Wear Layer, AC Rating and Traffic Class: Specifying the Right Floor for Each Project

Three different rating systems describe how well a floor resists wear, and they are often mixed in the same quotation. The result is a specification that looks precise but cannot be compared. Here is how the systems relate and how to choose a class for the project.

SPC and LVT: wear layer in mil and mm

The wear layer is the transparent film above the decor. It is quoted in mil (thousandths of an inch) or millimetres. The conversion is simple: 1 mil equals 0.0254 mm.

Wear layer is not the same as thickness. A 6 mm board with a 0.3 mm layer will show traffic wear before a 4.5 mm board with a 0.5 mm layer.

Laminate: AC rating

Laminate uses the AC rating from EN 13329: AC3 for residential, AC4 for commercial, AC5 for heavy commercial. AC4 is the common choice for retail and office projects; AC5 appears in airports, schools and other high-traffic spaces.

Traffic class in the EU

EN 14041 and the related use classes describe where a floor can be installed: class 21–23 for residential, 31–33 for commercial, 41–43 for light industrial. A product can carry both an AC rating and a use class; they describe different tests.

Where importers over-specify

Putting a 0.7 mm wear layer into a bedroom programme raises the cost without a visible benefit. Over-specification is common when a buyer copies a tender document from a different project. Match the class to the room and the traffic.

Where importers under-specify

The opposite mistake is a 0.3 mm wear layer in a hotel corridor or a shop entrance. Traffic in those spaces is concentrated and abrasive. A small upgrade in wear layer is cheaper than a replacement claim.

Questions that resolve the choice

• What room is it, and how many people pass per day?
• Is there rolling load, grit or chemical exposure?
• Does the tender or the insurer require a specific class?
• Is the floor expected to last five years or fifteen?

When the answers are clear, the class is obvious. If you send the application and traffic level, we will confirm the wear layer and the matching product from the SPC range or the laminate range.

Documenting the specification

Write the wear layer in both units, the AC rating where relevant, and the use class. Put the approved sample reference in the purchase order. That single page prevents most later disputes.