Wear classes for laminate flooring are specified in the European standard EN 13329 (“Laminate floor coverings - Elements with a surface layer based on aminoplastic thermosetting resins - Specifications, requirements and test methods”). There is a differentiation between domestic and commercial usage.
In private use areas, the classification ranges from 21 (light use, e.g. in bedrooms) to 23 (intense use, e.g. in hallways). In commercial use areas the classification ranges from 31 (light use, e.g. hotel rooms or conference rooms) to 33 (intense use, e.g. in large offices, shopping malls or public buildings.) or even 34 (for commercial areas with very intense use).
The following classification chart shows area of use, intensity of use, types of wear and examples of use:
Class | Area of use | Intensity of use | Description of use | Examples of use |
21 | Domestic | moderate | light use | bedrooms |
22 | Domestic | average | normal, everyday use | living room |
23 | Domestic | high | high-traffic, intense use | Stairways |
31 | Commercial | moderate | light use | Hotel rooms |
32 | Commercial | average | normal, everyday use | Kindergarten |
33 + 34 | Commercial | high | high-traffic, intense use | Hallways |