ANSI Approves NALFA Standard Update
New Levels of Performance Criteria Raise the Bar for Laminate Industry
The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) recently
announced that its newly revised and upgraded LF-01-2003 standard for
laminate flooring has been approved by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI). This standard takes effect immediately and adds two
levels of performance criteria for an expanding array of "light
commercial" and "commercial" laminate flooring products.
NALFA's original standard (LF-01-2001), which outlined the performance
criteria for laminate flooring products, was certified and published
through ANSI in 2001. However, as the laminate industry expanded and
evolved over the past two years, NALFA realized the need to create a
more stringent and broader standard that would apply to the increasingly
sophisticated laminate flooring products being introduced to the
marketplace.
"Representing nearly 80 percent of North American laminate flooring
manufacturers and importers, NALFA's mission is to encourage the
establishment and maintenance of high standards in our industry and to
recognize those that meet these standards," said Bill Dearing, president
of NALFA. "Witnessing the increasing versatility and the upgraded
performance of laminate flooring products today, especially in the
commercial arena, we have developed requirements that reflect the high
quality of these achievements and that protect users against
inappropriate products."
The NALFA Technical Committee, working closely with trade organizations,
consumers and manufacturers, diligently revised and upgraded the current
standard to create a three-tiered system of performance criteria. The
requirements outlined in the original NALFA standard now will apply only
to laminate product used in a "residential" setting, which is the most
basic of the three tiers.
New performance requirements have been written to evaluate laminates in
the "light commercial" and "commercial" tiers. These standards are
specifically designed to compensate for the higher wear levels that
exist in commercial applications. Increased performance minimums have
been established for static load, thickness/swell, ball impact, small
ball impact and wear resistance.
The new NALFA/ANSI standard also has been developed to harmonize with
the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) requirements,
which represent European products. Additionally, test methods have been
incorporated into the new specification. This self-standing document
provides performance criteria and test methods within the same document.
Additional documents are no longer required in order to complete
testing.
For a product to become NALFA-certified, a company must have a sample
tested according to the established protocol. The manufacturer simply
submits samples to a NALFA-approved testing facility, where procedures
are strictly specified so that all approved laboratories can conduct the
tests consistently. Approved labs are listed on the NALFA Web site.
Inspectors test for resistance to such factors as impact, light, stains,
radiant heat, static loads and general wear. Product that meets the
NALFA/ANSI standard is awarded the prestigious NALFA seal of
certification.
The NALFA seal assures a wide range of customers - from retailers,
architects and builders to end users - that certified products have
passed stringent tests and will provide high-grade performance. The seal
has been designed for marketing use on product packaging, collateral
materials and store signage.
Copies of the updated NALFA standard will be available to download at
www.nalfa.com in time for SURFACES 2004, which begins on January 28.
A printed version of the NALFA standard also may be requested by calling
202-785-9500.
Washington, DC, 1/5/03
For further information, please contact:
Barbara Buenger, L.C. Williams & Associates - 312-565-3900
