Wear resistance and usability classes
and usability of the panels important parameters when choosing a floor

Floor panels are one of several ways of providing a durable and attractive interior finish. Depending on the particular room, those of different hardness or abrasion class will work well. If you want your floorboards to last for many years, it is worth choosing them according to the needs of the space, taking into account more than just aesthetic considerations.

Spinning wheels, animal claws, high-heeled shoes or children's hard blocks: these are huge challenges for any floor. The extent to which it can withstand mechanical damage and the daily lives of everyone in the household largely depends on the utility and abrasion class of the panels. By matching them to our lifestyles, we can be sure that they will last a long time without losing their visual appeal.

What are the abrasion classes of floor panels?

The abrasion grades of the panels, as the name suggests, determine how resistant they are to abrasion as a result of everyday use. These grades are awarded to the panels based on the result of a Taber test. This involves rotating a sample of the material around the sandpaper until the top layer is rubbed off. The more laps the machine makes, the higher the abrasion resistance of the panel.

According to the EN 13329 standard on the test method for laminate floor coatings, the abrasion resistance of the panels is expressed as six classes, from AC1 to AC6. This classification does not have any influence on the installation method, colour or synchronous structure of the panels.

Basic abrasion classes of laminate flooring

In theory, there are six classes of abrasion resistance for the panels, with symbols ranging from AC1 to AC6. However, due to their very poor properties, models with the lowest parameters are no longer manufactured today. The standard for floor finishes today is class AC3. This is a grade that defines relatively good resistance, but only for domestic use. A floor with this abrasion resistance class will be suitable, for example, in a bedroom or in other rooms that are not frequently used, where soft shoes are worn.

Floors with abrasion class AC4 have high resistance to abrasion. We can walk on them without worrying that they will be damaged in some way, even in hard shoes. AC4 panels are a good choice for high-traffic interiors. At home this could be, for example, a hallway, and in a public space it could be the finishing of a floor in an office or lobby. AC5 and AC6 grades can be found in higher quality products, which are characterised by very high abrasion resistance. They are usually used in offices, restaurants and other busy public areas. However, if you want to achieve the best possible result, there is no reason why you should not opt for this type of flooring in your own home.

Usefulness class of floor panels

The markings on the panels not only tell you their abrasion resistance, but also specify the so-called 'utility class'. This divides them into those that will work well in domestic spaces and those intended for public facilities. Currently, we can distinguish between six utility classes: 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, and for each of these, a different traffic volume has been assigned.

As a rule, the first number indicates whether the panel should be used in a house (number 2) or a public building (number 3). Instead, the second indicates the permissible traffic volume, whereby 1 is the low traffic volume and 3 the highest. According to this information, it is advisable to use panels with the symbol 21 in rooms with low traffic, and with the symbol 23 in demanding interiors such as kitchens, living rooms and children's rooms. In order to determine the usability class of the panels, experts intensively test the material, assessing its resistance to impact, abrasion and even cigarette embers. Researchers also check the effect of moving furniture or a chair on wheels.

How do I choose the right laminate parameters for a room?

When deciding which panels to buy for our flat, it is advisable to be equally guided by all parameters. What does this mean? Certainly the appearance of the floor is of great importance. If we want it to resemble a wooden parquet, it is worth choosing panels that have small V-shaped indentations on the edges and thus resemble solid planks.

However, in addition to the aesthetic impression, the wear class, the installation method or properties such as the possibility of using it with underfloor heating are equally important. We should also remember that it is the floor, not the walls, that take in everything that happens in our home. Therefore, it is not only the choice of material itself that is important, but also how we look after it afterwards. In addition to regular cleaning or vacuuming, it is important to correctly match its durability to the intensity of use of the room in question. In the kitchen, bathroom, hallway or children's playroom, you can install AC4, AC5 or even AC6 grade laminate. Other rooms will benefit from panels with an average abrasion class of AC3.