The Significance of Entry Flooring Systems
LEED® Standards for Green Buildings
The green building movement in this country has given rise to quantifiable rating systems that seek to establish specific levels of achievement in the creation and performance of green buildings. The best known of these green building rating systems has been developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is known as the LEED rating system. This is actually a family of ratings that apply to different building situations (e.g. new or existing buildings, core and shell, interiors) and in some cases building types (schools, health care, retail, homes, etc.). All of the LEED rating systems have been subject to ongoing changes and updates since their inception, but the basic categories of defining green buildings have remained the same across the different versions over time.
One of the key areas of the LEED rating systems is Indoor Environmental Quality. Within that portion, consideration for credit is specifically given to buildings that include “walk-off” flooring systems that remove dirt and other contaminants as a way to control indoor pollutant sources. Metal grid mat systems have consistently been recognized for their ability to meet this requirement and obtain LEED credit. However, there is currently some debate about accepting textile-based systems, so that should be verified through a credit interpretation request (CIR) to the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) an independent administrator of the LEED program for the USGBC.
Beyond the indoor pollutant control credit, it is possible that entrance flooring systems may contribute to other LEED credits such as recycled content and regional materials. Those will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, practices, consults and writes about sustainable design and practice solutions nationwide. www.linkedin.com/in/pjaarch
Textile entrance mats can be custom designed with colors, and even logos and patterns. Photo courtesy of Forbo Flooring Systems |
Specifying Entrance Flooring Systems
In writing specifications for entrance flooring systems, the first thing to determine is which type is appropriate to your particular project. Of course, it may be that both grid mat systems and textile mat systems have a place in the final design. Nonetheless, here are some guidelines for each.
Textile Mat Systems
A good quality textile entrance matting system incorporated into entry zones provides a very effective way to stop up to 90 percent of walked in dirt and moisture in addition to the corresponding cleaning cost saving in the rest of the building. Manufacturers offer a range of solutions for different building applications and entrance zones.
Specifying this type of entry system means to call for the best possible fabric type. Common carpeting fabric such as wool or cotton which are staple fibers tend to fray or wear in heavy use. More commonly, manufactured bulk continuous filaments (BCF) are more suitable to entrance mat systems since they are made from single continuous strands that are not prone to fraying. They also perform very well when it comes to other features such as wear, compression, recovery, and dirt/stain resistance. They are easy to clean and can be anti-static, fire resistant and color fast all while holding up against rot and deterioration over time. Note that different BCF choices will provide different results. Polypropylene and polyester for example do not provide good fire resistance and do not perform as well on compression. Polyamide does not have these shortcomings.
Pile type selection is also significant in specifying textile entrance mat systems. Just like carpet, the common choices are looped pile or cut pile. In terms of addressing the four R's, cut pile performs better in all cases. The open nature of cut pile allows it to act like a broom across the bottom of shoes and wheeled entrance traffic. These open areas make it easy for the dirt to fall into the openings and be retained deep in the fabric. When vacuumed, the open nature of the fabric again allows the release of dirt, debris and moisture out of the deep recesses. Finally, the cut pile is restored better by a brush vacuum than looped pile since it can more fully be extended and opened up.
Recognizing the need to work with a variety of interior design schemes, manufacturers offer a significant array of color choices for textile entrance mat systems. How that color is added is important, though, since two processes are typically used. Solution-dyed fibers are colored all the way through meaning that they are very resistant to wear in heavy traffic and use patterns. Space-dyed fibers offer more color choices, but are only surface applied, meaning they may wear off sooner. It is possible to work with manufacturers to have custom coloring and shapes or even company logos created in these entrance mat systems. For areas where there is a heightened risk of fire or as required for code egress requirements, textile mats can be supplied with a flame retardant latex backing.
Different weights and configurations of textile mat systems can be used in all types of entrance areas which make it an ideal solution when an entrance flooring system is needed that can simultaneously absorb moisture and remove dry soiling. Research has shown that after as few as just two steps across textile systems they can absorb almost 50 percent of foot-borne moisture. Alongside its excellent moisture absorbing properties, textile mats actively scrape dirt off the soles of shoes when the proper fabric is specified. In some cases, an alternating pattern of densities can retain 10 percent more dirt in the first few yards than any other textile entrance flooring system, which makes it an ideal choice for smaller entrances. Some textile systems are available with a rich pile height and luxurious appearance such that they don't look like a traditional matting system. Nonetheless, they are in fact an ideal clean-off solution for light to medium traffic areas where aesthetic appeal is a top priority. These features make it particularly well suited to entrance lobbies, corridors and reception areas. Because of its luxurious look and feel, this deceptive soil and moisture barrier blends particularly well with other carpeted areas of the building.
At the other end of the spectrum, a very coarse and heavy duty or medium duty textile system is also available from manufacturers. They recognize that to get the most out of an entrance flooring system, it often pays to start outside by scraping the soles of shoes and the treads of wheeled traffic before they even cross the threshold, thus removing the largest particles of soil at the earliest opportunity. In these situations a versatile non-woven clean-off barrier mat can be specified. These systems include the addition of granulated PVC chips that help to create a slip resistant surface.
When looking at green attributes of textile mat systems, it is indeed possible to specify products that are made substantially from recycled material. At least one manufacturer takes great pride in their achievement of virtually zero landfill material leaving their advanced and environmentally conscious manufacturing plant. Some are even certified as green products by independent third parties, making them all the more attractive and desirable in many buildings.
Finally, many of the best textile mat systems carry substantial warranties of up to 5 years. When evaluating products of this type, it is worth looking at these warranties to see what is and what is not covered and specify accordingly.