Why carpet is The Healthy Flooring Option

Practical benefits of carpets

As well as the obvious features carpet gives consumers wide practical benefits which are often forgotten

Absorbs pollutants

For better indoor air quality

Ease of cleaning

The practical flooring solution

Heat Insulation

which can generate significant energy savings

A non slip surface

For safety with a forgiving impact

Comfort and warmth

giving an incomparable luxury feel

Carpet for Healthy Living

Claims that carpet has a major impact on asthma have no reliable scientific basis for the following reasons

• Airborne dust mite allergens can trigger asthma attacks when inhaled but carpet acts as a filter trapping these particles in the pile, reducing the possibility of inhalation.
• A study by the German Asthma and Allergy Foundation (DAAB) has shown that the air over smooth floor coverings contains, on average, 62.9 µg/m³, whilst over carpet the average was 30.4µg/m³. Carpet is therefore their recommended floor covering for those prone to asthma.
• Normal household cleaning on a regular basis with a good quality vacuum cleaner removes most allergen, dust and pollutants from carpet.
• Where a significant decline in carpet use has taken place asthma cases have risen dramatically. In Sweden, where health hysteria led to a 77% reduction in carpet use over a 15 year period between 1975 and 1990 the incidence of asthma increased by over 300% in the same period.
• Good ventilation with temperature and humidity control will limit dust mite populations and reduce indoor allergen loads.
• No scientific studies have ever proved that the total removal of carpet on its own has ever clinically benefited asthma patients
• Asthma is complex and influenced by many diverse factors including pets, genetics, diet, pollen, smoking, infections, pollution, dust mites etc.
• In any event dust mites thrive only in a narrow range of temperature and relative humidity (around 25°C and 70% relative humidity) conditions usually found in bedding, not carpet.

Indoor Air Quality

• All materials emit gasses from VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) but carpet emits much lower levels than other common indoor products and poses no threat to consumers. For example plywood emits twice as much VOC as carpet, wallpaper over 16 times more and paints 200 times more.
• Carpet acts as an absorbent for many common airborne pollutants and improves indoor air quality
• All materials used in carpet manufacturing are subject to the closest scrutiny and processes conform to the highest environmental control standards.

In Summary

Carpet, like most products, needs to be looked after and the majority of consumers, living in clean, tidy, well-ventilated homes vacuum their carpet regularly to prevent a build up of dust particles. In these circumstances there is no objective scientific evidence to show that carpet poses any health risk whatsoever to consumers.

Carpet is by far the most popular floor covering in the UK and can be found in 97% of British homes. Carpet offers major practical benefits and environmental advantages. In the vast majority of cases carpet does not pose a threat for those consumers who have allergic conditions.

The Carpet Foundation represents the premier group of British based carpet manufacturers, who between them produce 60% of all carpets made in the UK amounting to £350 million sales with collectively more than 1000 years of carpet manufacturing experience.

The Carpet Foundation has examined over 40 scientific papers and articles and has written a definitive paper on the topic. A copy of this paper may be obtained from The Carpet Foundation.

For more details on scientific issues affecting carpet call
The Carpet Foundation on 01562 755568
www.carpetfoundation.com
The Carpet Foundation, MCF Complex, 60 New Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 1AQ