Laminate flooring: the facts

CATEGORIES of laminate flooring are subject to quality standards.

Most laminate floors consist of three constituent parts: the fibreboard base layer, the printed woodgrain-effect layer and the resin surface layer.

These layers should meet standards stipulated by the International Organisation for Standardisation – you may see labels on products that quote, for instance, “ISO 14025”.

The European Producers of Laminate Flooring website www. eplf.com carries a wealth of information on all aspects of wood-effect floor coverings.

Their instructions divide laminate flooring into six categories (see table, below).

Some sellers and makers print slightly different ratings systems on the labels, making the whole thing even more difficult to understand.

The EPFL suggest that the depth of flooring will usually be between six and 12 millimetres – the thicker the flooring, the longer you would expect it to last.

Each category has a “rate of abrasion” class. This is used to show the abrasion resistance of a laminate floor.

It is established in what is known as a Taber test (which is, at base, a test involving a preciselymeasured going-over with sandpaper) and assigned according to the Euro standard EN 13329.

The flooring purchased by Alan (see story on right) carried a “General Commercial” rating

Again this is calculated according to the Euro standard EN 13329, which identifies where a laminate floor can be used.

A distinction is made between “domestic” and “commercial” which are split into moderate, normal and heavy use. Symbols are used to state the classes on the product packaging.

The difficulty comes in assessing how many footsteps might fall on the flooring in a shop, office or pub – and whether that counts as “general commercial” use.

Check with your vendor that you are buying the correct flooring for the level of use you will have. If possible, get a guarantee in writing.