When designing hospitality interiors people often ask “What is the best flooring solution for such an environment?” and in particular “What leisure and hospitality carpet is best?”

There are many carpets available that may look the same but when you look a little deeper there are some key features you should look out for.

1.     Wear Classifications

It’s important that the carpet will withstand heavy footfall and the intensive cleaning schedule that comes with a high traffic, hospitality environment. A hospitality carpet that comes with a Class 33 Heavy Commercial use classification has the highest performance classification there is and will be built to last, even those with class 32 will demonstrate exceptional performance characteristics and will be suitable for certain hospitality settings.

2.     Yarn Types

There are so many different carpet yarns to choose from and many of them have features that make them ideal for the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Nylon - Nylon is a popular choice mainly because of its durability, yarn elasticity and the fact that it’s relatively easy to maintain. It demonstrates exceptional resilience and is a yarn that bounces back after experiencing compression. The most stain resistant type of nylon is solution-dyed nylon, which locks the colour in by adding it during the production of the fibre. When the colour is part of the fibre, it becomes permanent and fade-resistant.

Wool - Wool is strong, static resistant and pleasing to touch. The 80/20 wool mix fibre used to manufacture our wool ranges has a number of benefits that make them ideal for use in busy environments. The carpets are strong and resilient as well as offering natural fire retardancy and anti-allergy benefits.

Polypropylene – danfloor's Prism™ yarn has a unique cross-section engineered to deliver purity in colour and is combined with light refraction properties which help to defuse visual soiling. It is also inherently anti-static and is solution-dyed offering outstanding texture and colour. Furthermore, it results in a carpet that can withstand commercial cleaning agents, including those with bleaching elements, without the loss of colour or appearance.

3.     Antimicrobial yarn coating

A permanent antimicrobial carpet yarn treatment, such as BI-OME, provides the first line of defence against the spread of infection. This is particularly important with the use of carpets within the hospitality and leisure sectors where there is a need for treatments and cleaning agents which assist with infection prevention and control.

BI-OME provides a 4 log reduction of 99.99% in the presence of harmful micro-organisms including the likes of MRSA and C-Diff.

It’s been tested on enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which is within the same family of viruses as COVID-19, and has demonstrated that it enhances the deactivation of viruses, on textile products.

4.     Sound Absorption

Leisure and hospitality settings can be busy and often loud places from morning until night. As a result, for guests and staff wellbeing rooms must be acoustically sound; allowing for comfortable communication, rest and relaxation.

Carpet is naturally an outstanding sound absorptive material. No other acoustical material performs the dual role of a floor covering and a versatile acoustical aid. A carpet that is manufactured for the hospitality sector can absorb airborne noise as efficiently as many specialised acoustical materials. The carpet also works as a sound barrier between floors by helping to block sound transmission to rooms below, which is essential for any multi-dwelling setting.

5.     Colour Selection

Although our ranges are designed to minimize the effects of soiling, it is strongly recommended that care be taken in choosing colours to suit particular locations. Medium to dark coloured carpets disguise soiling more effectively than plain, light shades and should therefore be considered for high traffic areas such as corridors. Lighter shades can be used more freely within low traffic areas such as bedrooms.

And finally...

...another important element to consider is to select a carpet from a manufacturer who has experience in producing carpets for the leisure and hospitality sector and can deliver to meet your expectations.

For flooring inspiration check out our Hospitality and Leisure showreel or to find out more view our range of Leisure carpets and select one for your next installation.