Article Number : 6354 |
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| Date | 2/8/2011 11:40:42 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=6354 |
| Abstract | One of the world’s leading carpet manufacturers has launched a technically-advanced range of carpet tiles that both cleans indoor air and reduces impact sound. The groundbreaking combination from DESSO offers an entirely new level of functionality for... |
| Article | One of the world’s leading carpet manufacturers has launched a technically-advanced range of carpet tiles that both cleans indoor air and reduces impact sound. The groundbreaking combination from DESSO offers an entirely new level of functionality for its commercial customers worldwide. The company last year introduced AirMaster®, a next-generation carpet to improve indoor air quality which, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) is one of the most significant health risks of the modern world. Independent tests have confirmed that AirMaster® is eight times more effective in capturing and retaining fine dust than hard flooring – and four times more effective than standard carpeting. (1) Last year also, DESSO introduced SoundMaster®, an advanced carpet backing offering a 60% acoustic improvement over standard carpet ranges – enormously reducing the impact of noise in busy open plan offices, or other environments where noise can be distracting, intrusive or damaging to health. Since these product launches, DESSO has been rigorously testing them for compatibility, with the company now able to offer them either separately or in a combination that brings a unique set of benefits. DESSO is a leading manufacturer of high quality carpet tiles and broadloom carpets and has been in operation for almost 80 years. It has factories in The Netherlands and Belgium and exports worldwide. Indoor Air Quality The World Health Organisation has warned that it can be particularly hazardous to inhale particulate matter (2). Miniscule dust particles settle in the lungs, and the smallest particles can end up in the bloodstream – with potentially serious consequences. The significance is that most people spend much of the day indoors. It is estimated that a person with a full-time office job spends an average of 1,800 hours every year in their office. Among others, the German asthma foundation (DAAB) has for some time advised that the harmful effects of particulate matter can be greatly reduced if carpeting is chosen over hard flooring options. AirMaster® works by reducing the incidence of potentially harmful allergy-producing particles by safely trapping and immobilising them, guaranteeing a significant improvement in indoor air quality, and therefore reducing the risk of health-related problems. While it is already finding applications across multiple markets, it has particular health benefits in, for example, hospitals, schools and offices where there can be a great deal of human traffic, and lots of feet stirring up dust from the floor. Reducing Sound SoundMaster® is also becoming an international success, with companies and public sector bodies recognising that noise can adversely affect productivity, or even impact upon health. The carpet backing is made from a special layer construction and is uniquely designed to provide optimal sound absorption and insulation. It is made from 100% polyester (40% recycled) that also offers eco-efficient benefits, and is available with many of DESSO’s existing ranges of carpet tiles, including AirMaster®. Standard carpet gives impact sound reduction properties of between 20 and 30 decibels. SoundMaster® gives a further reduction of 10 dB or more. This additional reduction makes it one of the most sound-absorbent options on the market – in many cases making it unnecessary to install other sound reducing strategies. Both carpet products were developed in strict compliance with DESSO’s Cradle to Cradle® philosophy of sustainability, and which was first advanced in 2002 by the German chemist Michael Braungart. Cradle to Cradle® Its central premise is that products should be conceived from the start with intelligent design and the intention that they will eventually be recycled in their entirety – a birth to rebirth philosophy that excludes waste from the production cycle. Cradle to Cradle® therefore means that valuable materials do not end up in landfill sites or incineration at the end of their supposed ‘lifetime’ or ‘down-cycled’ into lower quality materials. “This combination of carpet and backing brings a new level of functionality to what carpet can achieve, and will be welcomed across a wide range of markets internationally,” said Alexander Collot d’Escury, DESSO commercial director. “We have given this combined carpet new and impressive advantages over existing carpet types and other floor covering options, with a product that offers significant health and acoustic benefits,” he said. For more information please visit www.desso.com (1) Independent tests were carried out by GUI, the German test institute, and based on AirMaster® performance against standard PVC hard flooring and standard structured loop pile carpet. GUI specialises in assessing air quality, dampness and dust particle count. (2) Air quality guidelines – global update 2005, World Health Organisation. |