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Lifetime costs: Durable floors
Capital cost (£/m²)Net present value for 60-year life (£/m²) Discount ratesService life in heavy commercial areas (years)
3.5%6%Ìý
PVC sheet and tiles ÌýÌýÌýÌý
Homogenous PVC tiles to BS EN 649, minimum 2 mm thick, use class 33 to BS EN 685 14 35 26 15
Homogenous PVC sheet to BS EN 649, minimum 2 mm thick, use class 33 to BS EN 685 16 39 29 15
Carpet sheet and tiles ÌýÌýÌýÌý
Carpet tiles with heavy use intensity to BS EN 1307, use class 4 (heavy contract) 19 65 46 10
Carpet sheet with heavy use intensity to BS EN 1307, use class 4 (heavy contract) 15 53 38 10
Linoleum sheet and tiles ÌýÌýÌýÌý
Plain or decorative linoleum tile to BS EN 548, minimum 2 mm thick, use class 33 to BS EN 68519 37 29 20
Plain or decorative linoleum sheet to BS EN 548, minimum 2 mm thick, use class 33 to BS EN 685 20 38 30 20
Table notes
l Costs are based on a functional unit of 1 m² of floor covering. The m² rate is an average for a typical 1500 m² city office. There is an extensive range of floor covering options; only a limited number have been included in this article.
l Costs include initial supply and installation; removal and replacement of coverings at the end of their service life. Sheets and tiles are adhered to the floor. All costs exclude fees and VAT.
l Nominal cleaning costs have been included as follows: Carpets: Weekly vacuum, quarterly wet extraction and an allowance for removal of stains and spillages. Linoleum and PVC: Daily dust and spot mopping, weekly scrubber dryer and high-speed polisher, annual scrub and recoat, and an allowance for minor repairs.
l Costs are discounted to net present values at a discount rate of 3.5% in line with recent Treasury guidelines. As a comparison with previous whole-life cost assessments in Specifier, an additional column has been included indicating costs discounted at a rate of 6%.
l Service lives represent typical average lives to enable a comparison of the whole-life costs.
l Durability in this analysis is considered to be a function of wear. Reduction of other functional requirements such as loss of colour have not been considered.
l The 60-year period reflects a typical design life to BS ISO 15686–1:2000 ºÚ¶´ÉçÇøs and constructed assets: Service life planning – general principles.