assessment.

a. The EPD must meet ISO 14025 and be based on 2012 PCR (Product Category Rule) for Environmental Product Declarations Flooring: Carpet