Lines from Shift Marks

This report was written for the mill. The definition for shift marks was given to the ACADEMY OF TEXTILE & FLOOR and to the IICRC from this report.

LOCATION TYPE: Commercial

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Church

DATE INSTALLED: 8/97

METHOD: Direct Glue Down

SUBFLOOR: Concrete

AREA INSTALLED: Sanctuary

USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION

LITERATURE RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE: Not Reported

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES Not Determined

TEMPERATURE: 76.9°F - 24.9° C RH 69%

VACUUM/FREQUENCY: Upright Weekly

ENTRY-MATS? Yes

SOIL: Slightly Soiled

HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas

COOLING TYPE: Central - Electric

CLEANING: Never Been Cleaned

REASON FOR COMMISSION

The carpet reportedly has shift marks.

THE REPORT

Site Conditions and Geographical Information

The carpet was installed in the Sanctuary of this Church. This Church was located in a gated retirement community called LEISURE WORLD. This facility was in the Los Angeles Basin near the Pacific Ocean. The condition and maintenance of the property was good.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE TO THE INSPECTOR

The carpet was installed as part of a refurbishing plan due to the age of the old carpet. Unsightly seams were noticed immediately upon the completion of the installation. Later lines were noticed and there was concern that the carpet was defective.

DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM AREA BY THIS INSPECTOR

The inspector’s attention was directed to the front of the Sanctuary. The carpet ran the length of the Sanctuary and had seams run from east to west. A door on the northside was open and widthwise lines were noted in the second panel. The lines appeared as pairs, separated by three fourths of an inch and pairs were approximately two and a half inches apart. Every other pair was more noticeable than the one in between. The seam between the first and second panel was wavy and did not follow a straight line. Instead it curved or had a bow.

On the first and third panel much fainter widthwise lines were noted that were approximately five inches apart.

The lines varied in appearance when viewed from different directions and disappeared when view directly above. The yarns had no visible differences in twist, bulk, or size. The hue of the yarn was consistent from one yarn to the next, with the hue being the same from the tip of the yarn to its base. No yarns were longer than the others. The spacing between the rows and columns was consistent.

ON-LOCATION FIELD TESTING

An inspection lamp was used for closer evaluation and to create shadows. This high intensity lamp is equipped with a 200 watt halogen bulb. The lines disappeared when viewed directly over head.

A Pile Direction Test was done using a piece of paper and a pencil. The pile direction of the carpet was confirmed as running the same direction on both sides of the seam.

THE ISSUE OF THIS REPORT

Make a determination of the severity of shift marks.

GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE ISSUE

There are no convening authority for evaluating shift marks.

DEFINITIONS

According to the FLOORCOVERING DICTIONARY and the IICRC FIELD REFERENCE MANUAL, there is no definition for shift marks.

THE INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS

When congregated authorities are not available on a topic like this, evaluations are subjective.

Tufting of most carpet does not follow straight rows and when alterations in the rate of production changes, then there are contrasts in shift marks from one panel to the next. If the lighting conditions are right then the problem will be aggravated. In this case, the problem was not conspicuous until the side door was open.

CONCLUSION

On a scale of one to five where five would be the most severe and one would be barely notable, this inspector would rate the second panel with a two and the first and third panels with a one with normal lighting and with the door open the second panel would 3.5 rating.