En 17168 〈Web〉

Published by CEN (European Committee for Standardization), this standard was officially adopted to fill a gap in the flooring industry. Traditional laminate standards assume a relatively flat, smooth surface. However, modern manufacturing techniques have introduced micro-grooves—tiny, machined channels (typically less than 1mm deep) that run along the edges or across the board surface to mimic the authentic look of hand-scraped wood or textured stone.

This article provides a comprehensive deep dive into EN 17168, including its scope, test methods, key requirements, and why it matters for your next project. EN 17168 is a European standard titled: "Laminate floor coverings — Laminate floor coverings with a micro-grooved surface — Specification, requirements and test methods." en 17168

| Feature | EN 13329 (Standard Laminate) | EN 17168 (Micro-Grooved Laminate) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Flat, smooth | Machined micro-grooves (<2mm deep) | | Wear test | Abrasion wheels run flat | Modified test with forced groove wear | | Stain test | Surface application | Vacuum-assisted into groove | | Light fastness | Blue Wool 5 | Blue Wool 6 (stricter) | | Edge swelling | 24h test | 48h test (grooves trap moisture) | | Typical Use Class | AC3, AC4, AC5 | Primarily AC3 and AC4 (AC5 is rare due to groove stress) | This article provides a comprehensive deep dive into