prEN 16354
(Main)Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods
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
Dieses Dokument legt Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der technischen Eigenschaften von Verlegeunterlagen unter Laminatböden fest. Es enthält Mindestleistungsanforderungen an das Verlegeunterlage-Bodensystem, um eine ausreichende Leistung zu ermöglichen und um den Verbraucher in die Lage zu versetzen, informiert eine Auswahl zu treffen. Es legt ebenfalls Anforderungen an die Kennzeichnung und Verpackung fest.
Verlegeunterlagen, die bereits am Laminatboden befestigt sind, werden in diesem Dokument nicht behandelt.
Verlegeunterlagen für Laminatböden, die für elektrostatisch gefährdete Bereiche, wie Computerräume usw., vorgesehen sind, werden in diesem Dokument 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
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2026
Laminatne talne obloge - Podlage - Specifikacije, zahteve in preskusne metode
Laminate floor coverings - Underlays - Specification, requirements and test methods
Laminatböden - Verlegeunterlagen - Spezifikationen, Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren
Revêtements de sol stratifiés - Sous-couches - Spécifications, exigences et méthodes
d'essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 16354
ICS:
97.150 Talne obloge Floor coverings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2025
ICS 97.150 Will supersede EN 16354:2018
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 draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 134.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.
This draft European Standard 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
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 16354:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 General. 8
4.2 General requirements . 8
4.3 Additional technical requirements . 8
4.4 Testing . 9
4.4.1 General. 9
4.4.2 Thickness (t) . 9
4.4.3 Punctual conformability (PC) . 10
4.4.4 Compressive strength (CS) . 10
4.4.5 Compressive Creep (CC) resistance . 10
4.4.6 Dynamic load (DL ) resistance . 10
4.4.7 Thermal resistance (R) . 10
4.4.8 Water vapour resistance (SD) . 10
4.4.9 Alkaline resistance (AR) . 11
4.4.10 Area weight (AW) . 11
4.4.11 Reaction to fire (RTF) . 11
4.4.12 Resistance to impact by large diameter ball (RLB). 11
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) . 12
4.4.17 Airborne sound (AS) . 13
4.4.18 Radiated walking sound (RWS) . 13
5 Marking and labelling . 13
6 Test report . 13
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) . 17
A.3.5 Determination of flatness (S). 17
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 . 18
A.3.9 Determination of dynamic load (DL ) resistance . 19
A.3.10 Determination of area weight (AW) . 20
Annex B (informative) Proposed performance classes. 22
B.1 General . 22
B.2 Proposed classes . 22
Bibliography . 23
European foreword
This document (prEN 16354:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 134 “Resilient,
textile and laminate floor coverings and modular mechanical locked floor coverings”, the secretariat of
which is held by NBN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry
This document will supersede EN 16354:2018.
This document includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 16354:2018:
— normative references updated;
— other sinusoidal loads considered for dynamic loads in 4.4.6;
— product parameters and fixing conditions for reaction to fire tests added in 4.4.11;
— provisions for emissions of formaldehyde and VOCs in 4.4.14 and 4.4.15 updated;
— new Figure A.2 for measurement positions for length and width added;
— minimum number of specimens for determination of compressive creep resistance in A.3.8 changed
from 5 to 3;
— minimum number of specimens for determination of dynamic load resistance in A.3.9 changed from
5 to 3.
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 824, Thermal insulating products for building applications — Determination of squareness
EN 1264-3, Water based surface embedded heating and cooling systems — Part 3: Dimensioning
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 with 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 — Specifications, requirements and test methods
EN 13501-1, 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 16205:2020, 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 10140-5:2021, Acoustics — Laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements —
Part 5: Requirements for test facilities and equipment (ISO 10140-5:2021)
EN ISO 11925-2, Reaction to fire tests — Ignitability of products subjected to direct impingement of
flame — Part 2: Single-flame source test (ISO 11925-2)
EN ISO 16000-11, Indoor air — Part 11: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from
samples of building products and furnishing — Sampling, storage of samples and preparation of test
specimens (ISO 16000-11)
EN ISO 16534:2020, Thermal insulating products for building applications — Determination of
compressive creep (ISO 16534:2020)
EN ISO 29465, Thermal insulating products for building applications — Determination of length and width
(ISO 29465)
EN ISO 29466, Thermal insulating products for building applications — Determination of thickness (ISO
29466)
EN ISO 29468, Thermal insulating products for building applications — Determination of flatness (ISO
29468)
EN ISO 29469, Thermal insulating products for building applications — Determination of compression
behaviour (ISO 29469)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
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.
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 × (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 document 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 specified test methods.
Table 1 — General requirements
No. Characteristic Requirements/Tolerances Test method Subclause
1–1 Thickness (t) Measured thickness in mm EN ISO 29466 + 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 ISO 29465 + A.3.3
Tolerance of declared length (l ):
d
−1 %
boards:
+5 %
rolls: - 0 %
1–3 Width (w) Measured width EN ISO 29465 + A.3.2
Tolerance of declared width (w ):
d
−1 %
+25, %
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 ISO 29468 + 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 ISO 29469 + 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 ISO 16534 + 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 ΔL in dB EN ISO 717-2
w
2–5 Air borne sound Weighted apparent sound EN ISO 10140-2 and 4.4.17
insulation (AS) reduction index R in dB EN ISO 717-1
w’
2–6 Resistance to Product (underlay plus EN 13329 4.4.12
impact by large laminate 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 16516 4.4.15
2–10 Area weight A.3.10 4.4.10
(AW)
2–11 Reaction-to-fire EN ISO 11925-2 4.4.11
(RTF) Classification according to
EN 13501-1
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 ISO 29466 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 to EN ISO 868 plus the details specified in A.3.6. The punctual conformability shall be
declared as PC-value (mm).
4.4.4 Compressive strength (CS)
To ensure the integrity of the laminate flooring system, the compressive strength at 0,5 mm deformation
shall be determined according to EN ISO 29469 plus the details specified in A.3.7 and with a pre-load of
100 Pa. The compressive strength shall be declared as CS-value (in kPa).
4.4.5 Compressive Creep (CC) resistance
To ensure sufficient resistance of the underlay against static load applied by, e.g. furniture feet, the
resistance to compressive load shall be determined according to EN ISO 16534 plus the details specified
in A.3.8 and with a pre-load of 100 Pa.
Compressive creep resistance shall be determined as the maximum applicable load in kPa resulting in a
thickness loss X = X + X of ≤ 0,5 mm after extrapolation to 10 years. The compressive creep resistance
t 0 ct
shall be declared as CC-value in kPa.
When CC is determined at temperatures other than the standard conditions as specified under Clause A.2,
the conditions shall be reported (e.g. CC (35 °C)).
4.4.6 Dynamic load (DL ) resistance
To ensure sufficient resistance of the underlay against long-term dynamic loads applied by, e.g. people
walking or sitting on a castor chair, the resistance to dynamic load shall be determined according to
EN 13793 plus the details specified in A.3.9.
The dynamic load resistance shall be declared as DL -value (number of cycles). The value is determined
as the maximum number of load cycles which can be applied to the underlay that results in a loss in
thickness of ≤ 0,5 mm.
Other sinusoidal loads for σ may be agreed but shall be reported. In this case the index in the report
max
shall be changed (e.g. in case of σ = 50 kPa the result shall be expressed as DL ).
max 50
NOTE If DLxx is reached for a sinusoidal load of xx > 25 kPa also the requirement of DL25 is fulfilled.
4.4.7 Thermal resistance (R)
If the laminate floor coverings is going to be installed over underfloor heating according to EN 1264-3 the
thermal resistance (R) of the floor covering system shall not exceed 0,15 m K/W when tested according
to EN 12667 or EN 12664 at 24 °C mean temperature.
The heat resistance (R) of the materials laid onto the heated floor such as underlay and floor covering,
etc. shall be summed up. Because of the weight of the floor covering itself and the weight of furniture, air
gaps may not be expected and can be neglected in this respect.
4.4.8 Water vapour resistance (SD)
In situations where slight rising dampness or occasional condensation can be expected because of
differences in temperature, wet conditions in underneath rooms or in case of an underfloor heating, a
vapour control layer shall be installed to protect the floor covering system from swelling or other
negative effects. The minimum SD-value of the vapour control layer in these situations should be
oSIST prEN 163
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