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Fading from NO2, tests recommend
This report was written for a carpet mill.THE CLAIM STATISTICS INSPECTOR'S REPORT NUMBER: 3889 INSPECTOR'S INVOICE NUMBER: 6352 COMMISSIONER'S CLAIM NUMBER: 6923 COMMISSIONER'S P O NUMBER: Not Applicable INSPECTOR WAS CONTACTED ON: 10/27/98 INSPECTOR WAS RETAINED ON: 10/27/98 DATE INSPECTED: 11/10/98 DATE WRITTEN: 11/22/97 NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS: PROBLEM REPORTED: Reoccurring Spots PROBLEM FOUND: Fading WAS A DIAGRAM MADE?: No SAMPLES FROM INSPECTION: None Taken PERSONS PRESENT: Inspector & Claimant
THE CARPET MANUFACTURER: Hollytex Carpet Mills STYLE NAME & NUMBER: Grand Illusion COLOR NAME & NUMBER: Green Taffeta NUMBER on BACKING: Not Applicable FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon-Chemical FIBER HUE: Green CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Pile YARN STYLE: Saxony SQUARE YARDAGE: 97 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
THE INSTALLATION TYPE LOCATION: Residential DATE INSTALLED: 11/94 METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2-Inch Rebond 6 Lb./Cu. Ft. SUBFLOOR: Wood AREA INSTALLED: Livingroom, diningroom, Hallway, & 2-Bedrooms
USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Yes TEMPERATURE: 74°F - 23.3° C RH 31% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 3 - PET(S): 1 - Dog DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: Just Water VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Upright Daily ENTRY-MATS: Yes SOIL: None Noticed HEATING TYPE: Forced Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Sump Pump CLEANING: None
INSTRUCTION FOR THIS INSPECTION Assess the problem reported and make a determination of responsible parties.
THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information This is a free standing and owner occupied house located in a residential neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. This house was built sometime in the 1950s. The condition and maintenance were good at the time of the inspection.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR The carpet was installed due to the age of the previous carpet. Color loss was noticed was noticed next to the baseboard followed by numerous light-colored spots shortly after the installation. The claimant notified the dealer who contacted the carpet mill who the commissioning of this inspection.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR Yellow tipped yarns were immediately noticeable next to the baseboard in the diningroom. Color loss was at the tips of the yarns. Similar color loss was also noted in the entryway of rooms. The yellow hue was lighter than the surrounding carpet. Approximately a dozen small circular white or yellow spots were noted in trafficked areas. The size of these spots was smaller than a dime. Finally, another irregular shaped spot that was approximately three inches in diameter was noted around the leg of an end table in the livingroom. There was no unusual hand to the spots nor were odors noticed.
ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. This test would indicate the presence of moisture locked-up in salt compounds from urine and detergents. The results of these tests showed that there was no moisture throughout the installation. An ultra-violet light was used to draw a reflection from substances with optical brightening agents. Yellow reflection will come from most urine stains; a blue or lavender reflection from detergents. The result of this test revealed that there were no reflections. Numerous pH tests were taken using a digital type pH meter and a special low moisture probe that made direct contact with the face yarns. This device is accurate to ± 0.1 and was calibrated with a laboratory testing solution immediately before these tests were made. All tests were made using distilled water with a pH of 7.0. The test results were between 5.7 to 6.3 with little to no variations between the affected and the non-affected areas. A bleach test was performed using a test kit from COLOR MATCH SYSTEMS and revealed that there were no bleaching agents in the light spot. A formaldehyde test was run using a kit from EM SCIENCE and the results showed no formaldehyde in the affected area.
THE ISSUE The question that I have been asked to address is: what caused the color loss in the carpet in question?
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Color loss problems can occur when: 1. Bleaches, oxidizing agents or other chemical residues have been applied to the face yarn. 2. Sunlight or in particular ultraviolet rays from the sun affect the dye. 3. Oxide of nitrogen and sulfur in the air common to the Southern California atmosphere, high efficient force air heating systems and other gas appliances react with carpet dye.
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS According to the FLOOR COVERING DICTIONARY, it says this about Color Loss: FADING - Loss of color. Caused by actinic radiation such as sunlight or artificial light, atmospheric gases including ozone, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulphide, cleaning and bleaching chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite, and other household and industrial products, chlorine chemicals or swimming pools, and other factors. Commercial installations in areas where such exposures occur require extreme care in selection of colorfast carpet. All carpet will fade under certain conditions. The greatest sun fade potential is a Southwest exposure while the least is a Northwest or North exposure. Unprotected carpet, those in front of windows without drapes, in a Southwest exposure can show very noticeable color loss after as little as 6 months. Examples: A brown carpet will fade to light green in, areas where it receives direct sunlight because the color component most severely affected is red. A green carpet will fade to yellow because color component most affected by the direct sunlight is blue. According to the FLOOR COVERING DICTIONARY, it says this about FUME FADING: FUME FADING - Also referred to as gas fading, this is a loss or shift in the dye color of the carpet due to attack by atmospheric contaminants. Ozone, generated during thunderstorms, and oxides of nitrogen from gas furnaces and aldenydes from particleboard are the most common fading agents. GAS FADING - A change of shade of dyed fabric caused by chemical reaction between certain disperse dyes and acid gases from fuel combustion, particularly oxides of nitrogen.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The bleach test, pH and moisture tests rule out some type of harsh chemical causing the color loss. Sun fading usually occurs next to windows, especially on the westside of the house; thus, it too is not a likely source of the problem. An indicative pattern of oxide of nitrogen or fume fading is color loss next to baseboards. However, this is not a classic case of this scenario in that it has happened on one wall only. The spots are more indicative of problem with bleach being dropped on the carpet. Thus, an AATCC 164 FADE TEST TO (OXIDES OF NITROGEN) should be run to determine if a defect inherent in the manufacturing exists.
CONCLUSION Color loss in the carpet in question is subject to AATCC 164 FADE TEST TO (OXIDES OF NITROGEN) testing based upon observations made at the time of the inspection. |