Rugs and Mats

SECTION 12 48 00 – RUGS AND MATS
[Version 1.0 · Draft for Architect/Specifier Review · Upholsterers United (UU) Network Guide Specification]

Editor's note to the specifier: This is a three-part CSI guide specification for shop-fabricated, bound, and sewn custom area rugs and mats cut from broadloom carpet or rug goods — not wall-to-wall broadloom carpet installation, which is a separate trade covered by Section 09 68 00 Carpeting. It covers custom sizing and shaping, serging/binding, seaming, and backing/pad supply by a current Upholsterers United (UU) Registered Shop in the Carpets & Rugs trade category. This Section is one of four in a companion series of UU network guide specifications (12 22 00 Curtains and Drapes; 12 48 00 Rugs and Mats; 12 52 00 Custom Upholstery; 13 31 23 Tensioned Fabric Shade Structures), all built on the same network-qualification model. As with the companion Sections, the fabricator is qualified by current network registration rather than named as a sole basis of design. Choose or delete each bracketed option [like this], renumber as needed, and confirm flammability testing/labeling requirements against the finished size of each scheduled rug before issuing for bid. Code basis: federal CPSC flammability standards under 16 CFR Parts 1630/1631, which apply nationally regardless of local building code adoption; confirm any additional state or local requirements. Items marked [verify] cite a real standard or body but a figure, edition, or threshold the specifier must confirm before issuing.

PART 1 – GENERAL

1.1 SUMMARY
A. This Section includes field measurement, shop fabrication, and delivery/placement of:
1. Custom-sized and custom-shaped bound area rugs cut from broadloom carpet or rug goods.
2. Serged (overcast/merrow-stitched) or bound-edge area rugs and runners.
3. Seamed rugs assembled from multiple widths where the finished size exceeds available goods width.
4. Loose-lay mats, entrance mats, and similar sewn/bound floor pieces furnished as scheduled.
5. [Attached non-slip backing][rug pad supply], where scheduled.
B. This Section excludes wall-to-wall broadloom carpet installation (Section 09 68 00 Carpeting), carpet tile (Section 09 68 13), resilient flooring (Section 09 65 00), and antique, one-of-a-kind, or hand-knotted rugs not fabricated under this Section's shop process, except where such rugs are brought under this Section solely for binding repair or resizing.
C. Single-source responsibility: one UU Registered Shop (the "Fabricator") shall perform field measurement, cutting, binding/serging, seaming, and backing application for all rugs and mats under this Section.

1.2 RELATED SECTIONS
A. Section 09 65 00 Resilient Flooring.
B. Section 09 68 00 Carpeting (wall-to-wall broadloom installation).
C. Section 09 68 13 Tile Carpeting.
D. Section 12 22 00 Curtains and Drapes.
E. Section 12 52 00 Custom Upholstery.

1.3 REFERENCES
A. 16 CFR Part 1630, Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs (FF 1-70). Applies to carpets and rugs with one dimension greater than 6 ft (1.83 m) and a surface area greater than 24 sq ft (2.23 m²). Specimens are tested using a methenamine-tablet ignition source under draft-protected conditions ("pill test"); a specimen passes if the charred area does not reach within 1 inch of the test-frame hole, and the lot passes if at least 7 of 8 specimens pass.
B. 16 CFR Part 1631, Standard for the Surface Flammability of Small Carpets and Rugs (FF 2-70). Applies to carpets and rugs with no dimension greater than 6 ft (1.83 m) and a surface area not greater than 24 sq ft (2.23 m²) — i.e., the size class most custom-bound area rugs fall into. Same pill-test method and 7-of-8 pass criterion as Part 1630. One-of-a-kind pieces such as antiques, Oriental rugs, and hides may be excluded from testing under CPSC-specified conditions.
C. ASTM D2859, Standard Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials, the voluntary/industry test method corresponding to the pill test incorporated in 16 CFR 1630/1631; independent testing labs commonly report flammability results under this ASTM designation. [Verify current edition — ASTM D2859-16(2021) is current at this writing.]
D. ASTM D1335, Standard Test Method for Tuft Bind of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings. Governs the pull-force test used to verify tuft/pile anchorage in the base goods before and after binding/serging; relevant to confirming that cut edges will not shed or unravel pile. [Verify current edition and any project-specific minimum pull force — industry practice commonly cites a minimum in the range of 2.5–4.0 lbf per tuft depending on construction; confirm against the goods manufacturer's published data.]
E. ASTM D418, Standard Practice for Operating Woven Wire Screen Test Sieves [verify — this designation is also historically associated with general practices for sampling and testing pile yarn floor coverings in commercial specifications]. [Verify current scope and title directly with ASTM before citing in a final issued specification; this session found the designation referenced in an unrelated commercial carpet specification's pile-density paragraph but could not independently confirm its current scope.]
F. ASTM D5252, Standard Practice for the Operation of the Hexapod Tumble Drum Tester, used to evaluate change in surface appearance (simulated foot-traffic wear) of pile floor coverings; may be scheduled where a durability benchmark for heavy-traffic custom rugs is required.
G. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus certification program, an industry indoor-air-quality testing and labeling program for carpet, rug, and adhesive products; reference where IAQ documentation is required for LEED, health care, or similarly sensitive projects. Note that Green Label Plus is specific to carpet, rug, and carpet-adhesive products — it is not the applicable program for upholstery textiles or foam (see Section 12 52 00, Paragraph 1.3.H, for the furniture-appropriate GREENGUARD Gold/CertiPUR-US programs).
H. CRI 104, Standard for Installation of Commercial Carpet, Section 6.2.1 moisture-testing guidance (calcium chloride method), relevant only where a rug is adhered or where backing/pad performance depends on subfloor moisture conditions. [Verify applicability; most loose-lay custom rugs under this Section are not adhered and this reference may not apply — delete if Not Used.]
I. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) and its implementing CPSC regulations, governing total lead content and other children's-product requirements where rugs are scheduled for use in licensed child-care, pre-K, or similar occupancies. [Verify applicability to the specific project occupancy.]

1.4 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
A. Flammability: each finished rug shall be tested and labeled under the CPSC standard applicable to its finished size — 16 CFR Part 1631 (FF 2-70) for rugs with no dimension greater than 6 ft and an area not greater than 24 sq ft, or 16 CFR Part 1630 (FF 1-70) for rugs exceeding either threshold — regardless of the size of the broadloom goods from which it was cut. A multi-width seamed rug whose finished size crosses this threshold shall be tested and labeled at its finished size, not the size of its individual width components.
B. Tuft bind of the base goods shall meet or exceed [ASTM D1335, [verify minimum pull force] lbf] before cutting proceeds; Fabricator shall report goods failing this threshold to the Architect in writing rather than fabricate from them.
C. Indoor air quality: where scheduled, face fiber, backing, and any adhesive used in fabrication shall carry current CRI Green Label Plus certification, with certificates submitted for the specific products used.
D. Slip resistance: where a rug or mat is scheduled over a hard-surface floor without a fitted pad, Fabricator shall furnish or recommend a backing or separate pad providing slip resistance appropriate to the application. [No single consensus ASTM/ANSI test method currently governs slip resistance specifically for area rugs or rug pads — verify any project-specific performance claim directly against the backing/pad manufacturer's published test data rather than a generic floor-safety standard, which is typically written for hard flooring rather than textile floor coverings.]

1.5 SUBMITTALS
A. Product data for base goods, binding/serging tape or thread, backing, and pad, including flammability test reports or labels applicable under Paragraph 1.4.A for each finished rug size scheduled.
B. Shop drawings showing finished dimensions, shape, border/pattern orientation, binding color and width, corner construction, and seam locations for multi-width rugs.
C. Samples: one bound/serged edge sample of each edge-treatment type and color scheduled, and one corner sample where mitered binding is specified. The approved sample becomes the standard of workmanship for stitch density, edge uniformity, and corner construction.
D. Qualification data: current confirmation of UU Registered Shop status in the Carpets & Rugs trade category per Paragraph 1.6, plus a list of completed projects of comparable scope with owner contacts.
E. CRI Green Label Plus certificates where IAQ compliance is scheduled.
F. COM (Customer's Own Material) yardage requirements where base goods are Owner-furnished.

1.6 QUALITY ASSURANCE — FABRICATOR QUALIFICATIONS AND UU REGISTERED SHOP STATUS
A. Fabricator shall be a current Upholsterers United (UU) Registered Shop in the Carpets & Rugs trade category at time of bid and shall maintain that registration status throughout the Work.
B. UU Registered Shop status means the shop has cleared Upholsterers United's shop-registration process for that trade category, which verifies, in objective and documented terms:
1. A current business license and a current certificate of liability insurance on file with Upholsterers United;
2. A documented history of completed work in the trade category submitted to and reviewed by Upholsterers United;
3. Completion of a UU-monitored qualifying period of initial network jobs, assessed before the shop is granted full registration; and
4. The shop's agreement to Upholsterers United's network terms, including a minimum workmanship standard and warranty commitment applicable to work performed under the UU network.
C. Registration status is not a one-time credential; a shop that fails to maintain current insurance, licensing, or network terms is subject to removal from the UU directory, and a shop so removed no longer qualifies under this Section regardless of its registration at any earlier date.
D. In addition to current UU Registered Shop status, the Fabricator shall: have performed binding, serging, and seaming in its own facility for a minimum of [5] years; maintain equipment and in-house capability to cut, bind/serge, and seam goods to custom sizes and shapes without subcontracting the sewing/binding operation; and have completed at least [3] commercial or comparable custom-rug projects within the past [5] years.
E. Mockup: the Fabricator shall provide one bound/serged edge sample of each edge type and binding color scheduled, for Architect approval, before proceeding with full production.

1.7 NETWORK QUALIFICATION VERIFICATION
A. This Section does not name a single basis-of-design fabricator with a formal substitution process for alternates. Any current UU Registered Shop in the Carpets & Rugs trade category is qualified to bid and perform this Work.
B. Not later than [10] days before bid, and again at [Contract award][shop drawing submittal], the Fabricator shall furnish documentation confirming current UU Registered Shop status as of that date, consisting of: (1) a printed or screen-captured confirmation of active Carpets & Rugs-category registration from the upholsterersunited.com member directory, dated within [5] days of submission; (2) a current certificate of liability insurance; and (3) the completed-project list required under Paragraph 1.5.D.
C. The Architect or Owner may independently verify a bidder's or Contractor's registration status directly through the upholsterersunited.com member directory at any time before or during the Work.
D. Should a Fabricator's UU registration lapse after Contract award but before Substantial Completion, the Fabricator shall notify the Owner and Architect in writing within [5] business days of the lapse. The Fabricator remains bound by this Section's quality, submittal, and warranty requirements for all work performed, whether or not its registration is current at the time of notice; the Owner reserves the right to require completion of the remaining Work by another current UU Registered Shop at the lapsed Fabricator's expense if the lapse is not cured within [15] days.

1.8 CUSTOMER'S OWN MATERIAL (COM)
A. Where base carpet/rug goods are furnished by the Owner or Architect (COM), they shall arrive in the quantity specified on the Fabricator's yardage schedule. The Fabricator shall inspect COM goods before cutting and report defects, flaws, shading variation, insufficient tuft bind, or insufficient quantity in writing before proceeding. The Fabricator is not responsible for COM defects, dye-lot variation, flammability compliance, or durability of goods it did not select or supply.

1.9 DELIVERY AND STORAGE
A. Finished rugs and mats shall be delivered rolled face-up [or face-to-face, per manufacturer recommendation] and protected, labeled by location per the approved shop drawings, and stored clean, dry, and conditioned, off the floor, until placement.

1.10 WARRANTY
A. Workmanship warranty: the Fabricator warrants binding/serging, seams, and backing adhesion against defects in workmanship for [one year] from the date of delivery or placement, whichever occurs first.
B. Materials, including face fiber, backing, pad, and binding tape, are covered only by the applicable manufacturer's warranty. Normal wear, pile crushing, soiling, and color variation within manufacturer tolerances are not defects.

PART 2 – PRODUCTS

2.1 FABRICATOR
A. The Contractor shall engage a current Upholsterers United (UU) Registered Shop in the Carpets & Rugs trade category, verified through the upholsterersunited.com member directory at time of bid, to perform the Work of this Section.
B. American Upholstery (Custom Upholstery, LLC), Phoenix, Arizona, is one example of a shop currently registered and qualified under this Section. This listing is provided as an example of a currently qualified network shop and does not establish American Upholstery as the exclusive or basis-of-design fabricator; any current UU Registered Shop in the Carpets & Rugs trade category is equally qualified to bid and perform this Work.

2.2 BASE GOODS
A. Carpet/rug face goods: [as scheduled][Customer's Own Material (COM)], fiber type, pile construction, and weight as scheduled.
B. Tuft bind shall meet the performance of Paragraph 1.4.B before cutting.
C. Flammability of the finished rug shall meet the applicable CPSC standard identified in Paragraph 1.4.A.
D. Where IAQ compliance is scheduled, face goods and backing shall carry current CRI Green Label Plus certification.

2.3 BINDING AND EDGE TREATMENT
A. Edge treatment: [cotton tape binding][wool tape binding][synthetic tape binding][serged/overcast (merrow-stitched) edge], color [to match][to contrast] per schedule.
B. Binding tape width and thread type as scheduled; stitch density uniform throughout and matched to the approved sample.
C. Corners: [mitered and bound][rounded][as scheduled], constructed to lie flat without puckering or wave.

2.4 BACKING AND PAD
A. Secondary backing: [none][attached felt][attached latex][non-slip rubber], as scheduled.
B. Rug pad: [furnished by Fabricator][furnished by Owner][Not Used]; thickness and density as scheduled, selected for compatibility with the finished floor surface and the slip-resistance performance of Paragraph 1.4.D.

2.5 SEAMING
A. Multi-width or oversized rugs requiring seaming shall be seamed with pattern, pile direction, and color matched across the seam, using [sewn][hot-melt/heat-seam tape] construction as appropriate to the goods, with the seam located per the approved shop drawings to minimize visibility in the finished space.

2.6 LABELING
A. Each finished rug and mat shall bear the flammability label required under 16 CFR Part 1630 or 1631 as applicable, and shall be labeled by location per the approved shop drawings before delivery.

PART 3 – EXECUTION

3.1 EXAMINATION AND FIELD MEASUREMENT
A. The Fabricator shall field measure each space after floor, wall base, and millwork finishes are installed, verify finished rug dimensions and border/pattern orientation against the approved shop drawings, and report discrepancies in writing before cutting.

3.2 FABRICATION
A. Rugs shall be cut square and true to the approved pattern and dimensions; binding/serging applied with uniform stitch density and no puckering, wave, or visible distortion; seams flat and matched per Paragraph 2.5.
B. Each finished piece labeled by location per the approved shop drawings.

3.3 DELIVERY AND PLACEMENT
A. Unroll and allow goods to acclimate and relax per manufacturer recommendation before final placement; lay flat without buckling or wrinkling; secure pad beneath as scheduled.

3.4 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
A. Inspect each placed rug and mat against the approved sample and shop drawings; correct uneven binding, visible seams, or lay/placement defects before Substantial Completion.

3.5 CLEANING AND PROTECTION
A. Clean per fiber manufacturer's recommended methods; protect with breathable covering or walk-off protection from other trades' traffic until Substantial Completion.

3.6 OWNER INSTRUCTION
A. Instruct Owner's personnel in cleaning, periodic rotation (where pattern/fade exposure warrants it), and pad maintenance, with written care instructions furnished at closeout.

Editor's sources: 16 CFR Parts 1630 and 1631 (FF 1-70 and FF 2-70) scope, size thresholds, and pill-test pass criteria confirmed directly from the Code of Federal Regulations text (govinfo.gov, CFR Title 16 vol. 2, Parts 1630 and 1631); CPSC's own "Carpets and Rugs" FAQ page (cpsc.gov) confirms these two regulations govern surface flammability but this session could not retrieve its full answer text — the size-threshold and pass-criteria figures above come from the CFR text itself, not the FAQ. ASTM D2859's title and current scope (ignition characteristics of finished textile floor covering materials, i.e., the pill test) confirmed via ASTM's own store listing and related standards-reseller listings; current edition shown there is D2859-16(2021) — verify before citing a specific edition year in an issued document. ASTM D1335's title (Tuft Bind of Pile Yarn Floor Coverings) and ASTM D5252's title (Operation of the Hexapod Tumble Drum Tester) confirmed via ASTM store listings; their numeric thresholds in this draft are marked [verify] because this session located only the standards' titles/scope, not their internal pass/fail values, which are behind ASTM's paywall. ASTM D418's scope is marked [verify]/flagged as unconfirmed: this session found the designation cited for "pile density" in a real, dated commercial carpet specification (09 68 00 Carpeting, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Nov. 2025) but could not independently confirm that D418's current official title/scope matches that usage — confirm directly with ASTM before relying on it. CRI Green Label Plus and CRI 104 (moisture) references confirmed from the same real commercial carpet specification; the note distinguishing Green Label Plus (carpet-specific) from the furniture-appropriate IAQ programs cited in the companion Section 12 52 00 was added during this review for cross-series consistency. No consensus slip-resistance standard specific to area rugs/rug pads was found; ANSI/NFSI B101-series standards located in research are written for hard flooring surfaces, not textile floor coverings, and were deliberately not cited here as if they applied to rugs — this is flagged in Paragraph 1.4.D rather than fabricated. CPSIA/children's-product lead-content applicability is noted generically and marked [verify] for occupancy-specific applicability; this session did not verify current CPSIA lead-content thresholds.