1994-HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

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thickness in a 12" x 12" size. Vinyl composition tiles are comprised of a vinyl resin surface with a backing CLEANING RATE COMPARISON of filled fibrous composition, resin-saturated rag fiber. SPECIFICATIONS FOR BASIC SERVICE Composition vinyl tiles are comprised of 22%-40%vinyl (Annual Minutes / 1000 Square Feet) and are substantially less expensive than reinforced vinyl tiles which are 100%vinyl except for the reinforce- 8000 ment fabric. 7,104 8. The vinyl the standard was a solid vinyl 1/8th inch thickness in a 12"x 12" size, 100%vinyl except for the reinforcement fabric. 9. Wood flooring was unfinished white or red oak, 6000 3/4 inch thickness of 2 1/4 width. 10. Ceramic flooring was quoted on commercial grade 9" x 9" tiles from a large commercial grade ceramic manufacturer. 11. Commercial vinyl tile has been selected for direct 4000 . . . . . . . • . . cost comparison with broadloom carpet in this study as both products represent high volume units in the 2,800 contract sectors.The BOMA study made no distinction in the maintenance cost of various types of hard ser- vice floorcoverings. 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. A replacement cycle has been selected for carpet at 7.5 years with fifteen year replacement cycle for vinyl tile. It should be noted that many commercial carpets offer a ten year limited warranty and, conse- quently,the stated projected savings are conservative. 0 Carpet Hard Surfaces WHAT THE STUDY PROVES: 1. For an accurate assessment of floorcovering Source: BOMA Office Building Cleaning Operations costs, figures must be based on total use-costs, tak- in North America (1990 Study) ing into consideration(a)initial installed cost of product, (b) length of use-life, both in terms of durability and ap- pearance retention, (c) maintenance expenses, in- cluding labor, supplies and equipment, and(c)removal face floors because improved, large scale carpet clean- costs. ing equipment has been developed in recent years,out- 2. Although the trend toward upscaled aesthetics pacing the improvements in cleaning equipment for in commercial interiors has led to increased emphasis hard surface floors. and time spent on effective maintenance procedures, 5. For the purposes of this study, the standard of- the added expense is partially offset (if the floor is fice carpet used is one designated for high traffic areas, carpeted) by evolving improvements in carpet fiber which features a pile of branded, advanced generation technology,carpet cleaning methods, and commercial- nylon face fiber.Today many office installations use cut- scale carpet cleaning equipment. Improvements in hard pile carpet, generally tufted into tight gauges (1/8 or surface floor cleaning methods have not been as for- 1/10)with a low profile pile height, in 30 oz.of pile yarn thcoming. Thus, carpet is still significantly less expen- weight per square yard or higher. This can be com- sive to maintain than hard surface floors. pared to the 22 and 28 oz. weights of the loop pile 3. Architects and specifiers should base their use- carpet, which also remain popular choices.A difference cost estimates on local conditions and prices because in use cost between these two product types is these can vary greatly between geographical locations, acknowledged; however, the significant cost advantage product distribution channels, and individual product carpet enjoys would prove to be evident in most types specifications. However, given these contingencies, of commercial carpet. this study shows that: although the amortized install- 6. The carpet standard selected was a 28 oz./sq. ed cost of carpet is on the average greater than that yd., 1/10 gauge, branded filament nylon, loop pile, com- of noncarpeted floors, its overall maintenance costs are mercial carpet for broadloom. significantly lower; thus, the total use-cost of carpet 7. The composition hard surface tile standard ranges from 33% to 78% less than that of noncarpeted selected was a vinyl composition tile, 1/8th inch floors.