Carpet flooring adds several significant benefits to the indoor climate, plus important safety aspects, acoustic benefits and increased energy efficiency.
Carpets are particularly welcome in winter. With the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, many people now spend most of their time indoors and, in winter especially, indoor environments play a vital role in our general well-being, health and productivity. Studies have shown that carpets are far better at trapping such allergens than hard surfaces, as each carpet fibre catches particles and allergens as they fall to the floor. Once these allergens are captured in the carpets, they are unable to circulate in the air. Regular vacuuming then removes these particles and allergens from the carpets, ensuring a healthier environment.
Dust particles in the indoor air can also cause symptoms such as irritation of the eyes and air passages, infections and headaches. Here also, scientific studies have shown that carpets can halve the amount of dust suspended in the air compared with hard flooring solutions and other smooth flooring solutions. Carpets bind dust, which can then be removed entirely with regular vacuuming and periodic steam cleaning.
Another winter benefit is that carpets not only offer warmth but contribute to overall heat retention. The fibres act as natural thermal insulators due to their low heat conduction so carpets do not draw warmth from the floor as quickly as smooth flooring does. The surface piles of carpets trap air and further increase thermal insulation. The thicker the carpet, the greater the degree of thermal insulation. A carpeted floor not only feels warmer but also provides underfoot comfort. It also does not require the same heating as a smooth surface because a carpeted floor generally does not feel colder even if the room’s temperature falls by up to 3 degrees Celsius – and this means significantly reduced energy bills. Installing a quality underlay beneath the carpet will further magnify the benefits and reduce energy use – and therefore costs – even further.
Because of their cushiony backing and many soft fibres, carpets provide excellent acoustical benefits and reduce noise by absorbing sound, rather than reflecting it as hard surfaces do. Some manufacturers even provide specialised acoustic backing for further dampening effect.
Carpets are also beneficial from an orthopaedic view as their soft and springy fibres have a cushion-like effect and the surfaces adapt to the feet, dividing the body weight evenly on the joints. Leading orthopaedic specialists therefore recommend carpets as a flooring choice to prevent back pain and injuries to joints.
Carpets are also recommended for areas where elderly people may be at risk from falls, slips and tripping as they provide a better foothold than smooth flooring materials. The carpet acts as an adhesive friction that lightly grabs the soles of the feet, so should an accident occur, the combination of soft carpet pile and backing makes a carpet much softer to land on with the consequences of any fall likely to be far less serious. Selecting the correct underfelt generally increases underfoot comfort and reduces wear on carpets.
Reduction of environmental impact and improvement of overall performance can be achieved in each life cycle of a carpet, ensuring high quality carpet plays an important role in efforts to reduce your project’s impact on the environment. If sustainability and environmental impact is of any importance to you or your client, be sure to select a carpet manufacturer that has implemented sustainable recycling systems, such as in force at most suppliers to KBAC Flooring.
(Source of information: Ege Carpets: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CARPETS)
