Carpet tiles for offices: what to check before you order.
Carpet tiles are the usual floor for open-plan offices and bank branches: quiet, quick to install and easy to replace one tile at a time. This checklist covers the choices that decide how an office carpet performs.
Why tiles instead of broadloom
A carpet tile, usually 50 × 50 cm, has a stable backing that lies flat without stretching. Tiles are cut and laid quickly around desks and columns, sit well on raised access floors, and a stained or worn tile can be lifted and replaced. Broadloom carpet in rolls still suits hotel rooms, corridors and spaces where an unbroken surface matters.
The checklist
| Choice | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Use class | Class 33 under EN 1307 for heavy commercial use, such as open offices and banks |
| Pile | Loop pile for hard wear and a neat look; cut pile for a softer surface |
| Backing | A stable backing that lies flat and suits the adhesive system |
| Fire rating | A classification under EN 13501-1 that meets the building’s fire strategy |
| Acoustics | Impact sound reduction, important in open offices |
| Colour and pattern | Darker, patterned tiles hide soiling on busy routes |
| Spare tiles | Extra tiles from the same production batch for future replacements |
Laying patterns
Tiles are fixed with a tackifier that holds them in place but lets them be lifted later. The laying pattern changes the look: monolithic, with all arrows one way, for a broadloom effect; quarter-turn for a checkerboard; brick or ashlar for linear designs. Use the pattern the manufacturer recommends for the chosen tile.
Carpet tiles on raised access floors
Carpet tiles are the usual finish on raised access floors in offices and banks, because a floor panel can be opened without cutting the carpet. GCT supplies both: Tuntex carpet tiles, and Tate and Apptec raised access floors.
Keeping them looking new
Daily vacuuming, quick spot cleaning and periodic deep extraction keep carpet tiles in good condition. Entrance matting at the doors stops dirt before it reaches the office.
Offices and banks on our list
Our reference list includes bank branches and head offices across Egypt with carpet tiles, from Barclays branches and Credit Suisse at Nile Tower to the Housing and Development Bank head office in New Cairo. See the projects.
From our reference list
- Arab Bank, Fifth Settlement. Contractors Orascom and IETC, consultant Abu Dhabi Architecture and Planning Group. Carpet, parquet and vinyl.
- CIB, Giza Tower. Contractor Contrade Engineers and Contractors, consultant the bank’s maintenance department. Part of the carpet works.
From our technical office
- Before installation, our technical office prepares shop drawings with the floor layout, dimensions and installation method, and a cut list of material sizes and quantities, so less material is wasted.
- Our own installation teams lay the floor. They are trained and certified by the manufacturers.
- Material warranties run from 10 to 30 years depending on the product, and our installation warranty from 1 to 5 years.
- After handover, we offer site visits, technical follow-up and maintenance contracts.
Frequently asked questions
What size are carpet tiles?
The standard size is 50 × 50 cm. Some ranges also come in plank formats.
Are carpet tiles glued down?
They are usually fixed with a tackifier, a light adhesive that holds the tiles in place but lets them be lifted and replaced.
Can carpet tiles be used in a bank branch?
Yes. Choose a heavy commercial class, a loop pile and a colour that hides soiling. Many of the bank branches in our reference list use carpet tiles.
How many spare tiles should I keep?
Keep a small stock from the same production batch, for example 2 to 3 per cent of the area, stored flat for future replacements.
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