Class 31, 32, 33, etc., refers to a general classification system used for flooring made of carpet, vinyl, laminate, parquet, ceramic tiles, etc. The classification system roughly defines what type of room each floor can be used in.
Class 32, for instance, signifies that the floors in this class can be used for
moderate commercial use, while
class 33 signifies
heavy commercial use.
The standard specifies that the flooring product will serve at least 10 years without presenting problems if used in the designated room type, and on the condition that the floor has been installed according to the instructions and is used and maintained as prescribed. For laminate floors, the applicable standard is EN 13329. For vinyl floors, different standards apply, depending on whether a glued-down or click installation method is used:
- EN 649 applies to glued-down floors.
- EN 16511 applies to multilayer modular floating floors using a click installation system.
