Flooring that Keeps Pace with High Demands of Higher Education

Dalton, GA - July 11, 2007

Today’s educational facility managers are often tasked with setting high quality standards for higher education facilities, while still meeting tight budget demands. From planning and design through operations and maintenance, facility managers have their work cut out for them, especially in light of ever-changing technology, space usage and demographics. Each decision a facility manager makes can require lengthy research and justification and can have long-term effects – either good or bad.

The pressure is on educational facility managers for innovation and responsibility even down at the ground level. Flooring must keep pace with the needs of the university and its users. Specifying the right carpet and backing system can ease the job of the facility manager. A high-quality backing system made with polyurethane is designed to allow for heavy traffic, spills, acoustical needs and flexibility in space usage – all while extending the school’s budget.

While educational environments may be in a constant state of change, the flooring system needs to last for years to come. Commercial carpet with a cushioned polyurethane backing system is made to stand the test of time, even as furniture is continually rearranged, and heavy use occurs. Carpet backing made with polyurethane technology from The Dow Chemical Company is designedto help carpet look better for longer periods of time.

The molecular structure of DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology¹ allows the carpet and cushioned backing to absorb the pounding motion of foot traffic and support the heavy weight of furniture, helping to prevent it from bottoming out. A polyurethane backing system also helps to reduce pile crushing and matting over time, which is especially effective in high-traffic areas like hallways. Constant traffic can cause carpet to pill and fuzz – a problem that is significantly reduced with DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology or ENFORCER™ Technology for non-cushioned backing. Due to its reaction bonding process, Dow polyurethane technology enables the coating to penetrate and encapsulate the yarn bundle and lock in individual filaments and fibers.

To further extend the life and appearance of carpet, Dow technology includes a functional liquid barrier. When carpet is backed with Dow polyurethane technology, polymers containing hydrophobic segments help impede liquid and dirt from penetrating the subfloor, thereby reducing the occurrence of wick back staining and odors. Plus, it allows for aggressive maintenance programs, such as hot water extraction.

In a research project conducted by Brigham Young University, it was estimated that carpet having the polyurethane attached cushion with Dow technology saves the University $364,919 (or $.15 per square foot) annually. This savings comes from an extended lifecycle for the carpet of eight to 15 years, which also lowered costs associated with carpet removal, moving and business interruption.

In addition to contributing to the durability and longevity of the carpet, cushioned backing systems help improve the acoustics and comfort of a space. To foster superior learning experiences, educational spaces like classrooms and libraries require peace and quiet. And school theaters and concert halls have their own unique set of acoustic needs, which can be met by a cushioned backing made with Dow polyurethane technology. An effective noise reducer, cushioned carpet backing made with ENHANCER™ Technology helps to minimize the sound of foot traffic, absorbs airborne sound and reduces sound transmission to nearby rooms.

A cushioned backing also impacts the comfort of a space. In schools and libraries where faculty and staff members are on their feet all day, the flooring should offer plenty of support. Carpet with improved ergonomics offers the potential for increased employee productivity and satisfaction. Made of high-density polyurethane, ENHANCER™ Technology helps to add comfort underfoot. It helps to reduce heel-strike force and leg muscle response, two prime causes of standing and walking fatigue.

From extended lifecycles to improved appearance and usage, carpet backing made with Dow polyurethane technology makes the flooring choice an easy one for educational facility managers. It’s a decision that can meet the current and future demands of administrators, staff and students.

To find out more about Dow polyurethane technology, visit us at the APPA conference for educational facilities professionals July 15-17 in Baltimore, Maryland, booth #507. Or go online to www.dowcarpetbackings.com.

About Dow

®™^* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow

¹ To offer these benefits, ENHANCER Technology must be used together with a polyurethane pre-coat.

For Editorial Information:

Janet Hansen
The Dow Chemical Company
(800) 735-3129

Laura Jennings
The Branding Firm, Inc.
(706) 812-1824
laura.jennings@thebrandingfirm.com


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From planning and design through operations and maintenance, facility managers have their work cut out for them, especially in light of ever-changing technology, space usage and demographics. Each decision a facility manager makes can require lengthy research and justification and can have long-term effects – either good or bad. The pressure is on educational facility managers for innovation and responsibility even down at the ground level. Flooring must keep pace with the needs of the university and its users. Specifying the right carpet and backing system can ease the job of the facility manager. A high-quality backing system made with polyurethane is designed to allow for heavy traffic, spills, acoustical needs and flexibility in space usage – all while extending the school’s budget. While educational environments may be in a constant state of change, the flooring system needs to last for years to come. Commercial carpet with a cushioned polyurethane backing system is made to stand the test of time, even as furniture is continually rearranged, and heavy use occurs. Carpet backing made with polyurethane technology from The Dow Chemical Company is designedto help carpet look better for longer periods of time. The molecular structure of DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology¹ allows the carpet and cushioned backing to absorb the pounding motion of foot traffic and support the heavy weight of furniture, helping to prevent it from bottoming out. A polyurethane backing system also helps to reduce pile crushing and matting over time, which is especially effective in high-traffic areas like hallways. Constant traffic can cause carpet to pill and fuzz – a problem that is significantly reduced with DOW™ ENHANCER™ Technology or ENFORCER™ Technology for non-cushioned backing. Due to its reaction bonding process, Dow polyurethane technology enables the coating to penetrate and encapsulate the yarn bundle and lock in individual filaments and fibers. To further extend the life and appearance of carpet, Dow technology includes a functional liquid barrier. When carpet is backed with Dow polyurethane technology, polymers containing hydrophobic segments help impede liquid and dirt from penetrating the subfloor, thereby reducing the occurrence of wick back staining and odors. Plus, it allows for aggressive maintenance programs, such as hot water extraction. In a research project conducted by Brigham Young University, it was estimated that carpet having the polyurethane attached cushion with Dow technology saves the University $364,919 (or $.15 per square foot) annually. This savings comes from an extended lifecycle for the carpet of eight to 15 years, which also lowered costs associated with carpet removal, moving and business interruption. In addition to contributing to the durability and longevity of the carpet, cushioned backing systems help improve the acoustics and comfort of a space. To foster superior learning experiences, educational spaces like classrooms and libraries require peace and quiet. And school theaters and concert halls have their own unique set of acoustic needs, which can be met by a cushioned backing made with Dow polyurethane technology. An effective noise reducer, cushioned carpet backing made with ENHANCER™ Technology helps to minimize the sound of foot traffic, absorbs airborne sound and reduces sound transmission to nearby rooms. A cushioned backing also impacts the comfort of a space. In schools and libraries where faculty and staff members are on their feet all day, the flooring should offer plenty of support. Carpet with improved ergonomics offers the potential for increased employee productivity and satisfaction. Made of high-density polyurethane, ENHANCER™ Technology helps to add comfort underfoot. It helps to reduce heel-strike force and leg muscle response, two prime causes of standing and walking fatigue. From extended lifecycles to improved appearance and usage, carpet backing made with Dow polyurethane technology makes the flooring choice an easy one for educational facility managers. It’s a decision that can meet the current and future demands of administrators, staff and students. To find out more about Dow polyurethane technology, visit us at the APPA conference for educational facilities professionals July 15-17 in Baltimore, Maryland, booth #507. Or go online to www.dowcarpetbackings.com. About Dow ®™^* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow ¹ To offer these benefits, ENHANCER Technology must be used together with a polyurethane pre-coat. For Editorial Information: Janet Hansen The Dow Chemical Company (800) 735-3129 Laura Jennings The Branding Firm, Inc. (706) 812-1824 laura.jennings@thebrandingfirm.com
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