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Performance Tests

This tool uses five key carpet components to compare one carpet against another in terms of soiling and texture retention. You'll find The Carpet Appearance Index on the literature order form.

Or, visit the TCO Calculator online.

To ensure that your carpet will meet the needs of your facility, you can include industry test methods in your carpet specification to cover the majority of performance related issues.

The following guidelines describe the test methods and ratings needed for typical carpet applications. You can write the test method and the minimum standard into a carpet specification to ensure your carpet performance requirements are met.

For more information on carpet specifications, see How To Write a Specification or contact us.

Tuft Bind

Tuft bind is the force required to pull a tuft from the carpet backing.

Tuft bind (loop pile)-ASTM D1335

specify a minimum of 10 lbs-force (average)
specify a higher level if necessary for extra-heavy traffic

Tuft bind (cut pile)-ASTM D1335

specify a minimum of 5 lbs-force (average)

Delamination

Delamination is a deterioration of tufted carpet when the primary backing and face yarns separate from the secondary backing.

Delamination Test-ASTM 3936

specify a minimum of 4.0 lbs/in

Texture Retention

Texture retention is a carpet's ability to withstand crushing and matting. Although accelerated test methods do not directly compare with actual floor performance, they do give an indication of a carpet's ability to withstand crushing and matting.

Vetterman drum-ASTM D5417
For 22,000 cycles (loop pile), 5,000 cycles (cut pile).

Using CRI-3 Loop Pile Reference Scale, specify a minimum rating of 3 or
Using CRI-1 Cut Pile Reference Scale, specify a minimum rating of 3

Hexapod drum-ASTM D5252
For 12,000 cycles, 3000 cycles (cut pile)

Using CRI-3 Loop Pile Reference Scale, specify a minimum rating of 3
Using CRI-1 Cut Pile Reference Scale, specify a minimum rating of 3

Colorfastness

Colorfastness is a carpet yarn's ability to retain its original color. Color may be lost due to exposure to light or atmospheric contaminants or by rubbing off when wet or dry.

Lightfastness-AATCC 16 part 3
For conventionally dyed nylon, AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change rating after 80 AFUs should be no less than 3.
For solution dyed nylon, AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change rating after 200 AFUs should be 3-4 or better. (For direct sunlight exposure areas such as atriums, 4 or better may be required.)

Resistance to Crocking-AATCC 165

using AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale, specify a minimum rating of 4 for both wet and dry crocking

Atmospheric Fading-AATCC 129-Ozone and AATCC 164-Oxides of Nitrogen

using AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change, specify a minimum rating of 3 after 2 cycles

Static Control

Static control is the ability of the carpet to dissipate shock.

Static Control Test-AATCC 134

specify a static discharge that does not exceed 3.5 kV* (Some manufacturers use a topical treatment to achieve static control. AATCC 171 Hot Water Extraction should be specified with up to 2 cleanings prior to AATCC 134 to determine the durability of the topical treatment.)

*In some environments where electronic components are being assembled or where sensitive mainframe computers are used, static control much lower than 3.5 kV may be required. Generally these areas will also necessitate the use of other static-control measures, such as humidity control, special shoes, wrist straps and antistatic smocks. In these cases, please contact your mill representative for details.

Stain Resistance

Stain resistance is the amount of stain absorbed into the fiber.

Stain Resistance Test-AATCC 175

specify a minimum AATCC Red 40 Stain Scale rating of 6 if staining is a concern
specify a minimum AATCC Red 40 Stain Scale rating of 8 if staining is an important issue

(Some manufacturers use a topical stain resist treatment. Specify AATCC 171 Hot Water Extraction with up to 2 cleanings to determine the durability of the stain resist treatment.)

Soil Resistance

Soil resistance is the ability of a carpet to resist dry soil and maintain its original appearance after intermittent or restorative cleanings.

Fluorine Specification- AATCC 189
Measures the amount of soil resistance chemical on the fiber.

Initial Fluorine Specification

specify a carpet with an average of 3 fluorine analyses of a single composite sample to be a minimum of 500 ppm fluorine by weight

Fluorine Durability Specification

specify a carpet with an average of 3 fluorine analyses of a single composite sample to be a minimum of 400 ppm fluorine by weight after 2 AATCC 171 (HWE) cleanings

Flammability

Flammability is the amount of smoke or flames created when a carpet is ignited.

Methenamine Pill Test-CPSC FF 1-70-ASTM D2859

federal flammability requirement that all carpets must pass

Flooring Radiant Panel Test-ASTM E648 Simulates fire spread from a radiant ignition.

specify Class 1 to meet 0.45 watts/cm² or greater (usually required for exitways and corridors)
specify Class 2 to meet 0.22 watts/cm² to 0.44 watts/cm²

NBS Smoke Chamber Test-ASTM E662

Measures density of smoke produced by carpet in flaming and nonflaming modes.

specify a rating of less than 450Dm in flaming mode to meet most U.S. codes

Indoor Air Quality

The CRI Green Label is a designation given to carpets that have total VOCs (volatile organic compounds) of less than 0.5 mg/m²hr.

specify a maximum 0.5 mg/m²hr total VOC emission, ASTM D5116

Review a white paper on Carpet and Indoor Air Quality.

Test methods in this section are standard tests from ASTM, American Society for Testing and Materials, AATCC, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and CRI, The Carpet and Rug Institute.