Laminate Flooring AC Ratings
AC rating is a classification which indicates the durability level of laminate flooring. Those ratings are applied to all laminate floors by an independent body known as European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). The ratings indicate a laminate’s toughness to stress.
A series of tests are carried out in order to assess the laminate flooring for resistance to burns, scratches, stains and impact. These tests also examine the effects of furniture legs, castors and thickness swelling along flooring edges. Failing a single test disqualifies a product so laminate flooring has a rating only if it has passed all of the tests.
A general guide to AC ratings:
The AC rating specifies the level of stress and the suitable installation location for the laminate flooring. These ratings will also tell you if the laminate flooring can be used in residential or commercial areas.
AC1 Moderate Residential.
Built to withstand light residential use (closets or bedrooms).
Built for moderate foot traffic and it is suitable for residential spaces that don’t have high foot traffic (dining rooms or living rooms).
AC3 Heavy Residential/Moderate Commercial.
Built for residential use like high–traffic rooms and even commercial spaces that have light traffic (offices without off-street traffic and hotel rooms).
Built to withstand every kind of residential use as well as more heavily trafficked commercial spaces that have off-street traffic (offices, cafes, and boutiques).
AC5 Heavy Commercial.
Built for the busiest commercial uses and high–traffic spaces like department stores and government buildings.
The higher the AC Rating, the higher the price. When shopping for laminate flooring, there are factors like thickness, finish warranty, and locking system that need to be taken into consideration in addition to AC Rating. For more information on buying laminate flooring please see our Laminate Flooring Buying Guide.
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