Housing...Inside and Out

April 9, 1999
Carpet and Indoor Air Quality

The Environmental Protection Agency has developed a comprehensive program to address both sources of indoor air pollution as well as building systems that affect indoor air quality. Carpet was one of the first products to have received significant attention.

EPA undertook a year long "dialogue" with carpet floor covering industries, unions, public interest groups, and other Federal agencies to explore ways of reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new carpet and related installation materials, such as carpet cushion and adhesives. The dialogue was initiated as a pollution prevention program following complaints that carpet was causing health problems for some individuals even though an evaluation of available data failed to establish a cause and effect relationship between carpet emissions and reported symptoms. As a result of this voluntary process, the carpet industry agreed to test new carpet floor covering materials for total VOC emissions and explore ways of lowering emission of VOCs from carpet products.

Tips for Consumers

When installing new carpet, the following precautions are suggested:

  • Talk to your carpet retailer. Ask for information on emissions from carpet.
  • Ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a well-ventilated area before installation.
  • Ask for low-emitting adhesives if adhesives are needed. 
  • Consider leaving the premises during and immediately after carpet installation. You may wish to schedule the installation when most family members or office workers are out. 
  • Be sure the retailer requires the installer to follow The Carpet and Rug Institute's installation guidelines. 
  • Open doors and windows. Increasing the amount of fresh air in the home will reduce exposure to most chemicals released from carpet. During and after installation, use window fans and room air conditioners to exhaust fumes to the outdoors. If you have a ventilation system, be sure it is in proper working order. Operate it during installation and keep it running for 48 to 72 hours after the new carpet is installed. 
  • Contact your carpet retailer if objectionable odors persist. 
  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper carpet maintenance

SOURCE: Environmental Protection Agency


Written by Dr. Francis Graham (Retired)

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