Laminate flooring originated in Europe. Because of this, there is only one system for laminate floor ratings and this also comes from Europe. Other countries are beginning to manufacture laminate flooring, but no ratings are in place for these countries as of yet. The European standard laminate flooring ratings is called the AC Rating.
The flooring must first be put through stressful situations to see how well it holds up to these extreme conditions. This is to make sure that under every day conditions, the flooring will not be rendered useless. Once the results are found, the flooring is rated according to the damage that was either done to the floor or the damage that it withstood.
There are five ratings that begin at AC1 and go to AC5. Flooring that has a rating of AC1 is flooring that has the least durability and that did not hold up to the extreme testing it underwent.
If you are going to choose this rate of flooring, then you do not want to put it in the bathroom or the children's room where there will be a good deal of abuse.Any flooring that has not been rated should not be purchased. This means that the flooring did not hold together even under the most mild testing conditions. It is a case of the buyer should be wary when the laminate flooring you want to purchase is not rated. More than likely, you will be purchasing an inferior product.
Flooring that has an AC5 rating is the most durable and is offered in more of the office buildings and factories than for home use. This is the most durable of all the laminate flooring types. For those with an active household or one that sees some rough traffic, this would also be ideal.
Before you purchase laminate flooring, you should make sure you check the laminate floor rating to insure that you are getting the best quality of product for your needs. By knowing the ratings system, you can get the best product as the best price.
How to Understand Laminate Flooring Ratings