Glossary
If you've encountered any words or terms on this site that you don't understand the meaning of, then you may find them explained here.
- Acoustical Impact Noise
If according to EN ISO 140-6 the impact noise improvement has been determined this symbol can be used.
- Acoustic Sound Absorption
If according to EN ISO 354 the sound absorption coefficient has been determined this symbol can be used.
- Antistatic
In the carpet industry this symbol is generally used for ‘antistatic’ properties. If the requirements for the measured body voltage (after walking on the carpet) is lower than 2 kV this symbol can be used. This symbol does not indicate that the floor covering also meets higher performance criteria as often recommended in the contract market.
- Ashlar
Arrows should all point in the same direction with the tile bond displaced by half a tile in the length direction.
- Backings
Interface has developed extremely high-performance backings for the demanding contract market.
- Biomimicry
Biomimicry is the science that studies nature's models and imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems. For example, we have a range of random products that were first inspired by leaves on a forest floor.
- BRE
Interface have certified Environmental Profiles on many products according to the 2008 methodology from BRE. These Environmental Profiles measure the environmental performance of materials over their entire life cycle through their extraction, processing, manufacture, construction, use, maintenance and their eventual disposal. The overall result is presented in Ecopoints and the lower the Ecopoint score the less environmental impact the product has. When an Environmental Profile is generated for a construction product BRE model the impact of the product within a building elemental specification - for example flooring. The
Green Guide to Specification presents information on the environmental impacts of building elements and products by ranking them on a rating scale A+ to E. Specifications with the lowest Ecopoints achieve A+ and those with the highest achieve E ratings. For information on the Environmental Profiles and Green Guide ratings of Interface products please visit greenbooklive.- Brick
Arrows should all point in the same direction with the tile bond displaced by half a tile in the width direction.
- BSI ( British Standards Institution )
The BSI certification mark is for organisations whose management systems have been assessed by BSI as fulfilling the requirements of a given standard or scheme. The UK has management systems in compliance with BS EN ISO 9001: 2000 and BS EN ISO 14001: 2004.
- Castor Chair Rating
If castor chairs are used, the carpet pile, especially in those places where the chairs are used, is under extreme stress. Only carpets fulfilling the higher requirements according to a specific test procedure (EN 985 castor chair test) will be allowed to use these symbols.
- CE Marking
All Interface products are CE marked.
- Colourfastness - light
Light fastness is tested to ISO 105-BO2. This test determines the resistance of a coloured textile to an artificial light source representative of natural daylight.
- Cool Carpet®
Cool Carpet® is a scheme that allows us to offer products that are ‘climate-neutral’, meaning that all greenhouse gases emitted during that product’s lifecycle are offset.
- Cut pile
This is the process of creating loops during the weaving of a carpet product, and then cutting them. Slight tufting is then used to give the product an appearance of thickness and softness.
- Dimensional stability
Tiles have to fulfil additional requirements for shrinkage and extension. If these criteria are met the producer may use this symbol to indicate that the product is dimensionally stable.
- Duolithic
An installation method whereby tile arrows can be pointed in opposite directions, resulting in a broadloom installation.
- European Standard EN1307
A carpet has to meet specific requirements according to wear, appearance retention and luxury. The minimum requirements depend on the use environment and differ between domestic and commercial use.
- Flammability
Reaction to fire is strictly regulated in each EU member state. New EU fire classes reaching from class F to A (not relevant for carpets) today replace the former national classifications.
Fire classes D, C and B are subdivided in the classes s1 and s2. Smoke density in case of s1 is lower than in case of s2 meaning the product has an overall better performance within the same fire class.
For classes D, C and B specific requirements have to be met. This has to be attested by an independent notified test Lab.
Interface contract carpet tiles are Bfl s1 or Cfl s1 class.- Formaldehyde
With CE marking the product has to be tested if any formaldehyde containing materials are used in the product. The European Standard is ENV 717-1 “Woodbased panels – Determination of formaldehyde release – Part:1 Formaldehyde emission by chamber method” and the result has to be below 0.124mg/m3.
- GlasBac®
Graphlex® and Glasbac® the Market Leading Modular Flooring Backing Systems
These two backings ensure lay-flat and maximum dimensional stability thanks to their perfectly controlled manufacturing technique and the integration of layers of fibreglass.
Graphlex® and GlasBac® backings offer the following advantages:
– Appearance: Precise cutting with cleaner edges which allow tiles to fit together perfectly, giving the effect of a broadloom carpet.
– Stability: The integration of fibreglass layers for optimal dimensional stability.
– Dissipation of static electricity:
• Graphlex® incorporates Computerguard technology, which allows static electricity to be dissipated and meets the required European and world standards in ensuring a vertical resistance of ≤109 Ohms.
• GlasBac® contains conductive material throughout to attain this performance standard- Graphlex®
Graphlex® and Glasbac® the Market Leading Modular Flooring Backing Systems
These two backings ensure lay-flat and maximum dimensional stability thanks to their perfectly controlled manufacturing technique and the integration of layers of fibreglass.
Graphlex® and GlasBac® backings offer the following advantages:
– Appearance: Precise cutting with cleaner edges which allow tiles to fit together perfectly, giving the effect of a broadloom carpet.
– Stability: The integration of fibreglass layers for optimal dimensional stability.
– Dissipation of static electricity:
• Graphlex® incorporates Computerguard technology, which allows static electricity to be dissipated and meets the required European and world standards in ensuring a vertical resistance of ≤109 Ohms.
• Recycled content: Graphlex® uses a high proportion of recycled material, increasing the overall recycled content of the carpet tile.- GUT
GUT tests and improves carpet to ensure environmental friendliness and consumer protection at every stage of the carpet’s life-cycle. Every GUT monitored carpet is tested on the absence of pollutants, odour, and emissions to assure a good indoor air quality and consequently safe usage. Compliance with these criteria is scrutinized and controlled for every product for the consumers’ well being.
- Intercell®
Intercell® is our modular flooring system that solves the problem of cable management in the modern workspace. Designed to accommodate and conceal the complex wiring systems required for today's electronic office, Intercell® is space-efficient, neat and strong.
- LEED
LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a third-party, NGO green building rating system which was originated from USGBC. LEED has a specific criteria which requires carpets to comply to VOC emission criteria (Environmental Quality Credit 4.3 Low Emitting Materials – Carpet).
All Interface carpet tiles have been independently tested under the CHPS 01350 Indoor Air Quality requirement, and comply with the VOC emission criteria set up by the CRI Green Label Plus.
In addition Interface products can also help to achieve other criteria including:
- Materials & Resources Credit 4.1 Recycled Content
- Materials & Resources Credit 5.1 Regional Materials
- Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 4.1 Low Emitting Materials, Adhesive & Sealants
- Innovation and Design Credits 1-4, Climate Neutral Products- Loop pile
Loop pile carpets are created using weaving technology which form a series of uncut loops. These loops can be set to a standard height or a series of different height to help create patterns and textures.
- LRQA ( Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance )
The Interface production site at Scherpenzeel Holland has management systems which are compliant with the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards as established and approved by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance.
- Luxury Class
Within each of these use classes carpets may vary in luxury. This can be expressed by an easy to understand system of stars varying from one to five stars.
- Magnetic Backing
Our Magnetic Backing is specifically designed for metal floors, such as Interface’s cable management system Intercell, facilitating easy access to cabling in the sub floor.
The Magnetic Backing is applied by integrating two magnetic strips on our standard Graphlex backing, retaining its full magnetic properties which will last for the entire life of the tile, without affecting the operation of computers, magnetic storage devices or underfloor communications.
Magnetic Backing is suitable for installation in areas with very heavy traffic.- Magnetic Backing
Magnetic Backing is our 100% magnetic backing system suitable for very heavy traffic areas. It is designed for use with metal floors and is compatible with the Intercell® access flooring system. No preparatory product is necessary for installation, since the tile backing is completely magnetic and remains so after being cut or moved. The magnetic properties of the backing remain for the life of the carpet tile. The magnetic fields do not affect computers, storage discs or any under floor communication networks.
- Mission Zero
This is our promise to eliminate any negative impact our company may have on the environment by the year 2020.
- Monolithic
Arrows should all point in the same direction – also known as Broadloom or Sheet.
- Needle punching
This is the method of producing the face of the carpet by punching a layer of pre-prepared fibres that look like hairs with thousands of needles into a pre-constructed backing.
- Non-directional
Tiles installed without regard to direction and orientation.
- Quarter turn
Tiles turned 90 degrees to one another – also known as Chequer Board or Tessellated.
- ReCushion Bac®
ReCushion Bac® is a backing system developed to increase under foot comfort and improve acoustics. It is suitable for heavy traffic areas such as offices, conference rooms, shops and hotels, as well as healthcare and educational establishments. ReCushion Bac® improves the acoustic properties of the carpet tile and reduces the effects of echo and impact noise. The backing is ideal for use in open-plan
workspaces, where noise is often a problem. ReCushion Bac® is manufactured using pre-consumer recycled content in the construction.- Recycled content
We are progressively increasing the recycled content in our products. The total amount of recycled content is contributed mainly by the recycled filler (limestone) used in our backing system and the amount of recycled content in our yarn, which varies by supplier and colour. The international standard ISO14021 has been used to verify the claims on recycled materials.
- ReEntry®
As part of our commitment to sustainability we’re determined to reduce the volume of used product sent to landfill. To help us achieve this we've developed the ReEntry® scheme to reclaim and refresh as much end-of-life product as possible.
- Slip Resistance
According to EN 14041 floor coverings have to fulfil certain safety requirements.
One of them is slip resistance. If this claim is made by the producer, the floor covering intended to be used under dry and not contaminated conditions shall have a dynamic coefficient of friction of greater than or equal to 0.30. In this case the symbol DS shall be used. In all other cases the symbol NPD - No Performance Declared - has to be used.- Thermal Conductivity
If a carpet is installed over underfloor heating three additional requirements have to be fulfilled. Thermal conductivity has to be lower than 0.17 m2K/W. The requirements for antistatic behaviour (body voltage) have to be met. Appearance retention under normal and ageing conditions has to be fulfilled.
- Vertical Electrostatic Resistance
This symbol indicates that the requirement for ‘static dissipative floor coverings’ are met. The vertical electrical resistance is lower than 10(9) ohms.
- Warranty
All Carpet tiles carry a warranty. Please contact your local Customer Services for further details.
- Wear Classification
Interface contract carpet tiles are suitable for Heavy Commercial Use (Class 33) or General Commercial Use (Class 32).