Most European laminate flooring manufacturers belong to the Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). This cooperative effort was formed to develop industry standards and provide consumers a means of identifying the usage level of various laminate flooring product. Anyone familiar with the automotive industry can relate the EPLF standards to the QS system, and others can compare them to ISO. Although the EPLF rating system may seem confusing at first, it is really not that difficult to understand.

The common term used to denote the durability level of laminate flooring is its “AC” rating. AC ratings are an abbreviated representation of a laminate’s resistance to abrasion, impact, stains and cigarette burns. The ratings also indicate that the product has been tested for the effects of furniture legs, castors, and swelling along its edges. If a laminate flooring product has a rating, then it has passed all of the test criteria. Failing just one test will disqualify a product.

The AC rating levels are designated AC1 through AC5. Each is represented by international pictographs reflecting the product’s application and durability. The primary application is divided into two groups: residential and commercial. Each group is further divided into traffic intensity levels: moderate, general, or heavy.

There are seven usage classifications in numerical order: 21, 22, 23 – 31, 32,  33, 34.

1. Classifications 21 – 23 are dedicated to the area of private living,  ‘domestic’
2. the classifications 31 – 34 are used in the public area, ‘commercial’.
3. Each area is dissected in three intensity brackets ‘moderate, general, and heavy’.   Example: Class 21 domestic – moderate usage, class 22, domestic – general usage, etc. Bed- and visitors rooms for example are in class 21, living-rooms and dining rooms in class 22, staircases, entrance halls and kitchen in class 23. The most important step buying laminate flooring is to define the exact application of the flooring because this determines the usage classification for which the product has to be chosen.

But what does this really mean? What are the criteria of this classification?

One important point is certainly the abrasion resistance. But surely that is not all. Criteria like impact resistance, resistance to staining, resistance to cigarette burns, effect of a castor chair, and the thickness swelling of the flooring are part of its classification. To be on the safe side choose flooring with a clearly visible performance classification. This will ensure that  the product was tested according to the standard and fulfils all of the criteria. This product will pay for itself in the long term.

The following is a breakdown of the AC ratings, their associated symbols and some suitable uses:

It is important to note that while AC5 floors may be used in residential applications, an AC3 will serve most purposes as far as traffic goes.