Above Grade
Above the surface of the ground, as related to floor location, above a well-ventilated space with at least 18” between the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member and any point of the ground.
Abrasion Resistance
See Wear (Abrasion) Resistance.
Acclimation
Adaptation of the laminate floor to its installation environment or in accordance with specific pre-testing requirements, as it relates to temperature and relative humidity.
Acoustical Properties
Absorbance, reflection or transmission of sound waves generally measured in terms of Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), Impact Insulation Classification (IIC), Sound Transmission Classification (STC), or difference between concrete substrate IIC and IIC of the same concrete assembly with finished laminate floor installed (Delta IIC).
The glossary identifies this primarily as LF-03, but also relevant to LF-01.
Adhesion
A chemical process by which two materials can be joined together.
Antistatic
Ability to limit the accumulation of low-level static electricity on a surface.
Backer Layer
Layer of the laminate floor covering that provides balance, generally bonded to the bottom of the core layer.
Balanced Construction
A laminate tile or plank construction that has materials of similar properties, such as stiffness and dimensional and geometric stability, bonded to both sides of the product.
Below Grade
Below the surface of the ground, as related to floor location, where part or all of the substrate is below the ground.
Bond
See Adhesion.
Chemical Resistance
See Stain Resistance.
Colorfastness
The ability of a material to retain its original color upon exposure to light or another source of degradation.
Core
The material layer that provides thickness, dimensional stability, and other properties needed for the laminate flooring or moulding product. For laminate flooring, the core shall be wood based, such as HDF/MDF, and is located in the middle of the other laminate product layers. For moulding, the core can include wood-based or polymeric-based materials but does not include solid wood or metal mouldings.
Crook
A specific type of warp where a tile or plank has a curvature from end to end, edgewise, from a straight line.
Crowning
A specific type of length flatness indicating a convex shape. Sometimes referred to as bowing or horns down.
Cupping
A specific type of length flatness indicating a concave shape. Sometimes referred to as end-lift or horns up.
Décor Layer
The layer of laminate flooring or moulding providing visual aesthetic properties. Visuals may be printed or through-color.
Delaminating
Separation of the tile or plank layer(s), as evaluated by the Surface Bond Test.
Density
Unit weight per volume of a tile or plank expressed in lb/ft³ or kg/m³.
Dent
A depression with or without a fracture of the laminate surface resulting from an impact, static load, rolling load, or pressure load.
Dimensional Stability
The ability of a material to resist changes in measured geometric dimensions due to environmental factors such as moisture and/or temperature.
Direct Press Laminate (DPL)
Laminate flooring produced where the overlay, décor, core, and backer are bonded together in a single step.
Embossing
A pressure-driven process by which a surface is given a texture.
Equilibrium Moisture Content
The moisture content at which the material neither gains nor loses moisture at a given relative humidity and temperature.
Expansion Gap
A space necessary between the floor and fixed objects, or between the material itself, to allow for movement of the material.
Fiberboard
A core material primarily composed of cellulose fibers combined with synthetic resins or other suitable bonding systems under heat and pressure.
Flame Spread
Measurement of the flame propagation along the surface of a material.
Floating Floor
An installation method by which flooring, typically in plank or tile format, is connected together and not secured to the subfloor.
Gouge
Extremely deep scratches that generally go all the way through the product’s wear layer thickness into the décor layer.
High Density Fiberboard (HDF)
A fiberboard with density greater than 800 kg/m³ (50 lb/ft³).
High Pressure Laminate (HPL)
A laminate flooring product where material layers are consolidated under heat and pressure exceeding 5.17 MPa (750 psi).
Impact Resistance
Ability to resist fracture or damage from a falling object.
Laminate Flooring
A wood-based rigid floor covering, typically in plank or tile format, having a multiple-layer product structure such as overlay, décor, core, and backer. The planks or tiles have worked edges that allow the product to be joined together to form a larger integral unit. The product may vary in surface texture and gloss. Laminate flooring does not include products having a surface layer of resilient, stone, textile, wood, leather, or metal.
Ledging
Surface height difference between adjoining planks or tiles on opposing sides of a square-edged or beveled joint, sometimes referred to as over wood.
Length Flatness
The uniformity of the plank’s surface across its entire length, measured in height change relative to a straight edge in either the convex or concave direction.
Locking System
Interlocking system used to connect products in modular format, such as planks or tiles, together during installation.
Macro Scratch
Deeper and wider surface damage that is clearly visible. The surface damage is within the wear layer thickness.
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
A fiberboard with density lower than 800 kg/m³ (50 lb/ft³).
Micro Scratch
Very fine and shallow surface damage that is typically visible only at certain viewing angles in conjunction with certain lighting conditions. The damage does not significantly penetrate into the wear layer thickness or damage the décor layer.
Moisture Content
The amount of water in the material, usually expressed as a percentage of the dry weight.
Moisture Meter
A tool used to measure moisture in the air, substrate, or product.
Overlay
A type of wear layer of a laminate floor that provides wear resistance and other surface performance attributes.
Pattern End Matched
When the ends of flooring tiles or planks, typically with similar patterns, are matched end to end to yield a continuous linear effect.
Peaking
Areas of installed laminate flooring where seams have risen above the intended horizontal plane due to installation or other environmental effects.
Plank
Laminate flooring in modular format where the length dimension of the element is greater than or equal to three times its width.
Plank Straightness
How perfectly aligned and linear a plank is along its length and edges.
Pressing
A manufacturing process by which material layers used to produce a laminate flooring product are consolidated using pressure, generally in the presence of heat.
Residual Indentation
The difference between the initial thickness and final thickness after performing the static load test.
Resins
A polymeric material, such as melamine or urea, used for impregnating and bonding layers of laminate flooring.
Scratch
Damage to the flooring typically caused by friction or contact with a sharp object.
Scuff
A form of damage in which a mark, gall, roughness, or other damage is caused by the rubbing of traffic bodies against a flooring surface and may involve deposition of foreign material onto the flooring surface.
Seam(s)
A line or junction where products in a modular format, such as tiles or planks, are connected together.
Stain Resistance
The degree to which a material resists permanent discoloration or surface attack from exposure to household items and/or industrial chemicals or reagents.
Sub-floor/Substrate
A pre-existing supporting surface used in a building or structure over which laminate flooring can be installed.
Surface Layer
Layer(s) of laminate flooring above the core designed to be the visible side when installed. The surface layer can consist of several layers, such as an overlay and décor layer or a coating layer and printed décor.
Thermofusing
A process where resins are consolidated under heat and pressure to create a permanent bond and develop certain strength properties.
Tile
Laminate flooring in modular format where the length dimension of the element is less than three times its width.
Underlayment
A material used between laminate flooring and the subfloor for purposes such as smoothing minor subfloor imperfections, improving acoustic and thermal insulation properties, providing moisture vapor protection, and improving comfort underfoot. Some laminate flooring has pre-attached underlayment.
Warp
See Crowning, Cupping, or Crook.
Water Resistant Flooring
Ability of the flooring to withstand exposure to moisture from the top surface.
Wear (Abrasion) Resistance
Ability of the laminate flooring surface to resist abrasive wear through to the décor layer.
Wear Layer
A component of the surface layer that provides protection, scratch resistance, and abrasion resistance.
Width Flatness
The uniformity of the plank’s surface across its width.
