Guests Can Relax withDow UnderfootPolyurethane Carpet Backing TechnologyImproves Hospitality Settings

Guests Can Relax with Dow Underfoot: Polyurethane Carpet Backing Technology ImprovesHospitality Settings

Today’s hospitality environments demand carpet that looks and feels great from themoment guests walk through the door and for years to come. Hospitality flooring mustendure a host of challenges including rolling carts and racks, wheeled luggage, high foottraffic, heavy loads and food and drink spills.

The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) has designed its polyurethane backing technologyto address even the most punishing hospitality industry conditions. High-performancebacking made with Dow polyurethane technology improves commercial carpet’s appearance,durability, ergonomics and longevity. DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology* can be specifiedfor use with cushioned backings, while DOW™ ENFORCER™ Technology is available fornon-cushioned backings.

Carpet simply looks better longer when installed with a firm polyurethane cushion – animportant factor for preserving the beauty of hospitality flooring. The unique molecularstructure of Dow polyurethane technology allows the carpet and backing to absorb thepounding motion of foot traffic and support the heavy weight of furniture, withoutbottoming out. By flexing imperceptibly, the cushioned backing reduces pile crushing andmatting over time while absorbing most of the daily hospitality tribulations that tendto mat and crush fibers. This makes it especially effective in high-traffic areas like lobbiesand hallways. Plus, it recovers 90 percent or more of its thickness once heavy furnitureis removed. Constant traffic can also cause carpet to pill and fuzz – a problem that issignificantly reduced by the strong tuft bind characteristics of backing made with Dowpolyurethane technology.

To further extend the carpet’s appearance, Dow polyurethane backing technology containsa functional liquid barrier. Resistance to stains and odors from liquid spills is critical tolongevity and newness retention of commercial carpet. With conventional backing,removing the spill on the surface is frequently ineffective because residual liquid cancontinue to wick back and reappear on the carpet pile over and over again. This cancause serious appearance problems, sometimes more pronounced than the initial stain.With polyurethane backing, polymers containing hydrophobic segments impede liquid anddirt from penetrating the subfloor, thereby reducing the occurrence of wick back stainingand odors due to liquid spills. In addition, a functional liquid barrier allows for aggressivecleaning programs including hot water extraction. Polyurethane backing made with a functionalliquid barrier is an excellent solution for hospitality environments like restaurants andbanquet halls.

Dow polyurethane backing technology creates a carpet that is more durable and offersconsistent performance over the life of the product. Polyurethane’s adhesion to carpet yarnmaximizes the bundle wrap around individual tufts. It’s designed to maintain this tuft bind

Appearance Retention

Functional Liquid Barrier

Durability

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for the life of the carpet, which helps minimize edge ravel and disfiguring snagsand pulls, even under the hospitality industry’s most intensive use situations. The polymericbond between the primary and secondary backing creates a unified composite materialthat enables carpet to withstand heavy foot traffic and reduces the likelihood of delamination(a major problem in settings with constant rolling traffic). Ultimately, improved durabilityand performance extend the carpet’s life and the facility owner’s budget.

Tired feet are a major distress to travelers, as well as those who serve them. Made ofhigh-density polyurethane, ENHANCER™ Technology adds comfort underfoot for guestsand employees. It reduces heel-strike force and leg muscle response, two prime causes ofstanding and walking fatigue. Besides adding to guests’ overall experience, improvedergonomics, such as a more comfortable flooring, offer the potential for increasedemployee productivity. In tests conducted in high-traffic lanes (up to 5,000 traffics perday), carpet backed with ENHANCER™ Technology provided greater comfort underfootat the end of the test than the non-cushioned carpet did when new.1 This finding parallelsthe results of studies conducted by Dr. Mark Redfern at the University of Pittsburgh,in which cushioned backing made with Dow polyurethane technology, applied to a lowpile height commercial carpet was found to be the best combination for minimizing legfatigue.2 In each case, the carpet with polyurethane precoat and a polyurethane cushionprovided the best performance in the overall comfort and comfort retention ratings.

Excessive noise is a common complaint from hotel guests. The addition of a cushionedbacking made with Dow polyurethane technology can affect a space’s acoustic properties.Carpet backing made with ENHANCER™ Technology serves as an effective noise reducerby minimizing the sound of foot traffic, absorbing airborne sound and reducing soundtransmission to rooms below. The surface noise of walking traffic, commonly referred toas “footfalls,” can easily disrupt nearby guests. Especially in hotel lobbies, hallways,guest rooms and conference facilities, ENHANCER™ Technology reduces noise levels byabsorbing sound.

In a study by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), which included evaluationsof the role and performance of carpet in acoustic management, it was found that acousticproperties of a flooring system are strongly influenced by the addition of cushioned backing.3

Based on acoustical studies and field experience, carpet with an integral polyurethanecushion can play an important role in a comprehensive noise management program.

Even before the first guest sets foot on the carpet, a polyurethane backing can improvethe product’s appearance. Due to its soft, yet tough nature, Dow polyurethane backingtechnology allows for ease of installation. Its flexibility and stretch characteristics enablevariations in bow and skew to be removed, which facilitates seaming and pattern match.Dow polyurethane backing technology is suitable for virtually all carpet pattern choices,making it ideal for hospitality environments that require a combination of stylish designand high performance. During the installation process, polyurethane backing reducesthe risk of fraying when cut crosswise or lengthwise. Once the carpet is in place, burnsand minor damage can be repaired with ease and without noticeably affecting thecarpet’s appearance.

Sound Absorption

Installation andMaintenance

Ergonomics

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From start to finish, Dow polyurethane backing technology helps create a carpet thatoffers beauty and comfort to guests, while accommodating facility owners’ needs fordurability and longevity. For additional information on Dow polyurethane technology, go towww.dowcarpetbackings.com or call 800-847-4212.

References:1. Fiest, J. R., Norton, M. A., and Orofino, T. A. “A Technical Approach to Characterizing Perceived Walking Comfort

of Carpet.” Textile Research Journal. (1995): 65(9).2. Redfern, M., and Holbein, M. A. “The Effect of Flooring on Muscle Response During Locomotion.” Research report,

Human Movement Analysis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/3/1994.3. American Society of Interior Designers (1999). Sound solutions: Increasing office productivity through integrated

acoustic planning and noise reduction strategies [online]. Available: http://www.asid.org.

* To offer these benefits, ENHANCER™ Technology must be used together with a polyurethane pre-coat.

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In the U.S. and Canada, contact The Dow Chemical Company2864 North Dug Gap Road, Dalton, GA 30720

1-800-847-4212706-277-1133 Fax: 706-277-8100

For additional information:www.dowcarpetbackings.com

For inquiries or sample requests:www.askdow.com

NOTICE: No freedom from any patent owned by Dow or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws may differ from one location toanother and may change with time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products and the information in this document are appropriate for Customer’suse and for ensuring that Customer’s workplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other governmental enactments. Dowassumes no obligation or liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR

FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.

Published October 2006