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Fuzzing Defect, no testThis report was commissioned by the carpet mill.THE CLAIM STATISTICS DATE INSPECTED: 9/3/97 DATE WRITTEN: 9/6/97 NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS: 2 PROBLEM REPORTED: Shedding PROBLEM FOUND: Shedding WAS A DIAGRAM MADE?: No SAMPLES FROM INSPECTION: Vacuum Cleaner Bag full of carpet debris PERSONS PRESENT: Inspector & Claimant
THE CARPET FIBER/ ID METHOD: Nylon-Chemical FIBER HUE: Blue CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Pile YARN STYLE: Saxony SQUARE YARDAGE: 16.89 BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Polypropylene SECONDARY BACKING: Polypropylene
THE INSTALLATION LOCATION TYPE: Residential DATE INSTALLED: 2/12/97 METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: 1/2 Inch Rebond 6.5 Lb./Sq. Ft. SUBFLOOR: Concrete AREA INSTALLED: Den
USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: None Reported TEMPERATURE: 76°F - 24.4° C RH 55% ADULTS: 2 - CHILDREN: 0 - PET(S): 0 DO THEY SMOKE? No SPOTTING AGENTS: None VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Eureka Upright Weekly ENTRY-MATS? Yes SOIL: None Noticed HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned
INSTRUCTION FOR THIS INSPECTION To determine the cause for the fuzzing.
THE REPORT Site Conditions and Geographical Information The carpet was installed in the claimant's free standing single story house located in a residential neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. The house was well maintained and was owner occupied at the time of the inspection.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR Several different carpets were installed as part of a remodeling effort. Only the carpet in question had a problem. Immediately after the installation, fuzzing was noticed. The installer said that the problem should go away with vacuuming. As time progressed the problem worsened.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR Fuzzing was noted in the trafficked areas. The heaviest concentration was in front of one of two love-seats. Fibers were not completely detached from the yarn. No loose fiber was noted. The other carpets were of a similar style, but were not affected.
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. The claimant's vacuum cleaner was inspected and the setting on the brush was set for low pile. The brush was soft and there was a beater bar on the cylinder. Nothing unusual was found on the cylinder head and vacuum cleaner was turned on and used and was found to be in good working condition. The bag was inspected and was full. The contents in the bag were fibers that were 1/4 to 1/2 inches long and some were one inch.
THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT The question that I have been asked to address is: what has caused the carpet to fuzz?
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE Excessive Fuzzing can be caused by: 1. excessive foot or mechanical traffic 2. improper maintenance or from the use of too stiff of a brush on a vacuum cleaner 3. improper bundle wrap of the latex
INDUSTRY STANDARDS & DEFINITIONS The CLAIMS POLICY GUIDELINES in section 8 says this about fuzzing claims: 8. Pile crushing, pile shading, and soiling are not manufacturing defects and will not be considered as a basis for claims. Claims for fuzzing and pilling will be subjected to examination and testing by the manufacturer. Claims for missing tufts will not be considered except on a basis of repair. No claims will be honored for carpet installed on stairs, in elevators and in bathrooms. The mill reserves the right to correct any repairable manufacturing defect. (See Glossary for definition of terms). According to the IICRC FLOOR COVER REFERENCE GUIDE GLOSSARY fuzzing is defined as the following: fuzzing - Hairy appearance on a carpet's surface caused by wild fibers or slack yarn twist; or by fibers slipping out of the yarn (especially staple) as a result of routine service or cleaning. Carpet of continuous filament yarn is fuzzed by filaments snagging and breaking. It is corrected by shearing during manufacture, or by a carpet technician using a device called a micro-shear.
THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The setting on the vacuum cleaner did not seem to be at the right setting for this type of carpet. However, it was not having an adverse effect of the other carpets. Fibers that are one quarter to one half inch long are likely left over from the shearing process. Fibers that are one to two inches long are likely from lack of latex penetration. When the problem decreases with time the problem is generally due to excessive sheer lint. When the problem gets worse, there is a strong likelihood that there are problems from the latex not penetrating deep enough into the yarn. A vacuum cleaner bag full of fibers from less than 17 yards of carpet is a lot. To correctly determine if the problem is from latex, a remnant is necessary for testing. Unfortunately, there were no samples available.
CONCLUSION Fuzzing in the carpet in question was due to problems inherent in manufacturing based on background information and observations. |