E02B REFERENCE GUIDES - STANDARDS
E02B-1 General and Technical Information
E02B-2 Standard Dates and Use
E02B-3 Codes and Consensus Standards
E02B-4 Flooring association Standards
E02B-2 Standard Dates and Use
E02B-3 Codes and Consensus Standards
E02B-4 Flooring association Standards
Preface:
The following list of reference standards governing laminate flooring including related materials, installation, and testing requirements is provided for general information only. This list is not comprehensive and not all standards available on laminate flooring may be included.
For hardwood including engineered / laminated hardwood flooring reference standards refer to Reference Manual - Part D02B.
1 • GENERAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
.01 Most laminate flooring manufacturers and suppliers publish sales, reference, technical, and specification literature on their laminate flooring products and related accessories. Such publications may be informative and comprehensive in content and may contain references to appropriate standards. Some caution must be exercised however in accepting any stated standards particularly in regard to their currency (i.e. applicable date), code compliance, acceptability by local authorities having jurisdiction, and specific relevancy to project requirements.
.02 In selecting and comparing products designers, specifiers, and owners must ensure that a fair and equal comparison is made between products. This requires that the "same" standards be used when reviewing stated test data.
The following list of reference standards governing laminate flooring including related materials, installation, and testing requirements is provided for general information only. This list is not comprehensive and not all standards available on laminate flooring may be included.
For hardwood including engineered / laminated hardwood flooring reference standards refer to Reference Manual - Part D02B.
1 • GENERAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
.01 Most laminate flooring manufacturers and suppliers publish sales, reference, technical, and specification literature on their laminate flooring products and related accessories. Such publications may be informative and comprehensive in content and may contain references to appropriate standards. Some caution must be exercised however in accepting any stated standards particularly in regard to their currency (i.e. applicable date), code compliance, acceptability by local authorities having jurisdiction, and specific relevancy to project requirements.
.02 In selecting and comparing products designers, specifiers, and owners must ensure that a fair and equal comparison is made between products. This requires that the "same" standards be used when reviewing stated test data.
2 • STANDARD DATES AND USE
.01 Reference standards indicated below are not dated as such dates change on a random basis. It is up to the reader / design authority to verify if the standard still exists and what the current date of the standard is with the issuing organization as well as with appropriate authorities having jurisdiction as to what specific standards are applicable.
.02 Current applicable dates (as well as the name of the standard) must be included in the list of specification reference standards (e.g. ASTM F2170-02, Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Slabs Using in-situ Probes.), but only the number need be referenced within the body of the specification (e.g. ASTM F2170).
.03 Using or incorporating a standard into a specification entails that the user or specifier must fully understand the standard and its applicability to their requirements and that due diligence is done in ensuring that any products selected or approved conform to the standards noted in their specification. There is no point in naming a standard if it is not adhered to or enforced. Not naming standards opens the specification to errors.
.04 Where standards listed below are used in other laminate flooring sections of this manual it is presumed that the latest revision of it applies.
.01 Reference standards indicated below are not dated as such dates change on a random basis. It is up to the reader / design authority to verify if the standard still exists and what the current date of the standard is with the issuing organization as well as with appropriate authorities having jurisdiction as to what specific standards are applicable.
.02 Current applicable dates (as well as the name of the standard) must be included in the list of specification reference standards (e.g. ASTM F2170-02, Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Slabs Using in-situ Probes.), but only the number need be referenced within the body of the specification (e.g. ASTM F2170).
.03 Using or incorporating a standard into a specification entails that the user or specifier must fully understand the standard and its applicability to their requirements and that due diligence is done in ensuring that any products selected or approved conform to the standards noted in their specification. There is no point in naming a standard if it is not adhered to or enforced. Not naming standards opens the specification to errors.
.04 Where standards listed below are used in other laminate flooring sections of this manual it is presumed that the latest revision of it applies.
3 • CODES AND CONSENSUS STANDARDS
.01 Building Codes and Other Regulatory Authorities
.02 Governing Regulations and Regulatory Requirements
.03 Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
.04 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
.05 European Norm (EN) Standards
.01 Building Codes and Other Regulatory Authorities
- National Building Code of Canada (NBC), or
- Building Code or Building By-Law of Province or Local authority having jurisdiction.
- The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Materials Evaluation Service.
.02 Governing Regulations and Regulatory Requirements
- Hazardous Products Act and Regulations.
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
- Industrial Health and Safety Regulations of the Workers Compensation Board (WCB).
.03 Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
- CAN/ULC-S102.2, Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Flooring, Floor Covering and Miscellaneous Materials and Assemblies.
.04 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- Testing Methods for Substrate Surfaces:
- Refer to NFCA Reference Manual Part A03 – Reference Standards.
- Preparation of Substrate Surfaces:
- Refer to NFCA Reference Manual Part A03 – Reference Standards.
- General Material Testing Standards:
- ASTM C518, Standard Test Method for Steady- State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmissions Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
- ASTM D1929, Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics.
- ASTM E648, Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source.
- ASTM E662, Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials.
- ASTM E1333, Standard Test Method for Determining Formaldehyde Levels From Wood Products Under Defined Test Conditions Using a Large Chamber.
- Refer also to NFCA Reference Manual Part A03 – Reference Standards.
- Testing Methods for Acoustical Ratings of Flooring and Underlayments:
- Refer to NFCA Reference Manual Part A03 – Reference Standards.
.05 European Norm (EN) Standards
- EN 13329, Laminate floor coverings - Specifications, requirements, and test methods.
- EN 13893, Resilient, laminate and textile floor coverings - Measurement of dynamic coefficient of friction on dry floor surfaces.
- EN 14041, Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Essential characteristics.
4 • FLOORING ASSOCIATION STANDARDS
The following Industry Association standards and publications offer technical information on laminate flooring.
.01 North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA)
.02 Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF)
EPLF adheres to EN 13329 (noted above) in regard to a flooring standard for laminate flooring manufactured in Europe.
The following Industry Association standards and publications offer technical information on laminate flooring.
.01 North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA)
- NALFA LF-01, Laminate Flooring Standard.
.02 Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF)
- Code of Practice - Installation of Commercial Laminate Flooring.
- Instruction Sheet - Cleaning and Care of Laminate floorings in the Home
- Information Sheet - Cleaning and Care of Laminate Flooring in Commercial Areas.
EPLF adheres to EN 13329 (noted above) in regard to a flooring standard for laminate flooring manufactured in Europe.