Abrasion Class (AC) Ratings for Laminate – What Are They and Their Importance

Your flooring holds out against a lot of things and conditions throughout a day – spills, drops, furniture and foot traffic that varies on daily basis. The laminate floorings that are so common and most asked for flooring type are all considered long lasting and impervious to almost all types of damages, yet there are some floorings that are crafted to be more hard-wearing and buoyant than others to meet the explicit needs of its users. The best approach to establish whether the laminate flooring you have decided for your home or business is tough enough is by taking note of its Abrasion Class (AC) rating. If you are building a new house or renovating/relaying floor in an old/existing space and thinking of getting a laminate flooring for that space, you must make yourself familiar with laminate class ratings for you to make the best choice in terms of your flooring needs and expectations.

If you have never heard or read about laminate AC ratings before, don’t fret! In this blog we will be covering everything you must know about laminate abrasion class ratings along with other important aspects like, how to select the right AC rating for your space.

What Are AC Ratings?

Abrasion class ratings or the AC ratings — is an industry evaluated and accepted system of categorizing laminate flooring by their durability. These floors are available in different styles, textures, colors and patterns, irrespective of its AC rating. As a quick alternative, they are a simple and effective way to categorize laminate flooring into multiple categories, so the users can make an intelligent investment for their place.

How Does These AC Ratings Work?

As explained by Action TESA, who specialize in all types of laminate floorings, the top layer of such floorings also known as the ‘Wear Layer’ is what is tested for the AC ratings. The Wear layer is coated with the protective layer, as the maximum wear and tear happens on this layer and this layer should be protected against moisture and stains. Unbiased and licensed third-party testers are called to perform the AC rating wear test and then depending upon the results the flooring is classified into one of the five known AC rating categories. These third-party testers make use of different methods, chemicals and techniques to intentionally damage the protective coating and finally assess the durability and resistance of the flooring. 

What Are The Various AC Ratings Classified For Laminate Flooring?

The Abrasion Class Ratings apply to both commercial and residential flooring. There are a total of five AC ratings and each of them is 60% higher than the rating before it. Let’s discuss each of them in detail:

• AC1: It is the lightest laminate flooring, which is crafted for light foot traffic and for moderate domestic use.

• AC2: It is for general domestic use where there is moderate foot traffic.

• AC3: It is considered as the most durable and loved laminate for residential use and the lightest form for the commercial use. 

• AC4: Not intended for domestic use, the suggested use is for commercial space with moderately busy areas.

• AC5: It is the type that is considered the most durable that can withstand heaviest foot traffic in the busiest commercial spaces.

How to Know Which AC Rating You Should Use For Your Space?

Two factors that play a vital role in this include: how do you use the space and the budget.

How Do You Use the Space?

Residential Spaces – AC1, AC2 and AC3 are laminate floorings for residential use. For the places like guest room, storage closet or formal dining room that are not so frequently used, we recommend you to use AC1. Similarly, use AC2 for areas like bedrooms and home office. Use AC3 in areas that are most used, like staircase, hallways, living room and kitchen.

Commercial Spaces – AC3, AC4 and AC5 are laminate flooring for commercial use. Again, you have to analyze what are the most used parts of your building. Use AC3 for areas that are less used like – hotel rooms or closets. AC4 is recommended for Sit-down office spaces, specialty stores and even small shops. Last but not the least, the most durable one, AC5 is recommended for the busiest commercial spaces like malls, sales offices, restaurants and public buildings.

Consider Your Budget

Another deciding factor is the budget, the higher the rating, higher goes the cost. But then, it is long term investment hence money should not be the deciding factor. Choose the right fit for your space and you will end up achieving the most value for your money. Never make a mistake of installing a low rating laminate for a heavy trafficked area because the cost of relaying floorings is much higher than the original cost. Similarly, never end up installing a higher rating laminate for a low trafficked area because you will unnecessarily increase the cost. Thus, you have to make a very calculative decision.

This was all about AC ratings for laminate flooring. In case you are still confused about which rating to choose for your specific space, its time you consult Action TESA.