Natural Science Forum / Physics / Acoustics / November 2005

How does the absorption of a carpet change as it gets used and the pile is
flattened?  I am guessing that the reduction would be greater on a carpet
with a longer pile depth as the pile would compress more.  I am also
guessing that the change would be greater on a carpet tile with no underlay,
than it would be on a woven carpet with a good quality hairfelt underlay.

The context is the refurbishment of a very large conference room in which
most of the absorption is provided by the carpet.   The old carpet s
broadloom on underlay, and the RT is about right
at the moment.  For various reasons I am being asked to accept a deep pile
carpet tile with no underlay.   Based on the absorption data of brand new
materials, it might be difficult to reject that.  But if the RT is only just
about acceptable with new tiles, I am suspicious that it might increase
enough to cause problems over a few years, if a carpet tile is used.