Flooring Symbols: What They Mean and How to Use Them”

Understanding Flooring Symbols for Quality and Durability

When you're browsing through various flooring options, you'll often come across a variety of flooring symbols. These symbols can help you decipher important details about the product’s quality, durability, and suitability for your space. But what do these symbols actually mean? In this guide, we’ll explain the different flooring symbols and how they can help you choose the perfect flooring for your home or business.

Flooring Quality Symbols: What Do They Mean?

Flooring symbols are often used to indicate the recommended use of a product, whether for private or commercial spaces. Here’s what each symbol represents:

Key Flooring Symbols and Their Attributes Explained

Wear classification

Classed for Private Use:

• (21): Ideal for light use in private spaces, such as bedrooms or home offices.
• (22): Suitable for moderate and regular use in areas like living rooms or dining rooms.
• (22+): Perfect for regularly frequented areas in private spaces, such as hallways or kitchens.
• (23): Designed for heavily frequented areas, such as entrances or busy family rooms.

Classed for Commercial Use:

• (31): Suitable for light or moderate use in business or commercial spaces, such as small offices or meeting rooms.
• (32): Ideal for regularly frequented areas in commercial spaces, like retail shops or cafés.
• (33): Perfect for heavily frequented commercial areas, such as hotel lobbies or busy corridors.
• (34): Designed for extra heavily frequented areas in commercial spaces, such as airports, hospitals, or high-traffic shops.

Luxury Class:

Look for the luxury class symbol to identify high-end textile flooring products like carpets and luxury carpet tiles. The number of crowns indicates the level of luxury. The more crowns, the higher the quality and finish.

Flooring Symbols for Castor Chair Compatibility

In addition to quality, flooring symbols can also highlight important attributes and features that may be relevant to your space. Here are some of the most common symbols you may encounter:

Castor chairs:

Commercial Use: Indicates the flooring’s durability for castor chair use in business or commercial environments, where the traffic is heavier and more frequent.

Private Use: Indicates that the flooring can withstand the use of castor chairs in a home setting, such as office chairs or furniture on wheels.

Carpets have to endure a special series of tests with castor chairs. Only the most durable carpets are suitable to endure the use of castor chairs frequently. Because of the difference in demands, there is a separate pictogram for private use and commercial use.

Understanding Flooring Symbols for Stair Suitability

Carpets with this symbol are specifically tested for use on stairs. The symbol’s rating will show whether the carpet is suitable for:

• Moderate Use - IMAGE To be added
• Heavy Use - IMAGE To be added

How Flooring Symbols Indicate Underfloor Heating Compatibility

This symbol indicates that the carpet is compatible with underfloor heating systems. For optimal performance, the thermal insulation resistance should ideally be below 0.17m²KW.

Wet Room Flooring Symbols: What They Mean

Look for this symbol if you need a carpet suitable for wet rooms, such as bathrooms. These products are highly durable and resistant to moisture and thermal expansion.

Non-Slip Safety Flooring Symbols for Safe Spaces

Slips can be a serious safety concern, especially in wet areas. Flooring with the DS symbol has passed dynamic friction tests with a coefficient greater than 0.3, meaning it offers a higher level of slip resistance. Carpets that don’t meet this standard are labelled with NPD (No Performance Declared).

• European Carpet and Rug Association (ECRA) – for details on carpet standards
• The British Standards Institution – for certifications related to flooring

Antistatic Flooring Symbols: What You Need to Know

Flooring with the antistatic symbol guarantees that the carpet will not accumulate static charges, reducing the risk of shocks and ensuring comfort in your space.

The Meaning Behind Non-Fraying Edge Flooring Symbols

The scissors symbol assures that the carpet’s edges won’t fray when cut, making it ideal for projects where you might need to trim the flooring to fit specific spaces.

Colourfastness Flooring Symbols: Why They Matter

Carpets with this symbol have been tested for lightfastness according to EN ISO 105-B02 standards. The rating guarantees that the carpet will retain its colour over time, with ratings of >= 5 for standard colours and >= 4 for pastel shades.

Eco-Friendly Flooring and Certifications:

Many flooring products come with environmental certifications that indicate they meet stringent sustainability and indoor air quality standards. When looking for flooring that is eco-conscious, look for symbols such as:

• FloorScore Certification – This ensures that the flooring meets indoor air quality standards and is a safe choice for your home. Learn more about FloorScore Certification.
• LEED Certification – The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a widely recognised mark of environmentally friendly flooring. Explore LEED Certification for more information.

Choosing certified eco-friendly flooring helps you contribute to a healthier environment while ensuring you’re making an informed decision for your home.

Why Are These Symbols Important?

Understanding flooring symbols can make your buying decision easier. Whether you’re outfitting a high-traffic commercial area or simply looking for a comfortable, durable option for your home, these symbols help you find exactly what you need.

If you're still unsure which flooring best suits your needs, browse our extensive collection at BRICOFLOR. We offer a wide range of high-quality flooring options, all marked with easy-to-understand symbols that make selecting the perfect product a breeze.

Ready to transform your space with the ideal flooring? Visit BRICOFLOR today and explore our selection!