SIST EN 688:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies the characteristics of corklinoleum, supplied in roll form.; To encourage the consumer to make an informed choice, this document 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. This document does not apply to such.

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Jul-2025
• Publication Date: 18-Jun-2026
• ICS: 79.100 - Cork and cork products
• ICS: 97.150 - Floor coverings
• Technical Committee: ITEK - Textile and textile products
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 10-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 15-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 19-Jun-2026
• Ref Project: EN 688:2026 - Resilient floor coverings - Specification for corklinoleum

• Refers: SIST EN ISO 105-B02:2014 - Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part B02: Colour fastness to artificial light: Xenon arc fading lamp test (ISO 105-B02:2014)
• Effective Date: 23-Sep-2026
• Revises: SIST EN 688:2011 - Resilient floor coverings - Specification for corklinoleum
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023

SIST EN 688:2026 is the Slovenian adoption of EN 688:2026 from CEN. It specifies the characteristics of corklinoleum supplied in roll form, including identification, classification by intensity of use, and marking requirements. It is written for manufacturers, laboratories, specifiers, buyers, and quality managers who need to match a corklinoleum product to its intended use.

What does SIST EN 688:2026 specify?

SIST EN 688:2026 specifies corklinoleum as a resilient floor covering in roll form and sets out how the product is identified, classified, tested, and marked. The standard helps users choose a product for the intended level of use by linking classification to EN ISO 10874.

The scope is limited to corklinoleum. It does not apply to floor coverings that are wrongly called linoleum but are actually based on polyvinyl chloride or rubber.

The document is organized into:

• Clause 1 - Scope
• Clause 2 - Normative references
• Clause 3 - Terms and definitions
• Clause 4 - Identification
• Clause 5 - Requirements
• Clause 6 - Marking
• Annex A - Optional properties

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Optional properties for specific applications

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 688:2026?

SIST EN 688:2026 combines product identification, performance requirements, classification, and marking into one specification. In practice, this means a supplier must be able to show that the product is corklinoleum, that it meets the tabulated properties, and that the packaging or rolls are marked so the product can be traced and used correctly.

Identification and material control

Clause 4 identifies corklinoleum by its behaviour in a potassium hydroxide/methanol solution and by its density. It also limits the amount of inorganic filler through the ash residue test in EN ISO 26985. For buyers and laboratories, this helps separate corklinoleum from other linoleum-type products and from lookalikes.

General product requirements

Clause 5.1 gives the general requirements for rolls in Table 1. These cover dimensions, overall thickness, fibrous backing thickness, mass per unit area, density, residual indentation after static loading, flexibility, and colour fastness to artificial light.

In practice, this means the manufacturer must control the roll dimensions and key performance properties that affect installation and service life. The flexibility and indentation checks are especially important for handling, laying, and how the floor behaves under furniture and traffic. The colour fastness requirement matters for appearance where daylight or artificial light exposure is expected.

Classification by intensity of use

Clause 5.2 uses EN ISO 10874 for classification and links the class to nominal overall thickness in Table 2. The standard ties domestic and commercial levels of use to the product thickness. For specifiers, this is the main selection tool when matching the floor covering to the room or traffic level.

Marking

Clause 6 requires marking on the floor covering and/or packaging. The marking includes the document designation, the manufacturer's or supplier's identification, product name, colour or pattern, batch and roll number, the applicable class or symbols, and the roll dimensions. This supports traceability, stock control, and correct installation.

Optional properties

Annex A lists optional properties for special applications. These include electrical resistance, electrostatic propensity, effect of stains, and impact sound reduction. That helps a project team ask for extra performance only where the application needs it.

What terms does SIST EN 688:2026 define?

SIST EN 688:2026 defines the terms that describe the material and its binder system.

• linoleum cement - the binder in linoleum, made from linseed oil and/or other vegetable drying oils, rosin, and drying oil catalysts, which becomes semi-elastic by oxidative curing.
• corklinoleum - a product made by calendering a homogeneous mixture of linoleum cement, granulated cork, pigments, and inorganic filler onto a fibrous backing, then curing it oxidatively.
• EN ISO 10874 - the classification standard used here to relate resilient floor coverings to levels of use.
• Blue Wool Reference 2 - the reference used in the light-fastness procedure when comparing exposure in the xenon arc lamp test.
• Grey Scale 3 - the contrast reference used in the same light-fastness procedure.
• potassium hydroxide/methanol solution - the solution used in Clause 4 to identify corklinoleum by disintegration behaviour.

Who uses SIST EN 688:2026?

SIST EN 688:2026 is used by corklinoleum manufacturers, test laboratories, distributors, and project teams specifying resilient floor coverings. It is also relevant to quality managers and buyers who need to check that the product class, thickness, marking, and test results match the intended use.

In practice, it supports product development, type testing, factory quality control, procurement, and comparison of products for domestic or commercial installations.

What changed in SIST EN 688:2026 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 688:2026 supersedes EN 688:2011. The significant technical changes listed for this edition are:

• adjusted classification table and requirements;
• a product with nominal thickness of 2.5 mm added;
• updated normative references;
• thickness requirement adjusted;
• density requirement adjusted;
• impact sound reduction changed from a requirement to an optional property.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 688:2026?

SIST EN 688:2026 cites several standards that provide the test and classification methods used in its requirements.

• EN ISO 105-B02:2014 - colour fastness to artificial light.
• EN ISO 10874 - classification by intensity of use.
• EN ISO 23996 - density determination.
• EN ISO 23997 - mass per unit area determination.
• EN ISO 24340 - thickness of layers.
• EN ISO 24341 - length, width, and straightness of sheet.
• EN ISO 24343-1 - residual indentation after static loading.
• EN ISO 24344:2012 - flexibility and deflection.
• EN ISO 24346 - overall thickness.
• EN ISO 26985 - identification of linoleum and determination of cement content and ash residue.

For optional properties, Annex A points to:

• EN 1081 - electrical resistance
• EN 1815 - static electrical propensity
• EN ISO 26987 - staining and resistance to chemicals
• EN ISO 10140-3 - laboratory measurement of impact sound insulation
• EN ISO 717-2 - rating of impact sound insulation results

What does the SIST EN 688:2026 document contain?

SIST EN 688:2026 contains two requirement tables that are central to the specification. Table 1 sets the general product requirements and the associated test methods, while Table 2 links classification to nominal overall thickness and level of use.

The document also contains a defined identification check in Clause 4, a marking clause in Clause 6, and an informative annex for optional properties. For testing and certification, the document relies on referenced measurement methods for thickness, density, mass per unit area, indentation, flexibility, light fastness, and linoleum identification.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2026
Netekstilne talne obloge - Specifikacija plutovinastih linolejev
Resilient floor coverings - Specification for corklinoleum
Elastische Bodenbeläge - Spezifikation für Korklinoleum
Revêtements de sol résilients - Spécifications pour le linoléum sur liège
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 688:2026
ICS:
79.100 Pluta in izdelki iz plute Cork and cork products
97.150 Talne obloge Floor coverings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 688
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.150 Supersedes EN 688:2011
English Version
Resilient floor coverings - Specification for corklinoleum
Revêtements de sol résilients - Spécifications pour le Elastische Bodenbeläge - Spezifikation für
linoléum sur liège Korklinoleum
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 27 April 2026.

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, 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.
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 688:2026 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
5.1 General requirements . 5
5.2 Classification requirements . 7
6 Marking . 7
Annex A (informative) Optional properties . 8
Bibliography . 9

European foreword
This document (EN 688:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 134 “Resilient, textile,
laminate and modular mechanical locked 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 2026 and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by November 2026.
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 688:2011.
— adjusted classification table and requirements;
— product with a nominal thickness of 2,5 mm (see Table 1) added;
— update of the normative references;
— requirement for thickness adjusted;
— requirement for density adjusted;
— impact sound reduction changed from requirement to optional property.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies the characteristics of corklinoleum, supplied in roll form.
To encourage the consumer to make an informed choice, this document 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. This document does not apply to such.
2 Normati
...