unbacked flexible PVC flooring
1986 الطبعة

The standard requires the average thickness to deviate no more than ±0.13 mm from the specified value, with a maximum variation of 0.20 mm between any two measurements. Sheet and roll widths must be at least the specified dimension and may exceed it by up to 6 mm. Tile sizes should not vary beyond 0.13% or ±0.4 mm, whichever is smaller. Squareness for tiles is measured by a maximum gap of 0.15 mm between tile edges and testing jig arms, and dimensional stability limits linear changes to 0.4% for sheets and 0.25% for tiles, with no curling allowed. These strict controls ensure dimensional accuracy and stability in flexible PVC flooring.

Flexibility is evaluated using the mandrel bending test, where a specimen is bent 180 degrees around a mandrel within approximately three seconds with the surface facing outward. The sample is then inspected under 4x magnification for any cracking, breaks, or surface failure. Additionally, the flooring must not exhibit plasticizer exudation or visible changes after heat ageing. The elastic properties must meet a minimum tensile strength multiplied by elongation value of 2 MJ/m², ensuring the flooring maintains ductility and durability under service conditions.

Compliant flexible PVC flooring must demonstrate a ply adhesion strength of at least 1.05 kN/m, maintain dimensional changes due to moisture at or below 0.4% for sheets and 0.25% for tiles, and show no plasticizer exudation or surface cracking after heat ageing and mandrel testing. The elastic product, defined as tensile strength times elongation, must average 2 MJ/m² or more. Curling in tiles must not exceed 0.75 mm, and residual indentation is limited to 0.10 mm. The material must also resist cracking upon bending and withstand exposure to various substances without significant color change or damage.

Quality control involves random sampling of lots according to size, with initial sample sizes specified in the standard’s tables. The first sample is tested, and if defective units are fewer than or equal to the acceptance number, the lot is accepted. If defects exceed the rejection number, the lot is rejected. When defects fall between these thresholds, a second sample is drawn and tested; combined results then determine acceptance or rejection. Acceptance tests primarily include verifying dimensional accuracy, squareness, and dimensional stability, ensuring statistically sound quality evaluation.

The standard mandates that after heat ageing, there must be no visible plasticizer exudation or appearance changes. The mandrel bending test post-ageing must show no surface cracks. Chemical resistance is evaluated by immersing samples in specified substances; the maximum allowable scratch width is 2.0 mm, and no significant color alteration is permitted. The PVC compound formulation must include appropriate plasticizers and stabilizers to maintain these properties, ensuring the flooring withstands heat and chemical stresses encountered during use.