International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. Standards ensure desirable characteristics of products and services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability - and at an economical cost. When products do not perform well it often is because they have not met the requirements of a standard.

Members of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) have been participating in the development of ISO Standards for resilient floor covering since 2001. The purpose of these ISO resilient flooring standards is to establish standards which are accepted worldwide. There are several types of standards. The standards which ISO Technical Committee #219 (Carpet, Resilient & Laminate flooring) has been developing are primarily test method standards and product specification standards.

ISO standards provide the assurance that U.S., Canadian and Mexican resilient flooring products will be accepted worldwide if they meet the requirements in the ISO standards. Conversely specifiers in North America are assured that flooring products produced outside North America meet the same requirements as North American resilient flooring products.

Technical Committee #219, Working Group 2 (Resilient Flooring) has developed the standards shown below. Additional standards are in the process of being developed. These standards are available for purchase and can be accessed using the website link adjacent to each of the listed standards.

ISO 4918:2009 Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings -- Castor chair test

ISO 10874:2009 Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings -- Classification

ISO 23996:2007 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of density

ISO 23997:2007 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of mass per unit area

ISO 23999:2008 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of dimensional stability and curling after exposure to heat

ISO 24011:2009 Resilient floor coverings -- Specification for plain and decorative linoleum

ISO 24340:2006 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of thickness of layers

ISO 24341:2006 Resilient and textile floor coverings -- Determination of length, width and straightness of sheet

ISO 4342:2007 Resilient and textile floor-coverings -- Determination of side length, edge straightness and squareness of tiles

ISO 24343-1:2007 Resilient and laminate floor coverings -- Determination of indentation and residual indentation -- Part 1: Residual indentation heat

ISO 24344:2008 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of flexibility and deflection

ISO 24345:2006 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of peel resistance

ISO 24346:2006 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of overall thickness

ISO 26985:2008 Resilient floor coverings -- Identification of linoleum and determination of cement content and ash residue

ISO 26987:2008 Resilient floor coverings -- Determination of staining and resistance to chemicals

ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world-a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.

ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), was formed over a century ago, when a forward-thinking group of engineers and scientists got together to address frequent rail breaks in the burgeoning railroad industry. Their work led to standardization on the steel used in rail construction, ultimately improving railroad safety for the public. As the century progressed and new industrial, governmental and environmental developments created new standardization requirements, ASTM answered the call with consensus standards that have made products and services safer, better and more cost-effective. The proud tradition and forward vision that started in 1898 is still the hallmark of ASTM International.

Committee F06 on Resilient Floor Coverings
ASTM Committee F06 on Resilient Floor Coverings was formed in 1968. F06 meets twice a year, usually in May and November, with approximately 50 members attending two and one half days of technical meetings capped by a discussion on relevant topics in the Resilient Flooring industry. The Committee, with a membership of about 150, has jurisdiction of over 42 standards, published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 15.04. F06 has 6 technical subcommittees that maintain jurisdiction over these standards. Information on this subcommittee structure and F06's portfolio of approved standards and Work Items under construction are available from the Lists of Subcommittees, Standards and Work Items at the ASTM link below. The various standards are listed along with the associated cost for obtaining the documents. These standards have and continue to play a preeminent role in all aspects important to the industry of resilient floor coverings and related products, including linoleum, vinyl, vinyl composition, asphalt, rubber, cork, and the like, in which the wearing surface is non-textile.
http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F06.htm