EN 16354:2018

Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods

This document specifies test methods for the determination of the technical characteristics of underlays under laminate floor coverings. It includes minimum performance requirements for the underlay-flooring system to give satisfactory service and to encourage the consumer to make an informed choice. It also specifies requirements for marking and packaging.
Underlays pre-attached to the laminate flooring coverings are not covered by this document.
Underlays for laminate floor coverings intended for use in electrostatically sensitive areas such as computer rooms, etc., are not covered by this document.

Laminatböden - Verlegeunterlagen - Spezifikationen, Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren

Diese Europäische Norm legt Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der technischen Eigenschaften von Verlegeunterlagen unter Laminatböden fest. Sie enthält Mindestleistungsanforderungen an das Verlege-unterlage-Bodensystem, um eine ausreichende Leistung zu ermöglichen und um den Verbraucher in die Lage zu versetzen, informiert eine Auswahl zu treffen. Sie legt ebenfalls Anforderungen an die Kennzeichnung und Verpackung fest.
Verlegeunterlagen, die bereits am Laminatboden befestigt sind, werden in dieser Europäischen Norm nicht behandelt.
Verlegeunterlagen für Laminatböden, die für elektrostatisch gefährdete Bereiche, wie Computerräume usw., vorgesehen sind, werden in dieser Europäischen Norm nicht behandelt.

Revêtements de sol stratifiés - Sous-couches - Spécifications, exigences et méthodes d'essai

Le présent document décrit les méthodes d’essai pour la détermination des caractéristiques techniques des sous-couches posées sous des revêtements de sol stratifiés. Il inclut les exigences minimales de performance du système sous-couche/revêtement de sol permettant de fournir un service satisfaisant et d’encourager le consommateur à faire un choix informé. Il précise également les exigences relatives au marquage et à l’emballage.
Les sous-couches préfixées sur les revêtements de sol stratifiés ne sont pas couvertes par le présent document.
Les sous-couches pour revêtements de sol stratifiés destinées à être utilisées dans des zones sensibles aux décharges électrostatiques, comme les salles informatiques, etc., ne sont pas couvertes par le présent document.

Laminatne talne obloge - Podlage - Specifikacije, zahteve in preskusne metode

Ta evropski standard določa preskusne metode za ugotavljanje tehničnih značilnosti podlag pod laminatnimi talnimi oblogami. Vključuje minimalne zahteve glede učinkovitosti sistema talnih podlag za zadovoljivo uporabo in spodbujanje potrošnikov k sprejemanju utemeljenih odločitev. Določa tudi zahteve za označevanje in pakiranje.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Oct-2018
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Apr-2019
• ICS: 97.150 - Floor coverings
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 134 - Resilient and textile floor coverings
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 134/WG 9 - Laminate floor coverings
• Current Stage: 9092 - Decision on results of review/2YR ENQ - revise - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 12-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16354:2019 - Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods

Relations

• Replaces: CEN/TS 16354:2013 - Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods
• Effective Date: 02-Sep-2015
• Revised: prEN 16354 - Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods
• Effective Date: 17-Mar-2025

Overview

EN 16354:2018 - published by CEN - specifies test methods, minimum performance requirements and marking/packaging rules for underlays used beneath laminate floor coverings. The standard defines how to determine the technical characteristics of underlays and the underlay–flooring system to help ensure satisfactory service and to assist consumers and specifiers in making informed choices. It supersedes CEN/TS 16354:2013 and was approved 4 June 2018.

Important exclusions:

• Underlays pre-attached to laminate floorboards are not covered.
• Underlays intended for use in electrostatically sensitive areas (e.g., computer rooms) are not covered.

Key topics and technical requirements

EN 16354:2018 sets out requirements and test methods for a broad range of underlay properties, including:

• Dimensional properties: thickness, length, width, squareness and flatness.
• Mechanical performance: punctual conformability, compressive strength (CS), compressive creep (CC), dynamic load (DL) resistance and resistance to impact by large diameter ball (RLB).
• Thermal and moisture: thermal resistance (R) and water vapour resistance (Sd).
• Durability and chemical resistance: alkaline resistance and behaviour under cyclic loading.
• Acoustic performance: impact sound (IS), airborne sound (AS) and radiated walking sound (RWS / RLB where applicable).
• Safety & emissions: reaction to fire (RTF), emission of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Physical characteristics: area weight and electrostatic behaviour (where applicable).

The document includes Annex A with detailed test procedures and Annex B with proposed performance classes. It also specifies marking and labelling requirements, packaging area details and the contents of a test report.

Applications

EN 16354:2018 is used to:

• Specify and compare underlay products for laminate flooring installations.
• Support product development and quality control by manufacturers.
• Provide objective test data for product datasheets, labelling and marketing claims.
• Inform architects, specifiers and installers when selecting underlays to meet thermal, acoustic or mechanical performance targets.
• Guide testing laboratories in producing standardized test reports.

Who should use this standard

• Underlay and laminate floor manufacturers
• Test laboratories and certification bodies
• Architects, interior designers and building specifiers
• Flooring contractors and installers
• Procurement teams and quality assurance professionals

Related standards

EN 16354 references and aligns with other standards for flooring and testing such as EN 13329 (laminate floor coverings), EN 16205 (walking noise measurement), EN 16516 (emissions testing), EN 13501‑1 (fire classification) and ISO/EN acoustics standards (EN ISO 717, EN ISO 10140 series). These related standards support full system evaluation and regulatory compliance.

Keywords: EN 16354:2018, laminate floor coverings, underlays, test methods, thermal resistance, water vapour resistance, compressive strength, impact sound, emissions, marking and packaging.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2019
1DGRPHãþD
SIST-TS CEN/TS 16354:2014
Laminatne talne obloge - Podlage - Specifikacije, zahteve in preskusne metode
Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods
Laminatböden - Verlegeunterlage - Spezifikationen, Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
Revêtements de sol stratifiés - Sous-couches - Spécifications, exigences et méthodes
d'essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16354:2018
ICS:
97.150 Talne obloge Floor coverings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 16354
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2018
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.150 Supersedes CEN/TS 16354:2013
English Version
Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification,
requirements and test methods
Revêtements de sol stratifiés - Sous-couches - Laminatböden - Verlegeunterlagen - Spezifikationen,
Spécifications, exigences et méthodes d'essai Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 4 June 2018.

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
© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16354:2018 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 General requirements . 8
4.3 Additional technical requirements. 9
4.4 Testing . 10
4.4.1 General . 10
4.4.2 Thickness (t) . 10
4.4.3 Punctual conformability (PC) . 11
4.4.4 Compressive strength (CS). 11
4.4.5 Compressive Creep (CC) resistance . 11
4.4.6 Dynamic load (DL ) resistance . 11
4.4.7 Thermal resistance (R) . 11
4.4.8 Water vapour resistance (SD) . 11
4.4.9 Alkaline resistance (AR) . 12
4.4.10 Area weight (AW) . 12
4.4.11 Reaction to fire (RTF) . 12
4.4.12 Resistance to impact by large diameter ball (RLB). 12
4.4.13 Electrostatic behaviour (EB) . 12
4.4.14 Emission of formaldehyde . 12
4.4.15 Emission of VOCs . 12
4.4.16 Impact sound (IS) . 13
4.4.17 Airborne sound (AS) . 13
4.4.18 Radiated walking sound (RWS) . 13
5 Marking and labelling . 14
6 Test Report . 14
Annex A (normative) Determination of thickness, length, width, squareness, flatness,
punctual conformability, compressive strength, compressive creep resistance,
dynamic load resistance and area weight . 15
A.1 Sampling . 15
A.2 Conditions . 15
A.3 Procedure. 15
A.3.1 Determination of thickness (t) . 15
A.3.2 Determination of width (w) . 16
A.3.3 Determination of length (l). 16
A.3.4 Determination of squareness (q) . 16
A.3.5 Determination of flatness (S) . 16
A.3.6 Determination of punctual conformability (PC) . 17
A.3.7 Determination of compressive strength (CS). 17
A.3.8 Determination of compressive creep (CC) resistance . 17
A.3.9 Determination of dynamic load (DL ) resistance . 18
A.3.10 Determination of area weight (AW). 20
Annex B (informative) Proposed performance classes . 21
B.1 General . 21
B.2 Proposed classes . 21
Bibliography . 22

European foreword
This document (EN 16354:2018) 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 April 2019, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 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 CEN/TS 16354:2013.
Overview of major technical changes compared to the previous edition:
— 1. scope: "Underlays for laminate floor coverings intended for use in electrostatically sensitive
areas such as computer rooms, etc., are not covered by this document." Has been added
— 3.1 the definition of a "laminate floor" covering has been changed
— 3.2 the definition of an "underlay" has been changed
— 3.4 the definition of a "floor covering system" has been changed
— 4.1 "characteristics" has been replaced by "4.1 general" and "4.2 general requirements"
— Table 1 has been replaced by Table1 – general requirements and Table 2 – additional technical
characteristics
— Numbering: 1.2.3 etc. has been replaced by 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 etc. respectively 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 etc.
— In Table1 1-1 "Thickness" subclause 4.4.2 has been added for clarification
— Subclause numbers have been adapted to this new version numbering
— Table 1 – 13 has been updated to EN 16205
— Table 1 – 14.1 and 14.2 has been replaced by Table 2 2-11 and been limited to the "underlay only"
— Table 1 – 16: Electrostatic behaviour has been deleted
— Table 1 – 18 "emission of formaldehyde" is tested according to EN 16516
— In 4.4.1" general": "As result the mean value of the measured single test results shall be calculated."
Has been added
— 4.4.3 "punctual conformability": text has been changed
— 4.4.8 "water vapour resistance": a NOTE has been added: "In some installation conditions, an
underlay with higher sd-value and visible air gaps underneath could be required."
— 4.4.9 "alkaline resistance": text has been changed
— 4.4.11 "reaction to fire": text has been changed
— 4.4.14 "emission of formaldehyde": text has been changed
— 4.4.15 "emission of VOCs": text has been changed
— 4.4.16 "impact sound" text has been changed
— 4.4.18 "radiated walking sound": text has been changed
— 5 "marking and labelling": "number of pieces and area in the package, as appropriate" has been
changed into "area in the package"
— Par 6: "test report" has been added
— A.3.3 "Determination of length" text has been changed
— A.3.4 "Determination of squareness" text has been changed
— A.3.5 "Determination of flatness" text has been changed
— A.3.6 "Determination of punctual conformability" text has been changed
— A.3.7 "Determination of compressive strength" text has been changed
— A.3.8 "Determination of compressive creep (CC) resistance" text has been changed
— A.3.9 "Determination of dynamic load (DL25) resistance" text and figure A.2 has been changed
— A.3.10 "Determination of area weight" text has been changed
— Table B.1: PC0, DL0 has been removed; DL3 has been added. RWS has been removed and RLB has
been added
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 test methods for the determination of the technical characteristics of underlays
under laminate floor coverings. It includes minimum performance requirements for the underlay-
flooring system to give satisfactory service and to encourage the consumer to make an informed choice.
It also specifies requirements for marking and packaging.
Underlays pre-attached to the laminate flooring coverings are not covered by this document.
Underlays for laminate floor coverings intended for use in electrostatically sensitive areas such as
computer rooms, etc., are not covered by this document.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 822:2013, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of length and width
EN 823, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of thickness
EN 824, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of squareness
EN 825, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of flatness
EN 826, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of compression behaviour
EN 1264-3, Water based surface embedded heating and cooling systems - Part 3: Dimensioning
EN 1606:2013, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of compressive
creep
EN 12086, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of water vapour
transmission properties
EN 12311-2, Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Determination of tensile properties - Part 2: Plastic and
rubber sheets for roof waterproofing
EN 12664, Thermal performance of building materials and products - Determination of thermal resistance
by means of guarded hot plate and heat flow meter methods - Dry and moist products of medium and low
thermal resistance
EN 12667, Thermal performance of building materials and products - Determination of thermal resistance
by means of guarded hot plate and heat flow meter methods - Products of high and medium thermal
resistance
EN 13238, Reaction to fire tests for building products - Conditioning procedures and general rules for
selection of substrates
EN 13329, Laminate floor coverings - Elements with a surface layer based on aminoplastic thermosetting
resins - Specifications, requirements and test methods
EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009, Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Part 1:
Classification using data from reaction to fire tests
EN 13793, Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of behaviour under
cyclic loading
EN 14909:2012, Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Plastic and rubber damp proof courses - Definitions
and characteristics
EN 16205:2013+A1:2018, Laboratory measurement of walking noise on floors
EN 16516, Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Determination of
emissions into indoor air
EN ISO 717-1, Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements - Part 1:
Airborne sound insulation (ISO 717-1)
EN ISO 717-2, Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements - Part 2: Impact
sound insulation (ISO 717-2)
EN ISO 868:2003, Plastics and ebonite - Determination of indentation hardness by means of a durometer
(Shore hardness) (ISO 868:2003)
EN ISO 1923, Cellular plastics and rubbers - Determination of linear dimensions (ISO 1923)
EN ISO 10140-2, Acoustics - Laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements - Part 2:
Measurement of airborne sound insulation (ISO 10140-2)
EN ISO 10140-3, Acoustics - Laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements - Part 3:
Measurement of impact sound insulation (ISO 10140-3)
EN ISO 10140-5:2010, Acoustics - Laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements - Part
5: Requirements for test facilities and equipment (ISO 10140-5:2010)
EN ISO 11925-2:2010, Reaction to fire tests - Ignitability of products subjected to direct impingement of
flame - Part 2: Single-flame source test (ISO 11925-2:2010)
EN ISO 16000-9, Indoor air - Part 9: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from
building products and furnishing - Emission test chamber method (ISO 16000-9)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
laminate floor covering
rigid floor covering, typically in a plank or tile format, with a multiple layer structure, e.g. backer,
substrate, décor and worked edges that allow the product to be joined together to form a larger integral
unit
Note 1 to entry: Laminate flooring does not include products having a resilient, stone, textile, wood, leather or
metal top surfacing material(s).
Note 2 to entry: Different types of laminate floor coverings are specified in EN 13329, EN 14978 and EN 15468.
3.2
underlay
resilient layer between the substrate and floor covering added to obtain specific properties
Note 1 to entry: It is also possible to have combinations of underlays and underlay materials as underlays, as
well as combinations of underlays with films or coatings (e.g. vapour barriers).
Note 2 to entry: The underlay can be profiled or textured.
3.3
vapour control layer
underlay and/or an additional layer that limits the passage of water vapour in the floor covering
3.4
floor covering system
laid floors consisting of laminate floor covering and underlay
3.5
reference floor covering
monolithic seamless panel with no pre-attached underlay, having a nominal thickness of (7,0 ± 0,2) mm
and a size of (2,0 ± 0,1) m x (2,4 ± 0,1) m in accordance with EN 13329, class 23/31 and produced by
the DPL method with melamine backing, and with an HDF core board with a density of
(850 ± 50) kg/m
Note 1 to entry: The reference floor covering referred to in this European Standard is identical with the one
specified in the reflected walking sound test according to Bibliographical entries [1] and [2]. This reference floor
covering can be retrieved from EPLF (http://www.eplf.com).
3.6
substrate
structural layer on which the floor covering system is installed
4 Requirements
4.1 General
The following tables give an overview of the important key characteristics and requirements for the
underlay, depending on the exact application and products used. They have been determined for
defined scenarios (e.g. dynamic load by walking persons, moving castor chair, structural floor
unevenness) and by practical trials and measurements (e.g. 100 Pa is the approximate pressure of an
unloaded laminate onto the underlay). Where needed, existing methods have been adapted.
4.2 General requirements
All underlays shall fulfil the requirements of Table 1, if the tests are done by the described test methods.
Table 1 — General requirements
No. Characteristic Requirements/Tolerances Test method Subclause
1–1 Thickness (t) Measured thickness in mm EN 823 + A.3.1 4.4.2
Tolerance of declared thickness
a
(t ): ± 15 % or ± 0,5 mm
d
1–2 Length (l) Measured length EN 822 + A.3.3
Tolerance of declared length (l ):
d
boards: - 1 % + 5 %
rolls: - 0 %
1–3 Width (w) Measured width EN 822 + A.3.2
Tolerance of declared width (w ):
d
- 1 % + 2,5 %
and of width variation
w – w ≤ 10 mm
max min
1–4 Squareness (q) q < 5 mm/m EN 824 + A.3.4
max
1–5 Flatness (S) S < 2 mm/m EN 825 + A.3.5
max
1–6 Punctual PC ≥ 0,5 mm EN ISO 868 + A.3.6 4.4.3
conformability
(PC)
1–7 Compressive CS ≥ 10 kPa EN 826 + A.3.7 4.4.4
strength (CS)
1–8 Dynamic load DL ≥ 10 000 cycles EN 13793 + A.3.9 4.4.6
(DL ) resistance
a
Whichever gives the smallest numerical tolerances.
4.3 Additional technical requirements
When reference is made to this standard, the characteristics declared shall be determined according to
the test methods specified in Table 2.
Table 2 — Additional technical characteristics
No. Characteristic Note Test method Subclause
2–1 Compressive in kPa EN 1606 + A.3.8 4.4.5
Creep resistance
(CC)
2–2 Thermal in m K/W EN 12667 or EN 12664 at 4.4.7
resistance (R) 24 °C mean temperature
2–3 Water vapour in m EN 12086, method A, at 4.4.8
diffusion 23 °C and 0 % to 50 % rel.
resistance (SD) humidity
2–4 Impact sound Weighted reduction of impact EN ISO 10140-3 and 4.4.16
insulation (IS) sound pressure level ΔLw in dB EN ISO 717-2
2–5 Air borne sound Weighted apparent sound EN ISO 10140-2 and 4.4.17
insulation (AS) reduction index Rw’ in dB EN ISO 717-1
2–6 Resistance to Product (underlay plus laminate EN 13329 4.4.12
impact by large in end-use conditions)
diameter ball
(RLB)
2–7 Alkaline  EN 14909 4.4.9
resistance (AR)
2–8 Emission of  EN 16516 4.4.14
formaldehyde
2–9 Emission of VOCs  EN ISO 16000-9 4.4.15
2–10 Area weight (AW)  A.3.10 4.4.10
2–11 Reaction-to-fire  EN ISO 11925-2 4.4.11
(RTF) Classification according to
EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009,
Table 2
2-12 Radiated walking in sone EN 16205 4.4.18
sound (RWS)
4.4 Testing
4.4.1 General
The tests specified in this clause are based on existing standards used for other building applications
and adapted to the specific application conditions of laminate flooring underlays where needed. As
result the mean value of the measured single test results shall be calculated.
4.4.2 Thickness (t)
Thickness is the main property of an underlay to ensure functionality, such as acoustic performance or
conformability.
The thickness (t) shall be determined according to EN 823 plus the details given in A.3.1 under a
measurement load of 100 Pa (= typical load of a laminate).
4.4.3 Punctual conformability (PC)
Punctual conformability is the ability of the underlay to smoothen small local defects of the subfloor
(e.g. small protruding particles) and/or small particles laying on the subfloor when installed under a
laminate floor covering.
The punctual conformability of the underlay shall be determined by measuring the Shore-A-hardness
(SH) according
...