Are you looking to purchase laminate flooring for residential and commercial purposes? Laminate plank flooring is one of the most durable and resilient flooring options for residential and commercial settings. It can withstand moderate as well as heavy foot traffic without wear damage and lasts a lifetime.
But how much durable is laminate exactly? And what is the criteria to calculate the durability of laminate flooring? How does laminate flooring get certified to be sold to public? All such questions and many more demand to be answered.
In this post by Flooring Expert Dubai, we’ve explained the durability calculation criteria and explained what is AC rating for laminate flooring.
The Durability Calculation Criteria & AC Ratings For Laminate Floors
Laminate flooring comes in various thicknesses such as 8mm, 12mm, etc. This factor significantly impacts the durability of laminate plank flooring and determines its longevity. Before we move any further, it’s necessary to explain what are AC ratings for laminate flooring.
What Do You Mean By AC Rating For Laminate Flooring?
The first thought that comes to most people’s minds while reading “AC” is Alternate Current. However, it’s not the meaning here. AC means Abrasion Coefficient/Class for laminate plank flooring and it calculates the intensity and extent of abrasion, stains, impressions, and wear damage that laminate flooring can withstand.
On the basis of AC ratings, laminate flooring is divided into 6 different durability classes ranging from AC1 to AC6. Below, we’ve summarized a generalized criteria for laminate flooring purchase depending on intensity of residential and commercial usage.
- AC1 – Moderate Residential Usage
- AC2 – General Residential Usage
- AC3 – Heavy Residential Usage
- AC4 – Moderate Commercial Usage
- AC5 – General Commercial Usage
- AC6 – Heavy Commercial Usage
How Is The AC Rating Assigned For Laminate Flooring?
There are various factors that determines the durabililty and AC rating of laminate plank flooring such as thickness of flooring, material quality of planks, surface tension, weight bearing capacity, etc. However, the flooring goes through a rigorous testing program under the “Taber Rotary Platform Abraser”. This test is a measure of material durability by simulating wear through controlled abrasion, assessing resistance, and performance over time. However, you should know that there’s an exception to this test and that is laminate flooring damage due to sharp objects, heeled shoes, or heavy furniture impacts.
What AC Rating Laminate Floors Are Suitable For Your Project?
The abrasion coefficient rating for laminate plank flooring is a division between commercial and residential applications. The first three levels (AC1 to AC3) are rated for residential usage. In this context, the AC1 rated laminate floors are suitable for application in home walls or decorative purposes because they don’t have to withstand extensive wear damage or foot-traffic.
Similarly, AC2 rated laminate flooring is suitable for application in living rooms and dining halls of residential settings. Because these interiors don’t face foot-traffic all the time. For AC3 rated laminate flooring, it’s suitable for hallways, common family rooms, etc. It’s recommended for installation in homes with pets because the topcoat protects the laminate surface from damage due to pet nails.
The next three levels (AC4 to AC6) are rated for commercial applications of laminate flooring. However, the AC4 rated laminate planks are recommended for installation in high-traffic residential interiors as well. But, it’s mostly preferred for commercial scenarios like boutiques, cafes, small offices, etc.
The AC5 rated laminate floors are suitable for application in retail stores with high-traffic, showrooms, busy offices, etc. It’s a tough laminate plank flooring and the second most durable form of the available laminate choices on the market.
Coming towards the most resilient AC6 rated laminate flooring, it’s installed in commercial warehouses, airports, hospitals, etc. This type of laminate floors can endure damage due to high foot-traffic continuously.
The Relationship Between Thickness of Laminate Planks & AC Ratings
Laminate planks are available in varied thicknesses ranging from 6mm up to 12mm. The thickness of planks definitely affect the stability, durability, and sound absorption properties of laminate flooring. Fortunately, It’s a direct relationship between these aspects and that means the more the thickness of laminate planks, the greater will be the durability, stability, and acoustic properties of laminate flooring.
The Conclusion
Laminate plank flooring is an ideal choice for residential and commercial applications. It comes in 6 different “Abrasion Class” ratings ranging from AC1 to AC6. Based on quality testing and durability calculation criteria, the laminate planks are recommended for residential or commercial applications. We hope that this insignificant effort of ours would have made you understand and realize the importance of AC ratings for laminate flooring.