CRI Responds To New York State Guidelines

Dalton, GA, August 16, 2006—The Carpet and Rug Institute, (CRI) has been in contact with the state of New York regarding their Guidelines and Specifications for the Procurement and use of Environmentally Sensitive Cleaning and Maintenance Products for all Public and Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Schools in New York State. In response to the guideline which recommends "that schools minimize the use of carpeting in student occupied areas and reiterated the practicality of using walk off mats" CRI pulled together a list of 14 peer-reviewed scientific studies that bolster the positive benefits of having carpet in the learning areas. Various sections of the information also clearly define the value of keeping the carpet clean and dry which can be accomplished at a lower cost than maintaining smooth surface floorcovering. In concluding, CRI asked the state to remove the carpet guideline from its report.