Carpet Non-Adhesives

Broadloom carpet is installed by stretch-in method (generally only for residential projects) or by gluing it down. The glues used for a commercial setting are of course very strong because in high traffic areas you don't want your adhesive failing. But the advent of carpet tile brought different installation methods because you want to be able to remove a damaged tile and replace it with a new one. Traditionally they used a different type of glue that would adhere strongly to the floor and strong enough to the tile to keep it down and in place but still allow it to be removed. But now because of concerns with VOCs manufacturers are getting away from adhesives all together.
First FLOR which started as a residential line, came out with FLORdots. They are round stickers that you attach to the bottom of tiles at the corners to stick them together. This creates a floating floor - more like a rug that sits on top of the floor. These stickers work so well that InterfaceFLOR, the parent company and commercial line of carpet, uses it in commercial settings. They call them TacTiles. You can install the tiles wall to wall but it still works as a floating floor.
Shaw Contract Group has their own dots called Lokdots. These are dots of goop about 3/4" in diameter that come in a roll. The goop is kind of like that stuff that holds subscription cards on magazines. You know what I'm talking about. You use a contraption like a tape gun to roll these dots onto the back of the tile and stick it onto the floor. These dots adhere stronger to the tile than the floor so if you need to pull one up and move it, the adhesive comes with it.
The strangest of the non-adhesive installation that I've seen so far is TacFast from Bolyu. It's like putting a giant velcro pad under your carpet tiles. To use this system you get the tiles with a special soft backing. There are square, plastic pads that go down on the floor and lock together. Install the tiles on top and they stick like velcro also creating a floating floor. This actually lets you change your tiles around or change them out regularly. This could be a good solution for retail because you could change out colors for the season or change patterns when you move displays. TacFast is actually it's own company that partners with Bolyu. But they must also partner with other manufacturers such as ceramic tile. It allows you to put down tile with out mortar...hmmm. You can watch the video on their website. Interesting.
Anyway, all of these systems make for greener, cleaner, easier capet tile installation.