General Requirements > Planning > Carpet Over Expansion Joints

Do not install carpet over expansion joints (refer to Definitions of Terms section at the end of this document.). Expansion joints allow separate substrate surfaces to expand and contract independently. In addition, do not install on any area of a floor that does not provide a stable and mechanically sound surface. This does not include cut or saw joints within a section of the floor. Non-stable/unsound substrate joint conditions are required to be addressed in strict accordance with the appropriate architectural drawing. If no expansion joint device is specified on the drawing, the building owner, owner’s representative, or other responsible party is required to be made aware that failure to address expansion joints will potentially result in installation failure, damage to the carpet and/or safety concerns.