EN 16611:2023/prA1
(Amendment)Furniture - Assessment of the surface resistance to microscratching
- Abstract
This document specifies a method for the assessment of the surface resistance to microscratching and relates to rigid surfaces of all finished products, considering the following exceptions:
- Method A is suitable for all types of surface coatings and coverings except for lacquers with pearly or metallic effects.
- Method B is suitable for all types of surface.
- No method applies to finishes on leather and fabrics.
This document is applicable to the test intended to be carried out on a part of finished furniture, but it can be carried out on test panels of the same material, finished in an identical manner to the finished product, and of a size sufficient to meet the requirements of the test.
It is essential that the test be carried out on unused surfaces.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 29-Jun-2028
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 207 - Furniture
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 207/WG 7 - Surfaces and surface finishes of furniture
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
- Start Date
- 24-Sep-2026
- Due Date
- 19-Mar-2027
- Completion Date
- 24-Sep-2026
EN 16611:2023/prA1 is a CEN draft amendment to EN 16611:2023 for furniture. It updates the method used to assess surface resistance to microscratching, mainly by revising the test consumables and the calibration reference material used in the procedure.
What does EN 16611:2023/prA1 specify?
EN 16611:2023/prA1 modifies EN 16611:2023, which specifies a method for assessing the surface resistance to microscratching on rigid surfaces of finished furniture products. The base method is intended for unused surfaces and can also be carried out on test panels made from the same material and finished in the same way as the final product.
The scope distinguishes between Method A and Method B, so users need to choose the right method for the surface type before testing. That matters in practice because the document limits where each method can be used and excludes some finishes from the method choice.
| Amendment clause | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 1 | Scrub materials |
| 2 | Double-sided tape |
| 3 | Black high gloss reference material |
| 4 | Calibration of ultra fine scrub material |
| 5 | Calibration of very fine scrub material |
What are the key requirements of EN 16611:2023/prA1?
EN 16611:2023/prA1 changes the practical setup of the microscratch test in several places, especially the consumables used during testing and calibration. For a laboratory or quality team, these changes affect how specimens are held, which side of the scrub material is exposed, and what reference material is used for calibration.
- The method applies to rigid surfaces of finished products, and the test can also be run on test panels that match the finished product material and finishing. In practice, this lets users test either the product itself or a representative sample.
- Method A is for all surface coatings and coverings except lacquers with pearly or metallic effects. Method B is for all types of surface. In practice, the surface finish determines which method can be used.
- No method applies to finishes on leather and fabrics. In practice, those materials fall outside the method and should not be tested under this document.
- Clause 5.6 now requires only the non-printed side of the scrub material to be used. This reduces variation from printed surfaces and makes the test setup more consistent.
- Clause 5.7 adds a 50 mm wide adhesive tape to prevent the sample from wobbling during the test. In practice, the specimen must be held more securely so the movement does not influence the result.
- Clause 5.9 replaces the former reference with black high gloss reference material and updates its description to a black high gloss UV-lacquered melamine coating on a manufactured board, such as medium-density fibreboard, with the stated gloss condition. In practice, calibration must use the updated reference type.
- Clauses 8.2.1.1 and 8.2.2.1 replace the term reference high gloss HPL with black high gloss reference material for calibration of ultra fine and very fine scrub materials. In practice, the calibration language is aligned with the updated reference material name.
What terms does EN 16611:2023/prA1 define?
EN 16611:2023/prA1 uses several test-specific terms that matter for setting up and repeating the method.
- Microscratching - the surface damage that the method assesses on furniture finishes.
- Method A - the variant used for surface coatings and coverings, except lacquers with pearly or metallic effects.
- Method B - the variant that applies to all types of surface.
- Scrub material - the material used in the test action and calibrated in the amendment’s revised clauses.
- Black high gloss reference material - the updated reference material used for calibration in place of the former HPL wording.
- Ultra fine scrub material - the finer scrub material whose calibration is addressed in clause 8.2.1.1.
- Very fine scrub material - the scrub material whose calibration is addressed in clause 8.2.2.1.
Who uses EN 16611:2023/prA1?
EN 16611:2023/prA1 is used by furniture manufacturers, test laboratories, and quality teams that need to compare surface performance or verify finish resistance. It is also relevant to suppliers of coatings, coverings, and board materials because the amendment affects the test reference and the way the specimen is prepared and held.
Buyers and product developers can use the document to specify how surface resistance claims should be checked. In practice, that helps when selecting finishes, setting internal acceptance criteria, or comparing similar surface systems.
What changed in EN 16611:2023/prA1 from the previous edition?
EN 16611:2023/prA1 modifies EN 16611:2023 in five places:
- Clause 5.6 now limits scrub material use to the non-printed side.
- Clause 5.7 adds the use of 50 mm adhesive tape to stop specimen wobble.
- Clause 5.9 renames and redefines the black high gloss reference material.
- Clause 8.2.1.1 replaces the old reference term with black high gloss reference material.
- Clause 8.2.2.1 replaces the old reference term with black high gloss reference material.
Which standards are used with EN 16611:2023/prA1?
- EN 16611:2023 - the base European Standard that this amendment modifies and updates.
What does the EN 16611:2023/prA1 document contain?
EN 16611:2023/prA1 contains a European foreword and five amendment clauses. The clauses revise the wording in the parts of EN 16611:2023 that deal with scrub materials, double-sided tape, the black high gloss reference material, and calibration of ultra fine and very fine scrub materials.
The document is a draft amendment submitted for CEN enquiry, so its content is focused on specific text changes rather than a full restatement of the test method. For users, the main value is in tracking exactly which parts of the test setup and calibration language are being updated.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 27-Aug-2025
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 16611:2023/prA1 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Furniture - Assessment of the surface resistance to microscratching". This standard covers: This document specifies a method for the assessment of the surface resistance to microscratching and relates to rigid surfaces of all finished products, considering the following exceptions: - Method A is suitable for all types of surface coatings and coverings except for lacquers with pearly or metallic effects. - Method B is suitable for all types of surface. - No method applies to finishes on leather and fabrics. This document is applicable to the test intended to be carried out on a part of finished furniture, but it can be carried out on test panels of the same material, finished in an identical manner to the finished product, and of a size sufficient to meet the requirements of the test. It is essential that the test be carried out on unused surfaces.
This document specifies a method for the assessment of the surface resistance to microscratching and relates to rigid surfaces of all finished products, considering the following exceptions: - Method A is suitable for all types of surface coatings and coverings except for lacquers with pearly or metallic effects. - Method B is suitable for all types of surface. - No method applies to finishes on leather and fabrics. This document is applicable to the test intended to be carried out on a part of finished furniture, but it can be carried out on test panels of the same material, finished in an identical manner to the finished product, and of a size sufficient to meet the requirements of the test. It is essential that the test be carried out on unused surfaces.
EN 16611:2023/prA1 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 97.140 - Furniture. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 16611:2023/prA1 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 16611:2023. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 16611:2023/prA1 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-november-2026
Pohištvo - Ocenjevanje odpornosti površine proti mikrorazenju - Dopolnilo A1
Furniture - Assessment of the surface resistance to microscratching
Möbel - Bestimmung der Mikrokratzbeständigkeit von Möbeloberflächen
Ameublement - Évaluation de la résistance des surfaces aux micro-rayures
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16611:2023/prA1
ICS:
97.140 Pohištvo Furniture
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 16611:2023
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prA1
September 2026
ICS 97.140
English Version
Furniture - Assessment of the surface resistance to
microscratching
Ameublement - Évaluation de la résistance des Möbel - Bestimmung der Mikrokratzbeständigkeit von
surfaces aux micro-rayures Möbeloberflächen
This draft amendment is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 207.
This draft amendment A1, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 16611:2023. If this draft becomes an amendment,
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of
this amendment into the relevant national standard without any alteration.
This draft amendment was established by CEN 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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16611:2023/prA1:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Modification to 5.6, Scrub materials .
...