Classes of laminated surfaces

To select high-quality - and, crucially, the appropriate operating conditions for certain room laminate flooring - it is necessary to navigate and properly read those specifications, which are contained in brochures and technical descriptions of the material. First of all, you need to pay attention to the class using this laminate flooring. In accordance with EN 685 all floor covering laminated pass a series of tests (18 tests): the abrasion resistance, a burning cigarette, impact resistance, light resistance, the content of formaldehyde, etc. After each test coverage is assigned to a specific class, and the lowest level, the class of all laminate flooring. Classes of laminated coatings are listed in the table. It is necessary to understand that even if the coating on the combination of all tests and assigned to Class 23, a number of indicators, he may be even higher. General information about the classes of laminate flooring Declared by the manufacturer warranty period for each type of laminate flooring refers to a particular type of premises where these floors will be used (see table). It is therefore necessary to strictly follow the requirements of the manufacturer (for the application of any type of laminated flooring). Different manufacturers of different warranty period (from 5 to 25 years), so this figure should look for when choosing laminate flooring. To select laminate flooring should also be aware of a class of its use (see table). It should be borne in mind that, as we said above, within the same group of indicators for different tests can vary significantly. Therefore, for a more accurate selection of coverage is necessary to formulate specific requirements that apply to it a particular type of operation the premises, as well as draw attention to individual characteristics. The most important for the consumer is durability of the surface layer to abrasion. Often, this figure manufacturers endure as a separate line. Wear-resistant coatings is determined by Taber test (Tabertest) and expressed in terms of speed, which should make the grinding wheel with sandpaper until the first signs of damage to the coating. This figure is called the IP (Initial Phase). Depending on the number of revolutions, which has stood the coating, it is assigned a class of durability: AC1, AC 2, AC 3, AC 4 and AC 5 (in accordance with EN 13329). Please note that the EN standard in force since 1 January 1999 until she acted norm EN 438, on which the wear-resistant coatings was measured by three indicators: IP (which was discussed above), FT (Final Phase) - characterized by loss of coverage for about 90 % of their properties - and the average AT (Average Taber) = (IP + FT) / 2. There were classes: W1, W2, W3, W4, W5. Indicators (number of turns) in the norm EN 438 is still frequently cited in advertising brochures. But you need to know that the indicators according to EN 438 and EN 13329 standard can not be compared because in the new norm has changed the technique of measurement (abrasive paper now does not change after 500 revolutions, as it was before, and after 200, respectively, and the wear of the upper layer is faster). Recall again that the current European standards in the technical documentation on the laminate floors must be made no turnovers on the Taber test, and the classes wear resistance to abrasion of the surface layer.