Park Ave Elegant Laminate Flooring
Designers Choice Award 2009
Natural Woodgrain Embossed
Laser Tech Quality Assurance
25 year residential Warranty
5 year Commercial Warranty
Most European laminate flooring manufacturers belong to the Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). This cooperative effort was formed to develop industry standards and provide consumers a means of identifying the usage level of various laminate flooring product. Anyone familiar with the automotive industry can relate the EPLF standards to the QS system, and others can compare them to ISO. Although the EPLF rating system may seem confusing at first, it is really not that difficult to understand.
The common term used to denote the durability level of laminate flooring is its “AC” rating. AC ratings are an abbreviated representation of a laminate’s resistance to abrasion, impact, stains and cigarette burns. The ratings also indicate that the product has been tested for the effects of furniture legs, castors, and swelling along its edges. If a laminate flooring product has a rating, then it has passed all of the test criteria. Failing just one test will disqualify a product.
The following is a breakdown of the AC ratings, their associated symbols and some suitable uses:
Laminate Floor Rating AC2 AC 1
House, One Person, 21 (Residential, Moderate Traffic: Suitable for bedrooms or guest rooms)
Laminate Floor Rating AC2 AC 2
Residential, General Traffic: Suitable for living rooms or dining rooms
Laminate Floor Rating AC3 AC 3
Residential, Heavy Traffic: Suitable for all areas
Laminate Floor Rating AC3 AC 3
Commercial, Moderate Traffic: Hotel rooms, small office
Laminate Floor Rating AC4 AC 4
Commercial, General Traffic: Office, boutique, café
Laminate Floor Rating AC5 AC 5
Commercial, Heavy Traffic: Public buildings, department stores
Note that products with an AC3 rating can be used for all residential applications as well as moderate commercial applications. Of course, AC4 and AC5 rated products could also be used in all residential areas. However, in some cases the course surface texture of these products may be too rough for bare feet. In fact, there have actually been complaints of people wearing holes in their socks from laminate flooring rated higher than AC3. Rike laminate floors for Seattle and Tacoma area. Rike is located on main Street in Puyallup.