Color Loss in the shape of triangles
This report was written for the carpet mill.
THE CARPET
FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon - Anionic/Cationic Dyed-According To
Manufacturer
FIBER HUE: Brown & Tan
CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Loop
YARN STYLE: Level Loop
SQUARE YARDAGE: 1006
BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted
PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene
SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
THE INSTALLATION
LOCATION TYPE: Commercial
TYPE OF BUSINESS: High-Rise Office
METHOD: Stretch-In
SUBFLOOR: Concrete
AREA INSTALLED: Lobby, Walkways, & Offices
USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION
LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: No
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 60
TEMPERATURE: 74.0°F - 23.3° C RH 52%
ENTRY-MATS? In the Downstairs Lobby
SOIL: None Noticed
HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas
COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric
CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned
REASON FOR COMMISSION
To determine the cause of spots or discoloration in the carpet.
THE REPORT
Site Conditions and Geographical Information
The carpet was installed on the second floor of a 10 story building located on
the western edge of the Los Angeles Basin, two miles from the Pacific Ocean. The condition
and maintenance of the property was good.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR
The actual occupant of this floor and the owner of the building was the ACME Farms
Corporation.
Light and dark spots were noted immediately after the installation. The light colored
spots were in the shape of triangles, but these shapes became less discernible with time.
Cleaning attempts were made on the light spots with limited success. The dark spots became
less noticeable with time. No other cleaning attempts had been made at the time of the
inspection.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR
Most spots were not easily discernible. The triangle shape spots were lighter than the
surrounding carpet. The darker spots had gray to brown hues and were globular in shape.
Most noticeable to this inspector were two spots.
· One was a light spot in the main lobby that was triangular in shape, measured
approximately three inches in width.
· The second was located in the president’s office next to a plant. This spot was
oblong with irregular edges and had a brown hue.
No spot had any apparent change of hand nor an odor that could be detected. They all
remained visible when viewed in different directions.
ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING
An inspection lamp was used for closer evaluation and the spots were still noticeable
under this lamp.
An ultra-violet light was used to draw a reflection from substances with optical
brightening agents. The result of this test revealed that there was no reflection.
Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. The results of
these tests revealed that there were no moisture indications in the spots.
Using a digital type pH meter, pH tests were taken in the brown spot in the
presidents’ office. The test results were as follows:
affected areas 7.3 7.4 7.3
Ave. 7.33
non-affected areas 6.9 7.0 7.0
Ave. 6.97
A bleach test was performed on the light or white spot in the lobby using a test kit from
COLOR MATCH SYSTEMS and revealed that there were no bleaching agents in the light spot.
A Paint Oil & Grease Remover professional spotting agent was applied to the on the
light spot in the lobby. The result of this test showed that there was no improvement to
the appearance of the spot.
A detergent test using a small portable extractor and Chempec’s Formula 77 was used
on the dark spot in the President’s office. The initial appearance showed some
improvement.
THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT
The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the spots?
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE
Spots and stains can occur when:
1. problems are inherent in manufacturing
2. foreign substances have been spilt on to the carpet
3. lighting conditions create shadows on the carpet
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS
The Carpet & Fabricare Institutes says this in their rules section of their spotting
manual:
APPEARANCE - Spots that are lighter than the surrounding unaffected area are the result of
color loss. Spots that are darker than the surrounding unaffected areas are the result of
something added. Spots that end-up changing in different light and diminish or disappear
in direct intense light are the result of texture variations, usually from over aggressive
mechanical action.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS
LIGHT COLORED TRIANGLES--The inspection lamp test rules out the possibility that these
spots were the result of shadows. Since the bleach test indicates that the spots were not
created by bleach and the spots were lighter than the surrounding carpet; the triangle
shaped spots were the result of color loss. Since it was reported that part of the dye
system was cationic, these spots may be the result of anionic detergent reacting with the
dye. Laboratory testing would be necessary to confirm this as a conclusion.
DARK HUE, GLOBULAR SPOTS--The brown spots in the president’s office could possibly be
related to material from the plant and the other dark hue spots would also be the result
of common spills and accidents. Detergent testing indicates that it could be removed. The
pH testing indicates that the spot and stains were not pH related.
CONCLUSION
Dark spots in the carpet in question were related to accidents that occurred during
installation., based upon, background information, tests and observations.
Light color spots are the result of color loss not related common spills or accidents
based upon testing and shape.