Overview
ISO 18167:2020 - Textile floor coverings - Installation practices - General provides requirements and recommended procedures for installing textile floor coverings (carpets). Published by ISO in 2020, the standard covers preparation of subfloors, selection and use of underlays and adhesives, and installation methods across a wide range of carpet types (needle-inserted tufted, woven, fusion-bonded, fibre-bonded, knitted, non‑woven, felted and flocked). It is intended to help contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and purchasers achieve correctly installed, durable textile floor coverings.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and terminology: Defines key terms (subfloor, seam, gripper, pH, plane, smooth) used throughout installation practice.
- Pre‑installation requirements:
- Site inspection and reporting (commercial and residential distinctions).
- Exchange of information between purchaser and contractor.
- Conditioning procedures for carpet and subfloor per ISO atmospheres.
- Subfloor preparation:
- Requirements for planeness and smoothness (e.g., 3.0 m straightedge tolerance: ±5 mm; 150 mm straightedge tolerance: 1 mm).
- Guidance on moisture, dryness and alkalinity testing (see Annex B).
- Materials:
- Selection criteria for textile floor coverings, soft underlays, adhesives and carpet grippers.
- Installation methods:
- Planning, layout, pile lay and dye batch continuity.
- Seaming and joining methods (seam tape, seam sealing).
- Stretching principles (Annex C) and use of power stretchers.
- Systems: carpet gripper, direct‑stick, double‑bond, pre‑applied underlay adhesive, and hook & loop; special provisions for stairs and underfloor heating.
- Performance testing and characteristics:
- Normative annexes cover compression, breaking/cracking resistance and soft‑underlay characteristics (Annexes E–G).
Practical applications and users
This standard is practical for:
- Flooring contractors and installers - to plan, prepare and execute installations to recognized criteria.
- Manufacturers and suppliers - to provide compatible products (underlays, adhesives, grippers) and installation guidance.
- Facility managers and purchasers - to specify installation requirements in contracts and accept completed work.
- Technical educators and inspectors - for training and conformity assessment.
Keywords: ISO 18167:2020, textile floor coverings, carpet installation, subfloor preparation, underlay, seaming, direct‑stick, carpet gripper, underfloor heating.
Related standards
Normative references cited include ISO 139 (conditioning), ISO 1765, ISO 1957, ISO 2094, ISO 2424 (vocabulary), ISO 3415 and ISO 9073‑3 for test methods and terminology. Annexes A–G provide detailed site information, testing guidance and installation principles.