Technical Specification Guide · US Market · 2026
SPC Flooring
for BTR
Apartments
The operational specification decision that determines maintenance cost, lease-up velocity, and resident retention across a 10–15 year hold period.
≤0.10%Dimensional Stability
1.95+Core Density g/cm³
20 milWear Layer
60+Countries Shipped
Certified
Why BTR Chose SPC
Four structural reasons.
Not aesthetic ones.
01
Same-Day Unit Turnover
Floating click installation means a maintenance crew replaces a damaged plank and hands the unit over the same day. Glue-down LVT requires 24–48 hours of adhesive cure time. In a community with high turnover velocity, that difference compounds into real operational cost across a year.
02
Rigid Core Survives HVAC Cycling
US BTR apartments cycle between occupied (68–72°F) and vacant (ambient temperature). In Texas, that swing reaches 40–50°F across seasons. At 1.95–2.05 g/cm³ with ≤0.10% dimensional stability, SPC handles this cycling without developing joint gaps. Lower-density products fail within one to two heating seasons.
03
Pre-Attached Underlayment
IXPE pre-attached at the factory eliminates a labor step. Installers are not carrying rolls of underlayment through the building, cutting to fit, and taping seams. The product arrives ready to install. For large communities where labor cost per unit matters, this is a real saving at scale.
04
Waterproof Core — Non-Negotiable
Every BTR unit has a bathroom. Most have in-unit laundry. SPC’s waterproof rigid core handles moisture without the swelling risk that eliminated laminate from US multifamily consideration years ago.
2026 Standard Specification
The BTR spec by
building type.
Garden-Style BTR
3–4 Storey Wood Frame
Total Thickness
Wear Layer
0.5mm (20 mil)
EN 685 Class
Class 31/33
Underlayment
1.0–1.5mm IXPE Pre-attached
Core Density
1.95–2.05 g/cm³
Dimensional Stability
≤0.10% EN ISO 23999
Format
7×48″ or 9×60″
Surface
Certification
FloorScore + CARB 2
Mid-Rise / High-Rise
Concrete Podium
Total Thickness
Wear Layer
0.5mm min / 0.7mm corridors
EN 685 Class
Class 33/42 units · 43 corridors
Underlayment
1.5mm IXPE Pre-attached
Core Density
1.95–2.05 g/cm³
Dimensional Stability
≤0.10% EN ISO 23999
Format
9×60″ or 9×72″ XL
Surface
EIR Wood · Stone common areas
Certification
FloorScore + CARB 2 + GREENGUARD Gold
Acoustic Specification
What IIC numbers
actually mean for BTR.
Assembly Cross-Section
10mm expansion gap — all perimeters required
System IIC Result
IIC 50
Slab 28 + △IIC 22 = Code minimum
△IIC is the number on your product test report
It measures the improvement above a bare concrete reference slab. A product showing △IIC 22 dB improves the slab performance by 22 dB — not the total system IIC. Always add to your actual slab measurement.
Wood-frame vs concrete podium
Wood-frame construction absorbs more impact sound. In garden-style BTR, 5mm SPC + 1.0mm IXPE achieves △IIC 18–22 dB — sufficient for most HOA requirements. Concrete podium requires 1.5mm IXPE and more careful detailing.
⚠ The installation detail that voids acoustic performance
When perimeter expansion gaps are bridged, the floor locks mechanically to the wall. The floating action that generates acoustic attenuation is eliminated. Real-world IIC drops 4–8 dB. This is the most common acoustic failure on BTR projects where the product spec was correct.
Core Density
The number that predicts
XL plank performance.
⚠ Budget Grade
1.65
g/cm³ — typical budget SPC
Dimensional Stability
0.20–0.35% (self-declared)
9×72″ Plank Movement
3.66–6.40mm under temp cycling
Result
Visible joint separation
Failure timeline: 12–18 months. First lease renewal cycle.
✓ Project Grade
2.00
g/cm³ — ISO 1183 third-party verified
Dimensional Stability
≤0.10% (third-party lab, batch)
9×72″ Plank Movement
≤1.83mm — below visual threshold
Result
No joint gap detection
Service life: 10–15 years. No replacement during hold period.
US Certification Stack
What each certificate
actually unlocks.
Baseline — All US Markets
CARB 2
Governs formaldehyde emissions from composite wood. Mandatory for California. Increasingly required in New York, Washington, Oregon. Treat as a national baseline — not California-only.
Required: All US BTR procurement
LEED v4 Projects
FloorScore
Issued by SCS Global Services. Required for LEED v4 EQ Credit 2. Certificate SCS-FS-05154. Verifiable in the SCS Green Products Guide. Must match holder name — not transferable.
Required: LEED v4 / institutional procurement
Luxury / WELL v2
GREENGUARD Gold
Stricter VOC thresholds than FloorScore. Required for WELL v2 Material Concept. Certificate 135464-420. Verifiable at UL Product iQ. Luxury leasing amenity claim.
Required: WELL v2 / healthcare-adjacent / luxury BTR
US Port Routing
Three routes.
One right answer per market.
West Coast
Long Beach
18–22 days FOB Ningbo
California · Nevada · Arizona · Pacific Northwest
Note: California DOT axle weight limits stricter than federal. Confirm loading plan against CA-specific limits.
Note: California DOT axle weight limits stricter than federal. Confirm loading plan against CA-specific limits.
Container yield 5mm+1.5mm IXPE: ~2,400 sqm / 20ft
Texas BTR
Houston
26–30 days FOB Ningbo
Dallas-Fort Worth · Houston · Austin · San Antonio
Avoids Long Beach congestion and high LA inland drayage cost. Houston → DFW warehouse: ~4–5 hours.
Avoids Long Beach congestion and high LA inland drayage cost. Houston → DFW warehouse: ~4–5 hours.
Competitive with Long Beach for all Texas metro markets
Southeast BTR
Savannah
30–34 days FOB Ningbo
Atlanta · Charlotte · Nashville · Miami · Orlando
More consistent than Long Beach in Q3/Q4. Long Beach seasonal congestion adds 5–10 unpredictable days.
More consistent than Long Beach in Q3/Q4. Long Beach seasonal congestion adds 5–10 unpredictable days.
Outperforms Long Beach on total door-to-door cost for Southeast
10-Year Cost Analysis
The $0.18 difference
that costs $500k+.
$0.45
per sqft FOB — Budget Grade
Core Density1.60–1.75 g/cm³
Stability0.20–0.35% self-declared
Wear Layer0.3mm (12 mil) — Class 21/23
Click SystemGeneric — licence unclear
Service Life in BTR3–5 years
Replacement at Year 4–5$3.50–5.00/sqft
$0.63
per sqft FOB — Project Grade
Core Density1.95–2.05 g/cm³ ISO 1183
Stability≤0.10% third-party lab
Wear Layer0.5mm (20 mil) — Class 33/42
Click SystemUniclic Americas — included
Service Life in BTR10–15 years
Replacement Cost$0 within hold period
200-unit community · 900 sqft average · 10-year hold
$32,400
Additional upfront procurement cost
vs
$540k–900k
Avoided replacement cost at year 4–5
The spec that looks cheaper at PO usually isn’t. The math is not close.
Pre-Order Checklist
Before you wire
the deposit.
Structure
Total thickness — 5mm garden-style / 5–6mm concrete podium
Wear layer — 0.5mm (20 mil) min, EN 685 Class 33 declared on CE DoP
IXPE underlayment — 1.0mm wood-frame / 1.5mm concrete slab, pre-attached
Core density — ISO 1183 third-party lab, 1.95–2.05 g/cm³, batch-specific
Performance
Dimensional stability — EN ISO 23999, ≤0.10%, third-party lab, batch-specific
Click system — Uniclic Americas licence confirmed in writing, included in FOB
Acoustic — △IIC test report for your specific floor/ceiling assembly
Expansion gap — ≥10mm all perimeters, stated in installation drawings
Certification
FloorScore — verify at SCS Green Products Guide
CARB 2 — CDPH 01350 compliance documentation
GREENGUARD Gold — verify at UL Product iQ (luxury / WELL v2)
Prop 65 — phthalate-free formulation declaration in writing
Logistics
HTS code — 3918.10.10.00 confirmed on commercial invoice · US Import Guide
Loading plan — per-carton gross weight + total cargo weight, before loading
CA DOT weight — axle limits confirmed (West Coast projects)
Port routing — Long Beach / Houston / Savannah by destination
Factory Direct · US BTR Communities
Factory-Direct SPC
for US BTR Communities
FloorScore · CARB 2 · GREENGUARD Gold · ISO 9001. FOB quotes with complete landed-cost worksheets and full certification documentation. SPC vs LVT Guide · Import from China Guide
Request Sample Kit Get FOB Quote