EN 687:2019
(Main)Resilient floor coverings - Specification for plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies the characteristics of plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing as a compound floor covering, supplied in roll form.
To encourage the consumer to make an informed choice, this standard includes a classification system based on intensity of use, which shows where resilient floor coverings should give satisfactory service (see EN ISO 10874). It also includes requirements for marking.
The term 'linoleum' is frequently incorrectly applied to a range of floor coverings, often to those based on polyvinyl chloride or rubber. Such materials are not included in this document.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 28-May-2019
- Withdrawal Date
- 29-Nov-2019
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 134 - Resilient and textile floor coverings
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 134/WG 7 - Resilient floor coverings
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 14-Mar-2025
- Completion Date
- 17-Sep-2026
Overview
EN 687:2019 - Resilient floor coverings: specification for plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing - defines the properties, identification, classification and marking requirements for linoleum supplied as a compound roll covering. The standard helps manufacturers, specifiers and buyers distinguish true linoleum (oxidatively cured, linoleum cement based) from PVC or rubber look‑alikes and supports informed product selection by linking performance classes to intended levels of use.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & product form: Plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing, supplied in roll form; PVC and rubber‑based products are excluded.
- Identification:
- Disintegration in 0.5 mol/l potassium hydroxide/methanol solution to confirm linoleum/corkment.
- Minimum linoleum cement: 30% (EN ISO 26985).
- Maximum inorganic filler (ash): 50% (EN ISO 26985).
- Dimensional and mass requirements:
- Nominal overall thickness: ≥ 4.0 mm (EN ISO 24346) with tolerances (average ±0.20 mm; individual ±0.25 mm).
- Linoleum layer thickness tolerances (average ±0.15 mm; individual ±0.20 mm) (EN ISO 24340).
- Mass per unit area: average within ±10% of nominal (EN ISO 23997).
- Roll length/width and straightness per EN ISO 24341.
- Performance tests:
- Residual indentation after static loading: ≤ 0.40 mm (EN ISO 24343‑1).
- Flexibility: no cracking around a 60 mm mandrel (EN ISO 24344).
- Colour fastness to artificial light (xenon arc): minimum grade 6 (EN ISO 105‑B02).
- Castor chair test: no damage (ISO 4918).
- Classification: Uses the EN ISO 10874 scheme (classes 21–41) tied to nominal linoleum layer thickness; table in the standard maps domestic, commercial and light industrial use levels to required nominal thickness (commonly 1.5–2.0 mm).
- Marking: Packaging/product must show EN 687:2019, manufacturer ID, product name, colour/pattern, batch/roll number, applicable class/symbol and roll dimensions.
Applications and users
- Who uses EN 687:2019:
- Linoleum manufacturers and suppliers (product specification & quality control)
- Test laboratories and certification bodies (type testing & verification)
- Architects, interior designers and specifiers (material selection)
- Facility managers, contractors and procurement teams (performance requirements, marking)
- Practical value: Ensures correct product identification, consistent dimensional and performance quality for flooring projects in residential, commercial and light industrial environments, and supports compliance with procurement and safety specifications.
Related standards (normative references)
- EN ISO 10874 (classification)
- EN ISO 26985 (identification, cement/ash)
- EN ISO 24340 / 24346 / 24341 / 23997 / 24343‑1 / 24344 (dimensional and performance tests)
- EN ISO 105‑B02 (colour fastness)
- ISO 4918 (castor chair test)
Keywords: EN 687:2019, linoleum on a corkment backing, resilient floor coverings, linoleum specification, EN ISO 10874, flooring classification, linoleum identification, flooring marking.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 05-Jun-2019
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Refers
EN ISO 23997:2012 - Resilient floor coverings - Determination of mass per unit area (ISO 23997:2007) - Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Refers
EN ISO 24346:2012 - Resilient floor coverings - Determination of overall thickness (ISO 24346:2006) - Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Referred By
EN 14041:2004 - Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Essential characteristics - Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 687:2019 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Resilient floor coverings - Specification for plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing". This standard covers: This document specifies the characteristics of plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing as a compound floor covering, supplied in roll form. To encourage the consumer to make an informed choice, this standard includes a classification system based on intensity of use, which shows where resilient floor coverings should give satisfactory service (see EN ISO 10874). It also includes requirements for marking. The term 'linoleum' is frequently incorrectly applied to a range of floor coverings, often to those based on polyvinyl chloride or rubber. Such materials are not included in this document.
This document specifies the characteristics of plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing as a compound floor covering, supplied in roll form. To encourage the consumer to make an informed choice, this standard includes a classification system based on intensity of use, which shows where resilient floor coverings should give satisfactory service (see EN ISO 10874). It also includes requirements for marking. The term 'linoleum' is frequently incorrectly applied to a range of floor coverings, often to those based on polyvinyl chloride or rubber. Such materials are not included in this document.
EN 687:2019 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 97.150 - Floor coverings. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 687:2019 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 687:2011, ISO 4918:2016, EN ISO 17231:2017, EN ISO 23997:2012, EN ISO 10874:2012, EN ISO 24344:2012, EN ISO 105-B02:2014, EN ISO 24343-1:2012, EN ISO 26985:2012, EN ISO 24346:2012, EN ISO 24341:2012, EN ISO 24340:2012, EN 14041:2018, EN 14041:2004. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 687:2019 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 305/2011. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 687:2019 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2019
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 687:2011
Netekstilne talne obloge - Specifikacija linoleja na plutinem hrbtišču z
dekorativnim vzorcem in brez njega
Resilient floor coverings - Specification for plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment
backing
Elastische Bodenbeläge - Spezifikation für Linoleum mit und ohne Muster mit
Korkmentrücken
Revêtements de sol résilients - Spécifications pour le linoléum uni et décoratif sur
support en composition de liège
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 687:2019
ICS:
97.150 Talne obloge Floor coverings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 687
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2019
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.150 Supersedes EN 687:2011
English Version
Resilient floor coverings - Specification for plain and
decorative linoleum on a corkment backing
Revêtements de sol résilients - Spécifications pour le Elastische Bodenbeläge - Spezifikation für Linoleum
linoléum uni et décoratif sur support en composition mit und ohne Muster mit Korkmentrücken
de liège
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 12 April 2019.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 687:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Identification . 5
5 Requirements . 5
6 Classification. 6
7 Marking . 7
European foreword
This document (EN 687:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 134 “Resilient,
textile and laminate floor coverings”, the secretariat of which is held by NBN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by November 2019, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by November 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 687:2011.
In comparison with the previous edition, the following technical modifications have been made:
— Table 2 has been replaced with the correct version from EN 687:2011.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies the characteristics of plain and decorative linoleum on a corkment backing as a
compound floor covering, supplied in roll form.
To encourage the consumer to make an informed choice, this standard includes a classification system
based on intensity of use
...