Broadloom is generally not appropriate for walls, but there are times and specialty products that are made for this use. Following is a case in point.

A retailer contacted us regarding a situation it had with a healthcare facility. The facility was concerned about damage to the walls in the corridors from wheel chairs bumping into them and wanted something to prevent the problem. They thought putting carpet on the walls about 2-1/2-ft. high would be a good idea and that it would prevent the damage.

When they talked to the fire marshall he said no, that it would violate code and be hazardous and a potential compromise to safety. The dealer wanted to know what it could do.

There are products on the market which are specifically constructed, designed and engineered to be used on walls in such places as healthcare facilities and that comply with fire codes.

Wall Broadloom

Shaw Industries and Beaulieu of America both have wall carpet products that are suitable for this application and meet both the fire and smoke test requirements specifically applicable to vertical surfaces. These are narrow-width broadlooms, 4-1/2-ft. to 6-ft. wide, due to the category of usage they are constructed for application on walls. These products are light weight and made to be glued to the wall. It is also necessary to know what adhesive has to be used because it too is important in meeting any code requirements. Generally any premium grade of heavy duty, high solids carpet adhesive can be used. However, once the material is glued to the wall it becomes a system, and the adhesive used basically becomes a moot point.

Few people in the retail trade know about this because it is a specialty product. Since healthcare facilities are one the fastest growing market segments today, and will continue to be so, I felt it was important you know about an opportunity to sell the wall carpet which can be used as well. This is a growing market and, as you’ve seen in this case, the dealer had to educate the fire marshall about the product—this is not an uncommon occurrence.

Ignorance & Mis-information

There is a great deal of ignorance and mis-information about the use of broadloom on walls. Certainly the use of normal carpet is frowned upon by the floor covering industry. But in this case, the material is designed only for use and installation on walls; you couldn’t use it on the floor because it does not possess the integrity for being walked on. Think of it more as a textile wall covering than a carpet.

These products are made with polypropylene and flame retardant latex. It has to pass the tunnel test (burn test) and must meet a Class A fire rating. It must also pass a Corner burn test and a myriad of other specific tests which carpet to be used on the floor is not subjected to. It has to have a very low static discharge rate, which polypropylene will normally have.

These products can also fuzz under constant use, specifically when they are abraded or rubbed against. In other words, if people are walking and rubbing against them, wheel chairs are pushed against them or anything rubs repeatedly in one place, the surface of the material will become very fuzzy. This is normal and actually stated in the manufacturers’ warranty that this can and will happen—it is not a defect.

Beaulieu’s product has an acrylic top coat which will actually lock in the fibers and is meant to minimize pilling and fuzzing. These products are colorfast (polypropylene is solution dyed), have an anti-bacterial application to make them mold, mildew and insect resistant and they will not support bacterial growth. Actually, no broadloom will support the growth of mold if it is kept clean and dry. Mold cannot feed on plastic, the food source has to be organic and synthetic carpet fiber is not organic.

Just so you know there is a textile wall covering product, produced by the floor covering industry that can be used on walls that meets all the fire codes around the country. If someone questions or doubts you when you say you can provide and install this type of product, know that you can.

If you have any questions about this or any other flooring material or have a problem you need help with, call us. There isn’t anything that goes on the floor, or wall for that matter, that we can’t help you with.