When re-specifying office flooring, the shortlist usually narrows to two families: textile carpet tile, and PVC tile — LVT or “deco tile”. Yet quotes are too often compared on unit price alone.
The two families are good at different jobs. The right question is not which is better, but which zone of your office gets which family. This guide compares them item by item.
What the Two Families Are — Textile vs PVC
Carpet tile is a textile tile of yarn pile and backing. How to read its sizes, thickness and use class is covered in the carpet tile size and thickness guide.
LVT, deco tile and P-tile are all vinyl tiles governed by the Korean standard KS M 3802 (PVC flooring). “Deco tile” is the local name for the budget tier; LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) denotes the upper tier with better print and a thicker wear layer.
A common yardstick already exists: the use-class standard KS K ISO 10874 covers both resilient (vinyl) and textile floor coverings, so both families can be read on the same class-33 scale.
Noise — Where the Families Diverge Most
The widest gap is noise. Carpet reduces heel, caster and drop noise at the point it is generated — what the US Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) bulletin calls reduced surface noise generation.
The same goes for impact sound to the floor below. In CRI tests, a bare concrete floor rated IIC 34 rose to 53–70 with glue-down carpet alone. In Korea, KS F 2810-1 (measurement) and KS F 2863-1 (rating) govern this axis.
Standard LVT reduces little; backing-enhanced “acoustic LVT” reaches ΔLw 14–19dB (manufacturer data), while carpet tile products commonly sit around 23dB. The 2022 revision of KS M 3802 added a light-weight impact sound test — a sign this axis now matters in the Korean standard too.
Water and Maintenance — LVT’s Home Ground
Against water and soiling, LVT wins. PVC surfaces can be wet-mopped and are impermeable — right for pantries, entrances and copy rooms. Carpet needs prompt response to spills and scheduled care; see the office carpet cleaning guide.
What governs lifespan also differs: wear-layer thickness for LVT, pile density and yarn construction for carpet. Both replace tile by tile, and both need dye-lot management — covered in the carpet tile spot replacement guide.
Carpet Tile vs LVT — at a Glance
◆ = advantage. The two families excel at different things.
| 기준 | 카펫타일 | LVT·데코타일 |
|---|---|---|
| Material · standard | Textile (pile+backing) · KS K ISO 10874 | PVC · KS M 3802 |
| Surface noise · feel | Quieter at the source, cushioned feel | Hard — heels and casters are audible |
| Impact sound | ΔLw ~23dB · IIC 34→53–70 (CRI) | Low as standard · acoustic LVT 14–19dB |
| Absorption | αw ~0.25 — high-frequency support | Negligible |
| Water resistance | Liquids need prompt attention | Wet-moppable · impermeable |
| Maintenance | Regular vacuuming, stain care | Easy daily cleaning |
| Spot replacement | Tile by tile — mind dye lots | Tile by tile — mind lots |
Which Family for Which Zone
In practice, most offices mix the families by zone rather than standardizing on one.
Open office · meeting rooms
Work zones with constant speech, footfall and chair noise.
Pantry · entrance · copy room
Zones with everyday water and soiling.
Reception · lounge
Front-of-house zones where impression and comfort matter.
Both families on one floor
Carpet for work zones, LVT for wet zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What separates deco tile from LVT?
Q2Will an all-LVT office be noticeably louder?
Q3Can caster chairs run on carpet tile?
Q4How are level differences handled in mixed installs?
Glossary
- LVT — Luxury Vinyl Tile: the upper PVC tile tier with enhanced print and wear layers.
- Deco tile — Korean trade name for budget PVC tile (under KS M 3802).
- Wear layer — the clear abrasion layer on LVT; its thickness drives lifespan.
- IIC — Impact Insulation Class of a floor-ceiling assembly (ASTM E989).
- ΔLw — weighted impact sound reduction (dB). Korean rating standard: KS F 2863-1.
References
- KS M 3802 — PVC flooring (Korean Standard)
- KS K ISO 10874 — Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings, Classification
- KS F 2863-1 — Rating of floor impact sound insulation, light-weight impact source
- Acoustical Characteristics of Carpet — CRI Technical Bulletin (2018)
- Acoustic flooring — Forbo Flooring Systems (acoustic vinyl 14–19dB)
- PVC flooring KS revision — THE LIVING monthly (2022)