Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Apr 16, 2013 7:54 pm Hello This is my first post due to a problem my 82 yr old mother is having. She has just had a new carpet laid in her bedroom due to water intrusion. Her new carpet as laid and paid for by the insurance company is a Cavalier Bremworth 100% wool carpet. It was laid last Tuesday (9 April 2013) and apparently it is offgassing terribly. She gets watery eyes, feels her respiratory system struggle and cannot go near her bedroom. Unfortunately I live 1000km away and so can't help her directly. My question is: Shouldn't this type of carpet have very low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions? Could the VOCs be from an underlay or adhesive? Has anyone heard of this happening before? Could she have recourse with the insurer? Thanks for any responses. lordjem Re: New 100% wool carpet offgassing 2Apr 17, 2013 5:39 am The problem will dissipate sooner rather than later. In order to speed it up the room should be ventilated. It is not uncommon with Wool carpets and is the mainly to to with the fibre not the underlay. The more sunlight and ventilation the better and within a short space of time it should settle down. You can contact the Australian Carpet Institute for more information if you like. CALL 1300GOHARVEY www.harveynormanflooring.com.au Carpet, Rugs, Timber, Bamboo, Laminate, Vinyl & Vinyl Tiles TIMBERMAX Real Australian Hardwood Flooring IN STORES NOW Re: New 100% wool carpet offgassing 4Apr 18, 2013 12:32 am Are carpets sprayed with fire retardants? Recently moved to a 60's home in need of some improvement! http://s797.photobucket.com/user/leenii ... ch%20House Old house: http://s797.photobucket.com/albums/yy25 ... loo/House/ Re: New 100% wool carpet offgassing 5Apr 18, 2013 6:02 am Here is some information from the Australian Carpet Institute; Carpets and VOCs As part of the manufacturing process, carpet is generally baked in a finishing oven at 150°C to 170°C. This drives off most of the volatile chemicals including solvents in adhesives and raw materials, leaving a product with a low remaining VOC content. When compared to other building materials with significant indoor exposure, carpet is a minor contributor to VOC emissions. Approximately 90% of all VOCs discharged from carpet dissipate within 2 days of installation. In addition, carpet has a purifying impact on indoor air quality by absorbing some toxic VOCs and trapping particulates present in indoor air. For example, carpets irreversibly remove VOCs, including the toxics formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide. Tips for installing new carpet: The area should be ventilated with fresh air during installation to avoid re-circulation of air. Most emissions dissipate quickly with adequate air exchange and ventilation. Vacuum the floor after the old carpet and underlay have been removed. Operate the ventilation system at the normal room temperature for 72 hours after installation. If possible open windows and doors to maximise fresh airflow. If carpet adhesives are used, ask for a low VOC emitting water-based adhesive. If you are sensitive to VOC emissions, leave the premises during and immediately after carpet installation. CALL 1300GOHARVEY www.harveynormanflooring.com.au Carpet, Rugs, Timber, Bamboo, Laminate, Vinyl & Vinyl Tiles TIMBERMAX Real Australian Hardwood Flooring IN STORES NOW Re: New 100% wool carpet offgassing 6Apr 18, 2013 6:04 am Fire retardant latex is sometimes used in carpets to allow them to go into medium density installations, but to answer your question no, they are not "sprayed". Many synthetic carpets have a fluro carbon added to them to assist in staining though. Re: New 100% wool carpet offgassing 7Apr 28, 2013 2:54 pm Is it possible she is allergic to wool? http://www.ehow.com/facts_5030353_sympt ... -wool.html That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17858 As is per usual for many of the past failed RWH regulations, it is probably traceable to a bureaucrat who's ego overrode the need to seek the appropriate expert… 1 1002 1 11004 |