Home / News / Interpreting the 2025 International Building Standards: Which Flooring Certifications Are Most Valued?
With the continuous development of the global construction and interior decoration industries, flooring is no longer just a decorative material; it is also a crucial component of safety, health, and sustainable development. Especially in the European, American, Middle Eastern, and Asia-Pacific markets, buyers, developers, and designers will refer to strict international standards and certification systems when selecting materials to ensure that their projects meet regulatory, customer, and environmental requirements.
As we enter 2025, trends in the international building materials market are becoming increasingly clear:
Environmental protection and low carbon emissions have become core concerns;
Indoor health standards (air quality, VOC emissions) are continuously evolving;
Safety and durability (fire resistance, anti-slip, wear resistance) certifications have become a key entry point for projects;
Comfort and user experience (acoustics, foot feel) are becoming increasingly important factors in the high-end market.
So, which flooring certifications will be most sought after in 2025?
The CE mark is a mandatory qualification for entering the EU market. It not only signifies compliance with EU regulations but also represents a commitment to safety, environmental protection, and consumer health.
Key Standard: EN 14041 (Resilient and Laminated Flooring) covers fire ratings, formaldehyde emissions, and anti-slip properties.
Applications: Suitable for a variety of materials, including SPC, LVT, and WPC.
New Trends in 2025: The EU is gradually tightening carbon emission controls, emphasizing renewable raw materials and low-energy production. In the future, green factories and carbon footprint declarations will become important extensions of CE certification.
With indoor air quality (IAQ) gaining increasing importance, FloorScore certification has become a key to market access in North America.
Coverage: SPC, LVT, carpet, wood flooring, etc.
Advantages: This indicates that the product's VOC emissions meet strict standards and can be used in spaces with extremely high air quality requirements, such as hospitals, schools, and residences.
Industry Perspective: North American designers and builders almost always use FloorScore as a criterion when bidding.
GREENGUARD certification specifically emphasizes low VOC emissions, particularly harmful substances like formaldehyde and benzene.
Regular GREENGUARD: Suitable for the home improvement market;
GREENGUARD Gold: More stringent standards, suitable for sensitive spaces such as schools, kindergartens, and healthcare facilities.
2025 Trend: As consumer demand for healthy homes continues to rise, GREENGUARD Gold is becoming a requirement for an increasing number of high-end projects.
The fire resistance of building materials is directly related to public safety and is therefore a mandatory certification in various countries.
European Standard EN 13501-1: The common rating is Bfl-s1, indicating that the flooring has excellent flame retardancy and low smoke emission properties.
US ASTM E648 (NFPA 253): Widely used in public spaces such as shopping malls, airports, and office buildings.
Industry Perspective: In the European and American markets, flooring without fireproof certification is virtually impossible to enter large-scale construction projects.
Slip resistance is a core indicator for evaluating the safety of flooring in high-traffic and slippery environments.
DIN 51130 (Europe): R9-R13 grades are used, with R13 representing the highest slip resistance.
ANSI A326.3 (US): This test evaluates the dynamic coefficient of friction of flooring through a wet friction test.
Applications:Kitchens, hotel lobbies, pool areas, hospital corridors, etc.
Trend Observation: With the advent of an aging society, the demand for anti-slip flooring is rapidly increasing.
Green building certification systems are leading the future direction of the building materials market.
LEED (US): Explicitly requires low VOCs, the use of recycled materials, and energy management.
BREEAM (UK): Emphasizes the overall environmental performance of buildings.
Ecolabel (EU): Focuses on the entire product lifecycle, from production to recycling.
Trend Outlook: With the expansion of ESG investment concepts, green certification is becoming a competitive advantage for companies in winning international clients.
US CARB Phase II & TSCA Title VI: Strictly limit the formaldehyde emissions of laminate flooring.
European EN 717-1: E1 and E0 grades are widely used and serve as the basic threshold.
Industry Advantage: As a formaldehyde-free product, SPC flooring has a natural competitive advantage in this certification.
As people's expectations for a better living experience increase, the sound insulation and acoustic performance of flooring are gaining increasing attention.
ISO 717-2: Assessing impact sound insulation performance.
ASTM E492: Tests the acoustic performance of floor slabs in flooring systems.
Application Trend: High-end apartment, office, and hotel projects are increasingly including "acoustic performance" in their bidding requirements.
In interviews, several industry experts stated:
"Over the next five years, environmental, health, and safety certifications will dominate the global flooring market. Flooring with FloorScore, GREENGUARD Gold, and Bfl-s1 fire ratings will be more competitive in the international market."
In addition, as carbon neutrality progresses, Carbon Footprint Statements (CFPs) and recycled material percentage certifications may also become new standard priorities.
Overall, the following certifications will be key areas of focus for global buyers and architects in 2025:
Safety: Fire resistance, anti-slip (EN 13501, ASTM, DIN, ANSI)
Environmental: FloorScore, GREENGUARD Gold, LEED, Ecolabel
Health: VOC & formaldehyde emission standards (CARB, E1/E0)
Comfort: Acoustic insulation (ISO, ASTM)
Trioflor consistently adheres to high standards in product development and production. Our SPC, LVT, and wallboard products have all passed major international certification systems, ensuring we provide customers with safe, environmentally friendly, and sustainable flooring solutions.
Amidst the accelerating greening and standardization of the global construction industry, certification is more than just a badge of entry; it also reflects brand credibility and market competitiveness. When entering the international market, companies should prioritize environmental protection, air quality, fire resistance, and anti-slip certifications, as they will be key to winning customer trust and securing orders.
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