Carpets chosen for new school performance auditorium

Most school floors are covered in solid floor covering such as LVT and laminates, but Sherborne Girls School in Dorset decided to use carpets for its performance auditorium, which is located in its new arts centre.

The reasons for using carpet is mainly for its acoustic properties, which is important in a performance area where music and theatrical performances take place. Sound bounces off hard surfaces but is absorbed by carpets. Carpets have also been installed in the nearby music practice rooms.

The carpet chosen by interior designer Sarah Lyall of Sarah Lyall Interiors for the project is Danefloor Classic XL, a loop pile nylon carpet with a class 33 wear classification, suitable for heavy commercial use. The carpets are designed to withstand heavy footfall and intense commercial cleaning and should last a long time in this busy area of the school. The carpets are easy to clean and the nylon fibre is designed to retain its appearance for a long time.

The carpets have the Eurofins Gold Certificate in recognition that they contribute to indoor air quality and a healthier indoor environment, which is beneficial for staff, students and audience members.

When it comes to solid floors such as wood, laminate and LVT flooring, Chester commercial properties tend to favour them to carpets, but the Sherborne School initiative shows that carpets are a viable alternative to solid floors, especially where acoustic properties are a concern. Commercial grade carpets are manufactured to be durable and easy to clean.