There are no regulatory standards established by the government that apply to rigid core flooring. Instead, voluntary adherence to widely observed independent standards (such as F3651 set by ASTM) is required to demonstrate a high standard of quality for rigid flooring materials such as tiles, ceramics, and planks — or other products that are decorated or printed and have a clear protective coating. These products typically fall into the class of laminated resilient flooring.
Products that fall under the ASTM F3261 benchmark include a polymeric rigid core, which allows them to be effectively used in both residential and commercial environments. This specification is issued under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee F06 on Resilient Floor Coverings. Flooring materials following the ASTM specifications do not necessarily need adhesives or backing material attached for noise reduction purposes. However, backing materials generally make products easier to deploy when subfloors are uneven.
What Flooring Meets the ASTM F3261 Standard?
To meet the ASTM F3261 guidelines, a wear surface must meet or exceed tests that assess the design and materials that comprise the binder, filler, and compounds used for pigmentation. These compounds need to integrate appropriate processing aids and lubricants. These are ASTM F3261 metrics with regard to rigid core flooring.
- Binder: This facet must employ at least one vinyl chloride polymer or copolymer. Modifiers may include resins, plasticizers, and stabilizers. Vinyl chloride polymers or copolymers must meet or exceed 60 percent of the binder’s total weight. Copolymer must be made from a minimum of 85 percent vinyl chloride.
- Physical Requirements: The ASTM standard calls for specifications for binder content, size, thickness, squareness, flatness, openings, and ledging.
In terms of flooring performance, the ASTM standards cover items such as surface integrity testing, stability, residual indentation, as well as resistance to light, heat, loads, and chemicals.
Products that meet the industry-accepted performance standard also pass inspections and testing that speak to their quality construction, ambiance, finish, condition, and packaging, among others. Consumers and industry professionals deserve to know whether a product truly meets the ASTM standards, and the services of accredited testing laboratories can provide the verification needed to certify products and indicate ASTM compliance on the packaging.
Flooring Manufacturers Require An Accredited Testing Laboratory
To ensure the integrity of flooring products and their adherence to ASTM guidelines, engineers, designers, and plant operations directors should routinely send samples from batches to an accredited testing facility. An accurate third-party testing organization can attest to its expertise in providing wide-ranging test procedures in accordance with established international standards by earning the following accreditations.
PJLA Testing & Calibration
Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation (PJLA) is a private operation that offers accreditation services to laboratories. Essentially, PJLA rigorously tests the very facilities that test flooring materials and other products. PJLA has been recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation for its industry-leading reputation for excellence.
The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
The NVLAP is administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, also known as NIST. This non-governmental organization is responsible for establishing standards across wide-reaching industries. These include setting the foundation for the recent digital security protocol adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense, known as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.
Its reputation for due diligence and stringent standard-setting endeavors carries significant clout. The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program also accredits laboratories that test products such as flooring. If a testing facility achieves NVLAP accreditation, it meets among the highest standards.
The Professional Testing Laboratory Administers ASTM F3261
Professional Testing Laboratory maintains PJLA and NVLAP accreditation to ensure our results exceed industry standards. We are now performing ASTM F3261 Rigid Core Testing, and you can trust in our more than three decades of experience testing products that require ASTM standard adherence. Get in touch for a free quote within 24 hours on ASTM F3261 tests, and let’s get the process started.
