Flooring Use Classes: From EN 685 to ISO 10874
Read a flooring use class as a classification of intended use. It helps organise a specification, but it is not a substitute for the product test file or the installation conditions.
What the class numbers describe
| Use family | Class range | How to use it in procurement |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 21–23 | Different domestic use intensities. Match the declared class to the intended room and product evidence. |
| Commercial | 31–34 | Different commercial use intensities. Also assess rolling loads, entrances, cleaning and the specified installation. |
| Light industrial | 41–43 | Light-industrial use categories within the classification. These are not a blanket approval for every industrial process. |
A class needs a product behind it
- Identify the productRecord the construction, SKU, wear layer, backing, format and installation method. A class printed beside a generic collection name is difficult to check.
- Read the technical basisAsk which product specification and test evidence support the declaration. EN 16511 concerns mechanically locked multilayer modular floor coverings; it is not another name for a use class.
- Check the project separatelyFire classification, slip resistance, emissions, acoustics and installation requirements need their own evidence. A commercial use class does not answer these questions.
Why wear layer alone is not enough
A thicker wear layer changes the wear specification, but suitability also involves indentation, dimensional stability, joint performance and other requirements under the applicable product standard. Two products with the same wear layer may have different declared classes.
| Buyer question | Useful evidence | Avoid this shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Will it suit a hotel corridor? | Declared class, traffic and rolling-load assessment, installation and maintenance instructions. | Treating every 0.55 mm product as equivalent. |
| Can we switch from click to dryback? | Evidence and installation details for the proposed dryback SKU. | Transferring the click product’s declaration. |
| Does the class prove fire or acoustic compliance? | The relevant classification/report for the specified assembly. | Reading use class as a universal project certificate. |
Questions buyers ask
Does glued flooring automatically have a higher class?
No. Installation method and use classification are different parts of the specification. Compare the declared and supported class of each product.
Can I request a class in a tender?
Yes. State the required class and the applicable product specification, then collect the supporting technical file. Add project-specific fire, emissions, slip and acoustic requirements separately.
Should an older EN 685 URL be changed?
An existing guide can explain the transition without changing its address. The product documentation should identify the actual classification reference used.
Related buyer resources
Sources and further reading
Send the build and destination
Tell us the construction, wear layer, size, quantity per colour, destination and required documents. This gives the quotation a clear product and delivery basis.