ActionBac:
SBR latex precoat and secondary coat laminated to a woven secondary backing. Industry standard for broadloom; cost effective, with good pattern match capabilities.

AATCC standard tests:
Methods for testing various finished carpet characteristics. Contact American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, PO Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-549-8141.

ASTM standard tests:
Methods for testing various finished carpet characteristics. Contact American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia PA 19103, 215-299-5400.

Average pile yarn density (typically expressed in ounces per cubic yard):
A calculation measuring the amount of fiber by weight within an area of carpet. Numbers are important for establishing a connection between carpet construction and performance (wearability, appearance retention, and resilience).

Average pile yarn weight (expressed in ounces per square yard):
Mass or weight of pile yarn above the primary backing and hidden or buried below the backing. ASTM D-418 calls for chemical testing to determine this characteristic.

c

Colorfastness to crocking:
Color transfer from carpet surface to another surface by rubbing. AATCC-164 (Crockmeter Method) grades color transference based on a standard scale that ranges from 5 (no color transference) to 1 (severe transference). Rating of 4 is minimum, wet or dry.

Colorfastness to light:
Ability of carpet to retain color after extended exposure to light. An accelerated fading test is performed, using a xenon light source for a specified time period (Continuous Light AATCC-16, option E). On a scale of 5 (no color change) to 1(severe change), sample is graded for color loss. Minimum is 4 after 40 AATCC fading units.

d

Delamination:
Separation of carpet’s primary and secondary backings.

Delamination strength of secondary backing (expressed in pounds of force per inch width):
A measure of the force required to strip secondary backing from the primary carpet layer. Important as a predictor of delamination occurrence due to the flexing of carpet caused by high traffic or heavy rolling objects. Determined by ASTM D-3936. Minimum average value is 2.5 pounds of force per inch.

Dimensional stability of modular carpet tile:
A determination of dimensional changes under varying moisture conditions (maximum tolerance of +/- 0.2%). Relates to delamimation strength.

e

e.g. environmentally guaranteed:
Designation indicating that backing and nylon face fiber have recycled content and are 100% recyclable and recycled in a closed-loop system (backing to backing, face to face). (Note: Every Shaw slc product of Eco Solution Q yarn has recycled content, though it may not be included in the e.g. products listing.)

EcoSolution Q:
fully recyclable nylon 6 BCF yarn with post-consumer and post-industrial waste content. Equal in performance and quality to other solution-dyed, branded commercial fibers. Colorfast, easily maintained, and resistant to bleach. EcoSolutionQ yarn may be recycled repeatedly into more EcoSolutionQ yarn.

Ecoworx SQ and Ecoworx 6:
SQ refers to modular carpet tile; 6 refers to 6-foot width. Performance precoat laminated to a proprietary, state-of-the-art thermoplastic polyolefin compound with a fiberglass reinforcing layer. Environmentally responsible -- 100% non-PVC, no chlorine or chemical plasticizers, extremely low in VOCs. Performance equal to or better than PVC; weighs 40% less. Ecoworx backing can be recycled repeatedly into more Ecoworx backing.

Edge ravel:
A condition in installed carpet when the edges begin to ravel at the seams.

Electrostatic propensity (expressed as kilovolts, or kV):
The tendency of carpet to produce static when walked upon. Measured using AATCC-134, which requires laboratory procedures simulating expected use, under testing conditions of 20% relative humidity. Less than 3.5 kV should exist for general carpeted areas.

Ergoflex RA6:
Performance precoat laminated to a heavyweight polyurethane foam pad with a polyurethane compound and a mill-applied releasable adhesive. Enhanced cushion comfort underfoot, mill-applied releasable adhesive, no delamination or edge ravel, sealable seams / warranted moisture barrier.

Ergoflex SQ:
Performance precoat laminated to a fiberglass-reinforced 18-lb.-density polyurethane foam pad with a proprietary adhesive compound. Enhanced cushion comfort underfoot, excellent dimensional stability, no delamination or edge ravel.

f

Fastness:
the property of a dye to retain it’s color when the dyed material is exposed to conditions or agents such as light, atmospheric gases, or washing that can remove or destroy the color. A dye may be reasonably fast to one agent and only moderately fast to another. Degree of fastness of color is tested by standard procedures.

Flooring radiant panel (measured in watts per square centimeter):
Test often required on commercial carpet due to local, state, and federal regulations; occupancy; and/or certain building or fire codes. Normally, codes require radiant panel testing on carpet for corridors and exit areas. A radiant-heat energy source is used in the ASTM E-648 test to determine the “critical radiant flux,” which is the minimum radiant energy needed for fire to be sustained on the flooring material. Carpet is rated Class I or II (Class I is an average minimum rating of 0.45 watts per sq. cm., and Class II is an average minimum rating of 0.22 watts per sq. cm. or greater).

i

Indoor air quality (IAQ):
As determined by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s testing program, the emission rates of volatile organic compounds produced by carpet products. Total VOCs not to exceed 0.5 mg/m2/hr.

l

lightfastness:
The degree of resistance of dyed materials to the color-destroying influence of sunlight. Two methods of testing are in use: 1) exposure to sunlight, either direct or under glass, and 2) accelerated testing in a laboratory apparatus equipped with any of several types of artificial light sources.

m

Medium-scale pattern:
Pattern of moderate size and configuration.

Methanamine reagent pill test:
Small-scale ignition test to determine flammability (ASTM D-2859), which is required of all carpet sold in the U.S. Under the requirements of FF 1-70 (flammable fabrics) as found in 16 CFR 1630 (Code of Federal Regulations), seven of eight tested specimens must pass.

Monolithic:
Installation method used with modular carpet in which tiles are placed with the pattern direction, or grain, facing the same way. A monolithic installation may have an appearance more like broadloom, because individual tiles are de-emphasized.

Multilevel pattern cut loop:
Loop carpet with a small- to large-scale pattern -- organic, geometric, or abstract in design -- created by the use of multiple pile heights and textures, finished by cutting or shearing a portion of the loops.

Multilevel pattern loop:
Loop carpet with a small- to large-scale pattern -- organic, geometric, or abstract in design -- created by the use of multiple pile heights and textures.

o

Organic pattern:
Pattern, usually curvilinear and flowing, that reflects natural, living organisms.

p

Pattern loop:
Loop carpet with a graphic or random pattern created through combinations of yarns and colors, with all loops at the same level.

Permabac 6:
High performance backing for 6-foot rolls. Performance precoat and a compounded PVC composite with a fiberglass reinforcing layer. Excellent dimensional stability, no delamination or edge ravel, sealable seams / warranted moisture barrier.

PermaBac SQ:
High performance backing for modular carpet tile. Performance precoat and a compounded PVC composite with a fiberglass reinforcing layer. Excellent dimensional stability, superior seam integrity, no delamination or edge ravel.

Permabac with FlorSept:
Permabac backing incorporating Florsept antimicrobial treatment.

Piece-dyed:
Carpet whose color is achieved by dying the tufted, unbacked fabric, either in a batch or by continuous process.

Pile thickness / tuft height:
Using ASTM D-418, an accurate laboratory determination is made of pile thickness for level-loop carpet and tuft height for cut-pile carpet. Such numbers are important for determining average pile yarn density.

q

Quarter-turned:
Installation method used with modular carpet in which tiles are placed at right angles to each other in terms of pattern direction, or grain. This method uses the differing grain directions to create a pattern on the floor; the “tile-ness” of the installation is emphasized.

r

Random tip shear:
Loop carpet with a luxurious surface texture created by the shearing of loop tips in a random manner.

s

Sisal texture:
Carpet fabric that emulates natural-fiber woven materials in appearance; very linear in character.

Size and thickness of modular carpet tile:
A physical measurement is taken to determine compliance to dimensional specifications.

Small-scale texture:
Product whose small-sized combinations of yarn, color, and construction create an overall textured look.

Solid cut:
Carpet whose tufted yarns are sheared evenly across the top, producing a velvety surface.

Solid texture:
Solid-color cut, loop, or cut/loop product that has a distinct textured surface.

Solution-dyed:
Carpet whose color pigments have been extruded into the fiber itself as the fiber and yarn are manufactured.

t

Textured cut loop:
Loop carpet with subtle or random surface texture created by color and construction, with some loops cut.

Textured loop:
Loop carpet with subtle or random surface texture created by construction and/or color.

Tuft bind:
The amount of force necessary to loosen pile from the primary backing, as determined by ASTM D-1335. Tuft bind is related to carpet’s ability to withstand snagging and zippering. For loop pile only, minimum average value is 10 pounds.

Tufts per square inch:
Number of stitches or tufts within a square inch of carpet fabric. ASTM D-418 gives instructions on best ways to obtain this number.

Tweed texture:
Product with heathered or other multicolored yarns used to create a soft, all-over tweed look.

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U

Ultraloc MP:
High-performance polymer compound with a woven secondary backing. Excellent wet / dry tuft bind, no delamination and no edge ravel, excellent pattern match on any style, warranted moisture barrier.

Ultraloc Pattern:
High-performance, enriched SBR latex backing. No edge ravel. Lifetime warranty.

Unitary:
High-strength SBR latex backing applied to the back of the carpet face with no secondary backing. Has high level of tuft bind, edge ravel, and delamination strength. Cost effective for nonpatterned constructions.

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