Walk the Walk
Feb 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Paul W. Erickson
Flooring choices for new and retrofit education facilities impact learning environments and affect student learning.
Appropriate choices
Which flooring types work best in which spaces? Evaluate flooring for each space, as one type does not fit all purposes, and expect tradeoffs in the process. For example, users of preschool learning spaces prefer carpeting for noise, comfort and safety control. However, there may be difficulties with cleaning, maintenance and allergies. In other situations, the choices are clearer.
The Carpet and Rug Institute emphasizes that inexpensive carpets cannot match performance and appearance retention of better grades. It encourages specifiers to establish budgets and challenge manufacturers to meet performance levels and lifetime cost objectives.
The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association compiles statistics for flooring products installation, maintenance and replacement costs. Schools facing increased pressure to reduce initial costs may seek savings by looking at finishes. The association emphasizes life-cycle cost analyses as a comprehensive approach for selecting flooring.
For any building, flooring decisions begin at the entrance. "Spaces adjacent to the exterior require flooring that permits removal of nature's elements," says Paul Minotti, director of facilities for Neshaminy School District in Langhorne, Pa. "It's the first line of defense for extending flooring life in a building. Vestibules should remove debris before it reaches the rest of the building. Removable floor grates or slotted mats over floor recesses are practical ways to capture unwanted particles."
High-traffic corridors and hallways require hard-surface floors. If initial budgets do not permit terrazzo, education institutions should consider cost adjustments in other categories. Porcelain tiles and resilient flooring are additional options. Carpet is not advisable for these high-traffic areas.
More schools and universities are using ground and polished concrete as a finished product. The process involves grinding and finishing the slab-on-grade or top-coat for a low-maintenance surface. Concerns with acoustics, ergonomic discomfort and aesthetics may be tradeoffs when considering this option.
Carpeting general learning spaces can improve acoustics, comfort and aesthetics. However, as indoor air quality issues became more prominent, longer-napped carpets have been replaced with VCT. Today, harder floor surfaces typically are installed in learning spaces, but compromise acoustics, comfort, maintenance and aesthetics. New choices and improvements include carpet and carpet tiles with impervious backing systems, tight fiber densities, and technical advances in soil and stain resistance. These are proving successful in preserving floor appearance, especially in learning spaces and moderate traffic areas.
Wet areas, including restrooms, locker rooms, shower areas, kitchens and pools, require hard, slip-resistant surfaces with low porosity. Ceramic tile with dark grout, terrazzo or epoxy quartz floors are good choices for restrooms. Shower floors and pool decks are best served by slip-resistant, smaller-squared ceramic tile or poured epoxy quartz, which can be installed easily on sloped floors. Smaller-squared ceramic tile is a good choice for pool basins. Quarry tile or epoxy quartz floors in kitchens provide quality, slip-resistant surfaces.
Family and consumer science (FACS) labs are well-served with solid-sheet flooring because spills are easy to clean. For heavy industrial-tech and art spaces, poured floors or sealed concrete are cost-effective. CADD labs, TV studios and other clean lab environments have many options.
Administration and student-services areas, especially with office cubicles, are conducive to carpet tiles. Replacing rolled carpet causes downtime at a high cost; carpet tiles provide easy replacement in heavy-traffic and furniture areas.
Installation and maintenance
Regardless of the floor selected, proper installation and maintenance are critical. Administrators should meet with a contractor before installation to make sure the architect's specifications are being followed. Specifications describe product data; the manufacturer's recommended installation; requirements for LEED certification; and product warranty obligations. They also stipulate contractor licensing, experience and performance bonding. After installation, schools and universities must provide initial, regular, periodic and restorative maintenance to preserve the product.
Erickson, AIA/NCARB/REFP, is president of ATS&R Planners/Architects/Engineers, Minneapolis, a firm specializing in pre-K to 12 school planning and design. He can be reached at perickson@atsr.com.
Notable
90 to 95
Percentage of all dry soil weight that can be removed from carpeting by vacuuming with a routine schedule.
Source: www.carpet-rug.org
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