Laminate Flooring Abrasion Classification

Fortunately laminate flooring is grouped by what is called an abrasion class or some call it the abrasion coefficient expressed in the ac rating of the product.

Laminate flooring abrasion classification.

As an example the ac rating is often referenced. When buying or specifying commercial laminate flooring it is vital to understand the product s suitability for its intended application or usage class. The internationally accepted classification of laminate flooring durability is the abrasion criteria or ac rating. Ac stands for abrasion class and the ac rating you can see on product descriptions is an internationally accepted system of classification of laminate flooring durability.

Abrasion class ratings also known as ac ratings is an industry wide system of classifying laminate flooring by how durable it is. Laminate flooring is available in various styles patterns textures and colors regardless of its ac rating. As the total number of taber wear cycles increases so does the product s durability. In practice high traffic residential spaces typically utilize laminate flooring with a higher abrasion class rating.

In australia a laminate undergoes many different testing methods in line with the european standard en 13329 2000 to assess its long term wear resistance. Laminate flooring durability is rated according to a special classification from the ac1 up to ac5 which is the highest rating. The ac rating is a good gauge as to how well. The ac rating is the measurement which specifies the durability level of laminate flooring.

Using a rating scale the laminate flooring producer can determine which classification the laminate floor satisfies and to what market segment it should be promoted. It has become the accepted industry standard for communicating with customers about the level of use a floor can handle no matter who the manufacturer is. The ac rating system was first created by the association of european producers of laminate flooring elpf but ultimately became the standard rating system for laminate flooring products worldwide. Ac ratings are applied to laminate floors by an independent organisation known as european producers of laminate flooring eplf.

While a few factors go into giving laminate flooring an abrasion class rating the system is designed to help buyers choose durable materials ideal for their spaces. The abrasion class is more commonly referred to in the laminate flooring marketplace as the ac rating. Commercial buyers would opt for an even higher rating than that. Jody smith head of quality control for swiss krono shows how abrasion resistance is.