EN 14041: RESILIENT, TEXTILE AND LAMINATE FLOOR COVERING

                     - ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS

To guarantee the free trade of construction products, the European Commission has issued the “Construction products Regulation” (305/2011/EEC) on March 9th, 2011.

Materials produced for incorporation in a permanent manner in construction works, including both buildings and civil engineering works, must comply with the fundamental regulations during an economically relevant lifetime, provided regular maintenance is carried out.

These FUNDAMENTAL REGULATIONS include:

-mechanical strength and stability˜˜
-fire safety˜˜
-hygiene, health and environment˜˜
-safety of use˜˜
-sound nuisance˜˜
-energy savings and heat retention

The Regulation only indicates the essential requirements. How these essential requirements have to be met is left to experts who translate them into specific parameters such as – in the case of fire safety -ignitability, flame propagation, smoke propagation. These parameters will then have to be measured, implying both test methods and classifications. A material complying with the mandatory classifications will thus automatically comply with the essential requirements of the Regulation.
The European standardisation committee CEN/TC134 has developed the harmonised standard EN14041 for carpets, laminate and resilient floor coverings such as vinyl, rubber and linoleum. The EN14041 was published in August 2004, harmonised by publication by the EU on June 8th 2005.

CE marking on floor coverings according to the new regulation is mandatory since July 1st, 2013. Because rugs, runners, etc. are not considered as building materials, CE marking does not apply to them.
The HARMONISED STANDARD describes:

-SLIP RESISTANCE* according to EN 13893, class DS (friction coeff. ≥ 0.30) or NPD (No Performance Determined), carpet is to be classified as DS without testing˜˜
-REACTION TO FIRE* according to EN 13501-1, classes Afl-Ffl˜˜
-CONTENT OF PENTACHLOROPHENOL* (PCP) according EN 12673 (product may not contain PCP)˜˜
-FORMALDEHYDE EMISSION* according to EN 717-2, class E1 of E2˜˜
-WATER-TIGHTNESS according EN 13553: not applicable to textile floor coverings˜˜
-ELECTRICAL BEHAVIOUR according to EN 1815: antistatic floor coverings (≤ 2 kV)˜˜
-THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY according to ISO 8302 (≤ 0,17 m2.K/W)˜˜
-ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE according to ISO 10965: static dissipative floor coverings (vertical resistance ≤ 109 Ohm)˜˜
-ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE according to ISO 10965: conductive floor coverings (vertical resistance ≤ 106 Ohm)
*essential requirements
The three competent European federations (ECRA = European Carpet and Rug Association: ERFMI =European Resilient Flooring Manufactures Institute and EPLF = European Producers of Laminate Flooring) have arrived at the following agreements:

-the CE mark has to be affixed upon the packaging and not on the individual product˜˜
-pictograms will only be used in Declaration of Performance (DoP) document under topic 8

The conformity of a floor covering with the requirements of EN 14041 must be attested in part by the producer himself, but for certain characteristics, the producer will have to apply to a NOTIFIED TESTING LABORATORY or to a NOTIFIED PRODUCT CERTIFICATION BODY.

The conformity of products shall be analysed and controlled according to different systems. The systems may vary according to the complexity of the regulations and tests necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the product with the manufacturer’s claims.

ATTESTATION LEVEL OF CONFORMITY TYPE SYSTEM  1

This system is mandatory for fire classes Bfl and Cfl for those products that have obtained these fire classes by adding fire retardant additives during the production process.
Tasks under the responsibility of the MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR :

-maintain factory production control (FPC)
˜˜-draw up declaration of performance (DoP)
˜˜-submit an application for initial type testing to a notified test lab of all essential requirements:

•reaction to fire
•slip resistance (if relevant)
•formaldehyde emission (if relevant)
•content of pentachlorophenol (if relevant)

˜˜-submit an application for initial control of the factory and factory production control (FPC) by a notified product certification body
˜˜-affix CE-marking upon packaging and on commercial documentation

ON PACKAGING AND COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTATIONCE MARKING OF CONFORMITY TYPE SYSTEM  1

EN14041
0493-CPR-XXXX (number of declaration of performance)
Textile, resilient or laminate floorcovering
Name and address of the manufacturer/distributor or identifying mark if not mentioned elsewhere on the packaging
Tasks under the responsibility of the NOTIFIED TESTING LABORATORY and NOTIFIED PRODUCT CERTIFICATION BODY˜˜
sampling and initial type testing˜˜
initial inspection of factory and factory production control (FPC)˜˜
draw up number certificate of conformity˜˜
continuous surveillance and approval of FPC

This system is mandatory for all fire classes Bfl and Cfl for those products that have obtained these fire classes without adding fire retardant additives during the production process, as well as for fire classes Dfl and Efl (except for products Classified Without Further Testing (CWFT)) .ATTESTATION LEVEL OF CONFORMITY TYPE SYSTEM  3

-Tasks under the responsibility of the MANUFACTURER :˜˜
-maintain factory production control (FPC)˜˜
-draw up declaration of performance (DoP)˜˜
-submit an application for initial type testing to a notified test lab of all essential requirements :

• reaction to fire
•slip resistance (if relevant)
•formaldehyde emission (if relevant)
•content of pentachlorophenol (if relevant)

˜˜-affix CE-marking upon packaging and on commercial documentation

 CE MARKING OF CONFORMITY TYPE SYSTEM  3

ON PACKAGING AND COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTATION

EN14041
DoP-CPR-XXXX (number of declaration of performance)
Textile, resilient or laminate floorcovering
Name and address of the manufacturer/distributor or identifying mark if not mentioned elsewhere on the packaging
Tasks under the responsibility of the NOTIFIED TESTING LABORATORIES
˜˜initial type testing

인증평가 절차 -Floor Score – Certification

1. Apply for Certification(인증 신청)

소정의 양식에 따라 인증신청을 합니다. 인증신청 내용에 따라 관련된 비용을 산출하고 이에 근거하여 견적을 제시합니다.

2. Data Collection(기초자료 수집)

인증 코디네이터는 인증기관에 제출될 다음에 관련된  기초자료를  통보합니다.

- product data
- corporate documentation
- manufacturing process
- product formulation
- testing  etc.

인증기관은 제출된 기초자료를 평가하여 인증평가의 준비상태를 확인합니다. 필요에 따라 보완을 요청할 수 있습니다.

제출된 기초자료에 근거하여 관련 제품에 전문적 지식을 보유한 현장평가 Auditor를 선정하고 Auditor는 평가 현장의 위치, 평가 대상제품 및 가용한 평가 일자를 확인하여 인증평가 계획서를 인증신청회사에 통보합니다.

3. On-site Audit(현장평가)

선정된 Auditor는 제출된 기초자료와 평가현장의 사실적 현상에 기초하여 평가를 수행합니다. 평가는 일반적으로 인증 신청회사의 기술진을 상대로 수행되며  모든 운영 및 제품이 필수적 요건에  충족됨을 증명하기 위한 추가적 정보를 확인합니다. 이 단계에서 명확한 의사소통을 위한  통역이 수반될 수 도 있습니다.

4. Draft Assessment Report(평가보고서 초안)

현장평가 Auditor는 평가의 세부부적합 사항을 포함하는 평가보고서 초안을 작성합니다. 평가보고서 초안에는 국한되지않으나 다음사항을 포함합니다.

- data analysis
- non-conformities
- opportunities for improvement
- Others

5. Internal peer review(내부 심의평가)

자격을 갖춘 인증기관의 심의평가요원은 현장평가 Auditor가 작성, 제출한 보고서를 검토하고 필요한 경우, 수정, 보완, 정정한 후 인증신청회사에 발송합니다.

6. Corrective Actions(시정조치)

인증신청 회사는 평가보고서에서 지적된 시정요구사항에 대해 적절한 조치를 수행하고 그 결과를 인증기관에 제출합니다.

7. Certification Decision(인증결정)

인증기관은 최종기술 검토를 통해 인증신청회사에 대한 인증여부를 결정합니다.  인증기관은 인증의 결정에 따라 인증서와 최종 보고서를 인증신청회사에 발송합니다. 인증된 제품은 인증기관의 Database에 등록되어 집니다.

8.  Certification Maintenance and Renewal(인증유지와 갱신)

인증취득후 표준에 따라 주기적  인증서의 유지와 지속적 개선을 위한 사후관리 평가가 수행됩니다.

* 현장평가는 ISO/IEC 17021에 따른 기존의 ISO 9000 등 품질경영 시스템 , ISO 14000 환경경영 시스템의 현장평가제도와 동일합니다. 보통 인증여부는 제품이 해당규격에 적합한지 여부에 따라 결정됩니다. 따라서 사전에 지정된 시험소를 통해 제품에 대한 규격 시험을 수행하고 이 시험 결과를 현장평가 Auditor에게 제시하는 것이 필수적입니다.

1. Floor Socre 인증대상 제품

참조 : http://www.scsglobalservices.com/

단단한 표면 바닥재 및 바닥 접착제류

(Hard surface flooring materials and flooring adhesives) :

1. 비닐 시트  바닥재
Vinyl Sheet Flooring

2. 비닐 타일 (VCT)
Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)

3. 비닐 타일 (SVT) 및 럭셔리 비닐 타일 (LVT)
Solid Vinyl Tile (SVT) and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

4. 리놀륨
Linoleum

5. 고무 바닥재
Rubber Flooring

6. 코르크 바닥재
Cork Flooring

7. 나무, 엔지니어링 및 대나무 마루
Hardwood, Engineered and Bamboo Flooring

8. 박층으로 이루어지는 마루
Laminate Flooring

9. 폴리머 바닥재
Polymeric Flooring

10. 벽베이스 및 관련 제품
Wall base and related products

11. 바닥 접착제
Flooring Adhesives

2. 품질 관리 계획(운영매뉴얼)

Floor Score 인증 제조 업체는 공급 체인 관리에 대한 엄격한 요구 사항을 포함하는 문서화된 품질 관리 계획에 따라 운영하여야 합니다. 이는  ISO 9000 품질경영시스템 절차와 유사합니다.    -[Floor Score 인증 평가 절차 참조(http://anycerti.com/?p=2812)]

3. 제품의 규격충족 시험 

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)[환경적 건강위해평가의 켈리포니아사무국]에 의해 수립된 Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs);[만성노출관련수준]의 함량을 포함하는 CA Section 01350 Specification과 US EPA에의해 개발된 절차에 따라 시험하여 이 기준에 대한 절반(1/2)의 허용농도 한계를 초과하지 않아야 합니다.

* CA Section 01350 Download  [cdph-standardmethod_v1_1_2010 new1110]

* Air Toxicology and Epidemiology

- 세부 항목 [http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/allrels.html]

*) 참조 :  http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/allrels.html. 최대 허용치는 US EPA에서 선정한 CREL의 1/2 값임.

**) Formaldehyde 는  CREL of 9 μg/m³ ( 2008년 12월); 참조 값.  Standard Method at 16.5 μg/m³ 2011년 12월  31일 이전,  9 μg/m³ ( 2012년 1월 1일 부터).  Section 4.3.2.참조

EN 10204 Metallic Products-Type of inspection documents

이 표준은 금속품에 대한 검사문서를 분류한 규격입니다.

Sports Surfaces Specification

-       Indoor surfaces for multi-sports use

-       체육관 바닥재 규격관련 규격

Safety in use

Sport surfaces undergo a complex reaction when subjected to loading. The desired components of the interaction are deformation under load, the ability to absorb impact, and the energy restitution of the impact, i.e. the amount of energy returned to sports person from the surface on which he/she is performing.

The ability of surface to absorb an impact is an important safety feature of sports surface, Values specified are, therefore, inevitably a compromise between these fundamental characteristics, sports surfaces react differently under different temperatures and strain rates: they become harder at low temperatures and softer at high temperatures.

An important requirement for safety and sports performance is for there to be sufficient grip between the footwear of athlete and the sports surface. Insufficient grip can result in the athlete slipping on the surface: to much grip can place un acceptable stress on joints and muscle ligaments.

1. Friction
2. Shock Absorption
3. Vertical deformation
4. Etc.

Technical requirements

1. Vertical ball behavior
2. Resistance to rolling load
3. Resistance to wear
4. Reaction to fire
5. Formaldehyde emission
6. Content of pentachlorophenol (PCP)
7. Specular reflectance
8. Resistance to indentation
9. Resistance to impact
10. Degree of evenness
11. Ect.