Choose carpet tiles on design alone and maintenance costs will overtake the material cost within three years. In an office where hundreds of people pass through every day, durability, design, acoustic performance, and eco-certification all need to be evaluated — only then will you have no regrets five years later.
Four Selection Criteria for Carpet Tiles
Durability — EN 1307 Use Class
Carpet durability — the ability to resist abrasion and load — is classified under the EN 1307 standard use class system. The classes divide into residential (Class 21–23) and commercial (Class 31–33); the higher the number, the more demanding the traffic environment it can withstand.
Class 33 is the top rating, suitable for very heavy commercial traffic such as airport concourses, hotel lobbies, and office entrances.
An additional luxury class (LC1–LC5) may also be shown; this indicates cushioning and appearance-retention performance independently of the wear rating. For corridors and lobbies where visual impression is important, LC3 or higher is recommended — the pattern holds for more than 10 years of use.
Design — Colour Library and CI Application
The design value of a carpet tile lies not in any single pattern but in the breadth of its colorway library. Only a collection offering 100+ colours and a variety of patterns (stripe, texture, loop, organic) makes it possible to mix and match against a company's corporate identity palette.
Mix-matching 50 cm × 50 cm modules lets you differentiate the tone of the lounge, focus zones, and meeting rooms from a single set of drawings.
Acoustics — NRC + IIC + DIN 18041 Group B
Carpet tile is an absorber in its own right. At NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) values of 0.15–0.35, it contributes more than ten times the absorptive area of cement or wood finishes (NRC below 0.05).
Impact sound is measured by IIC (Impact Insulation Class); carpet tile reduces footstep and chair-caster vibration by 20–25 dB, absorbing impact noise — the number-one source of upper-floor occupant complaints.
Together the two make a key contribution to meeting the DIN 18041 Group B absorption target (A/V ≥ 0.25) for short-distance communication spaces such as offices and lobbies.
Eco-Certification — Eco-Label (EL) + G-SEED / LEED Credits
For domestic green building projects — public procurement, ESG reporting, or the G-SEED green building certification — holding the Eco-Label (EL, Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute) certification is in practice the primary filter for carpet tiles.
EL is a nationally recognised certification that evaluates the full life cycle including recycled content, VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions, and energy consumption; it G-SEED / LEED material credits are directly reflected against it.
Carpet Tile Decision Matrix by Space Type
Use class, luxury class, pattern direction, and key considerations for four space types — from open office to executive suite — presented at a glance. The table can be quoted directly for specification writing.
Open office (100+ seats)
Focus seats + walking + chair casters
Hallways, lobbies, main paths
1,000+ daily traffic, external grit ingress
Meeting rooms (8-20 ppl)
Acoustic absorption + brand consistency
Executive · VIP lounges
Tactile quality + premium look
Space × Four Criteria at a Glance
◆ = highest-priority criterion for that space.
| 기준 | Open Office | Hallway · Lobby | Meeting Room | Executive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durability (EN 1307) | Class 33 | Class 33 + LC4 | Class 32 | Class 31 + LC5 |
| Design direction | Mid-tone textureVisual stain mask | Dark patternedGrit mask | CI colorBrand consistency | Low-chroma premiumFurniture harmony |
| Acoustics (NRC target) | ||||
| Eco certification | EL required | EL required | EL required | EL + voluntary |
ANKER Carpet Tile Collections
Tornex is the official Korean dealer for ANKER, founded in Düren, Germany in 1854, supplying 27 collections and 100+ colorways. All collections are 100% Made in Germany, with Eco-Label and EU CE certification. Four representative pattern categories:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What eco-certifications does ANKER carpet tile hold?
Q2Is carpet tile installation difficult? Can it happen during business hours?
Q3Does carpet tile really help office acoustics?
Q4What grade combination is right for open offices?
Q5Which matters more, NRC or IIC?
Glossary
- EN 1307 — European carpet and carpet tile use class classification standard. Class 21–33 (application and traffic level) + LC1–LC5 (cushioning and appearance retention).
- NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) — Arithmetic average of absorption coefficients at 250 / 500 / 1k / 2k Hz. Measured in a reverberation room per ASTM C423.
- IIC (Impact Insulation Class) — Impact sound isolation rating at 100–3,150 Hz (footsteps, drop noise). Measured per ISO 10140-1 / ASTM E2179.
- DIN 18041 — German standard for indoor acoustic quality. Distinguishes Group A (long-distance communication = lecture rooms, courtrooms) from Group B (short-distance = offices, lobbies). Group B recommended A/V ≥ 0.25.
- EL (Eco-Label) — Nationally recognised eco-certification operated by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI). Evaluates recycled content + VOC + full life-cycle energy.
- G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design) — Korean green building certification. Assesses seven categories: land use, energy, materials, and indoor environment, among others.
- STI (Speech Transmission Index) — Speech intelligibility index (0–1). DIN 18041 recommends STI ≥ 0.58 for meeting rooms.
References
- Centexbel — Floorcovering Classification according to EN 1307:2014
- Vital-Office — DIN 18041 Audibility in rooms (offices, conference rooms, classrooms)
- ASTM International — ASTM C423 Standard Test Method for Sound Absorption
- Commercial Acoustics — IIC Rating 101: Understanding Impact Insulation Class (ISO 10140 / ASTM E2179)
- Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) — Eco-Label Certification System (EL)
- Green Building Certification — G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design)
- ANKER carpets — Official website (est. Düren, Germany 1854)