GB/T 18103-2022Engineered wood flooring (English PDF)

Foreword

This document was issued on 30 December 2022 by the State Administration for Market Regulation; Standardization Administration of the PRC and takes effect on 1 July 2023.

It is a GB/T standard: recommended rather than compulsory, but it is the text a Chinese reviewer applies when assessing a submission.

1 Scope

GB/T 18103-2022 covers engineered wood flooring, the board that carries a sawn wood face over a bonded core - how it is classified by panel material, by structure and by coating mode, and what it has to meet before it is sold: the raw materials the face and the core are made from, the appearance quality, the specifications, dimensions and permitted deviations, and the physical and chemical properties. Against each of those sits an inspection method, with separate procedures for planar flooring, for non-planar flooring and for flooring laid over underfloor heating. The inspection rules then set out the split between exit-factory and type inspection, the sampling method and determination principle, the overall determination that combines the individual results into a verdict on the lot, and the inspection report. Dimensions and physical-chemical performance are what a buyer cannot judge from a showroom sample: a board whose thickness or squareness drifts opens gaps once a whole floor is laid, and one whose bond and dimensional stability were never verified cups or delaminates when the heating comes on beneath it. Product and packaging labeling, packaging, transport and storage close the document, so that what was tested is still identifiable on the pallet. Written for flooring mills, importers, testing laboratories and the specifiers who write flooring into a contract.

This document defines the terms and definitions of engineered wood flooring, and specifies the

classification, requirements, inspection methods, inspection rules, labeling, packaging,

transportation and storage.

This document is applicable to engineered wood flooring.

2 Normative References

The contents of the following documents constitute indispensable clauses of this document

through the normative references in the text. In terms of references with a specified date, only

versions with a specified date are applicable to this document. In terms of references without a

specified date, the latest version (including all the modifications) is applicable to this document.

GB/T 2828.1-2012 Sampling Procedures for Inspection by Attributes - Part 1.Sampling

Schemes Indexed by Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL) for Lot-by-lot Inspection

GB/T 4823-2013 Defects in Sawn Timber

GB/T 15036.1-2018 Solid Wood Flooring - Part 1.Technical Requirements

GB/T 15036.2-2018 Solid Wood Flooring - Part 2.Examination Methods

GB/T 17657-2022 Test Methods of Evaluating the Properties of Wood-based Panels and

Surface Decorated Wood-based Panels

GB 18580 Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials - Limit of Formaldehyde Emission of

Wood-based Panels and Finishing Products

GB/T 28999-2012 Multilaminar Decorative Veneer

GB/T 39600 Formaldehyde Emission Grading for Wood-based Panel and Finishing Products

GB/T 41547-2022 Wood-based Flooring for Underfloor Heating

HJ 571-2010 Technical Requirement for Environmental Labeling Products - Wood Based

Panels and Finishing Products

3 Terms and Definitions

What is defined in GB/T 4823-2013, and the following terms and definitions are applicable to

this document.

3.1 engineered wood flooring

Flooring made of solid wood panels or veneers (including restructured decorative veneers) as

the panel, solid wood panels, veneers or plywood as the core layer or bottom layer, and

laminated in different combinations.

3.2 two-layer engineered wood flooring

Two-layer-structured solid wood composite flooring with solid wood panels or veneers

(including restructured decorative veneers) as the panel, and solid wood panels or veneers as

the bottom layer.

3.3 three-layer engineered wood flooring

Three-layer-structured solid wood composite flooring with solid wood panels or veneers

(including restructured decorative veneers) as the panel, and solid wood panels as the core layer

and veneers as the bottom layer.

3.4 multi-layer engineered wood flooring

Multi-layer (with more than 3 layers) structured solid wood composite flooring with solid wood

panels or veneers (including restructured decorative veneers) as the panel, and plywood as the

base material, or solid wood panels or veneers (including restructured decorative veneers) as

the panel, and solid wood panels or veneers as the core layer or bottom layer.

3.5 nonplanar engineered wood flooring

Solid wood composite flooring with uneven surfaces, such as. saw marks and drawings, etc.

3.6 classic tongue-and-groove joint engineered wood flooring

Solid wood composite flooring with right-angled tenons and grooves on the sides and ends.

4 Classification

4.1 Classification in accordance with the panel material.

4.2 Classification in accordance with the structure.

4.3 Classification in accordance with the coating mode.

4.4 Classification in accordance with the surface shape.

4.5 Classification in accordance with whether it is suitable for ground radiant heating places.

4.6 Classification in accordance with whether it is locked and spliced.

5 Requirements

5.1 Requirements for Raw Materials

5.1.1 Panel

5.1.2 Solid wood panel

5.1.2.1 The wood species for the core layer of flooring in the same batch shall be of the same

species or have similar properties.

5.1.2.2 The gap between the core-layer laths shall not be greater than 3 mm.

5.1.3 Plywood for engineered wood flooring

It shall comply with the stipulations of LY/T 1738.

5.2 Requirements for Appearance Quality

5.2.1 Appearance quality of planar engineered wood flooring

The appearance quality of planar engineered wood flooring shall comply with the stipulations

of Table 1.Specifically speaking, the front-side appearance quality of engineered wood flooring

with restructured decorative veneers as the panel shall comply with the stipulations of 5.1 in

GB/T 28999-2012.

5.2.2 Appearance quality of nonplanar engineered wood flooring

It shall comply with the relevant stipulations of LY/T 1859.

5.3 Specifications, Dimensions and Deviations

5.3.1 Specifications and dimensions

The commonly seen specifications and dimensions of engineered wood flooring are as follows.

5.3.2 Dimensional deviations of planar engineered wood flooring

They shall comply with the stipulations of Table 2.

5.3.3 Dimensional deviations of nonplanar engineered wood flooring

They shall comply with the stipulations of LY/T 1859.When the floor shape is square, the

surface-layer net length deviation and surface-layer net width deviation shall be agreed upon

by both the supply-side and the demand-side.

5.4 Physical and Chemical Properties

5.4.1 Physical and chemical properties of planar engineered wood flooring

5.4.2 Physical and chemical properties of nonplanar engineered wood flooring

5.4.2.1 The formaldehyde release and locking strength of nonplanar engineered wood flooring

shall comply with the stipulations of Table 3, and the other physical and chemical properties

shall comply with the stipulations of LY/T 1859.

5.4.2.2 For the nonplanar engineered wood flooring for underfloor heating, the locking strength

shall comply with the stipulations of Table 3, the heating performance and formaldehyde release

shall comply with the stipulations of GB/T 41547-2022, and the other physical and chemical

properties shall comply with the stipulations of LY/T 1859.

6 Inspection Methods

6.1 Inspection Method for Appearance Quality of Planar Engineered Wood

Flooring

6.1.1 Measuring tools

6.1.2 Inspection of appearance quality of planar engineered wood flooring

6.1.2.1 Adopt visual inspection and measuring tools to inspect the appearance quality of the

floor surface item by item.

6.1.2.2 When adopting visual inspection, the visual distance shall be within 700 mm ~ 1,000

mm under natural light or near natural light (for example, 40 W fluorescent lamp) with an

illumination in the range of 300 lx ~ 600 lx. The inspection personnel shall have normal vision

(or corrected to normal vision), without color blindness or color weakness.

6.1.2.3 Inspect the floor piece by piece, and in accordance with the stipulations of 5.3, determine

its grade. When there is a dispute, three people shall jointly participate in the inspection, and

the majority of the same conclusions will be the inspection result.

6.2 Inspection Methods for Specifications, Dimensions and Deviations of Planar

Engineered Wood Flooring

6.2.1 Measuring tools

6.2.1.1 Steel measuring tape, with a division value of 1.0 mm; select the measuring range in

accordance with the size of the test piece.

6.2.1.2 Steel ruler, with a division value of 0.5 mm; select the measuring range in accordance

with the size of the test piece.

6.2.1.3 Micrometer, with a division value of 0.01 mm; select the measuring range in accordance

with the size of the test piece.

6.2.1.4 Digital display vernier caliper, with a division value of0.01 mm; select the measuring

range in accordance with the size of the test piece.

6.2.1.5 Feeler gauge, with a thickness of 0.01 mm ~ 1.00 mm.

6.2.1.6 Right angle square, 200 mm  300 mm, accuracy level 1.

6.2.2 Inspection of specifications, dimensions and deviations of planar engineered wood

flooring

6.2.2.1 Inspection of surface-layer net length deviation

The length of the floor refers to the net length (l) of the floor surface, measured with a steel

measuring tape on both sides of the floor width direction and 20 mm away from the edge of the

floor, accurate to 1 mm, as shown in Figure 1.Calculate the absolute value of the difference

between the nominal length (ln) and each length measured value (lm), accurate to 1 mm.

6.2.2.4 Right angle (q) measurement

One side of the right angle square is close to the long side of the floor. Use a feeler gauge to

measure the maximum distance (qmax) between the other side of the right angle and the end of

the floor, accurate to 0.01 mm, as shown in Figure 4.

6.2.2.5 Measurement of edge straightness (s)

Along the length direction of the floor, use a steel ruler close to the two adjacent corners of the

floor, and use a feeler gauge or steel ruler to measure the maximum chord height (smax) between

the edge of the panel and the steel ruler, accurate to 0.01 mm, as shown in Figure 5.The ratio

of the maximum chord height (smax) to the measured floor length (l) is the lengthwise edge

straightness (s), accurate to 0.01 mm/m.

6.2.2.6 Measurement of warp degree (f)

6.3 Inspection Methods for Physical and Chemical Properties of Planar Engineered Wood Flooring

6.3.1 Requirements for preparation, dimensions and quantity of test pieces

6.3.1.1 The sample shall be taken from products stored for more than 24 hours after production.

6.3.1.2 Randomly select no less than 2 floorboards from the sample as specimens. The

preparation position (except for the locking strength, all are prepared from the specimens after

removing the tongue and groove), dimensions, specifications and quantity of the test piece shall

comply with the requirements of Figure 9 and Table 4.When sawing the test piece, defects shall

be avoided.

6.3.2 Determination of impregnation stripping

6.3.2.1 Principle

Determine whether the glue layer is stripped after the test piece is impregnated and dried, and

the degree of stripping.

6.3.2.2 Instruments and measuring tools

7 Inspection Rules

7.1 Classification of Inspection

7.1.1 Product inspection is divided into exit-factory inspection and type inspection.

7.1.2 The inspection items of exit-factory inspection are determined in accordance with the

product type (such as. planar engineered wood flooring, nonplanar engineered wood flooring

and engineered wood flooring for underfloor heating).

7.1.3 Type inspection includes all relevant inspection items in Chapter 5.During normal

production, type inspection shall be carried out no less than once a year. Under one of the

following circumstances, type inspection shall be carried out.

7.2 Sampling Method and Determination Principle

7.2.1 Principle of group batch

Products of the same batch, same specifications and same category are considered as one batch.

7.2.2 Sampling method and determination principle of planar engineered wood flooring

and nonplanar engineered wood flooring

7.2.2.1 Sampling method and determination principle of appearance quality

7.2.2.1.2 On a floorboard, when there are multiple defects at the same time, determine in

accordance with the defect that affects the product grade the most.

7.2.2.2 Sampling method and determination principle of specifications, dimensions and

deviations

7.2.2.3 Sampling method and determination principle of physical and chemical properties

7.2.3 Sampling method and determination principle of engineered wood flooring for

underfloor heating

In accordance with the stipulations of 7.3 in GB/T 41547-2022.

7.3 Comprehensive Determination

When the inspection results of appearance quality, specifications, dimensions, deviations,

physical and chemical properties and underfloor heating performance (if applicable) satisfy the

requirements in the standards for labeled products, the batch of products shall be determined as

qualified, otherwise, the batch of products shall be determined as disqualified.

7.4 Inspection Report

The content of the inspection report shall include.

8 Labeling, Packaging, Transportation and Storage

8.1 Product and Packaging Labeling

Before entering the warehouse, the name and address of the manufacturer, product name, the

standard being implemented, production date / batch No., trademark, specifications and model,

panel tree species (except the engineered wood flooring with parquet and restructured

decorative veneers as the panel), panel thickness, level of formaldehyde release, category and

quantity, etc. shall be marked on the appropriate parts, or packaging or label of the product. The

product barcode and QR code can be marked on the product labeling.

8.2 Packaging

When products are exiting the factory, they shall be respectively packed in accordance with the

product category, specifications and levels. The certificate of conformity, Chinese installation

and instruction manuals shall be provided. The packaging shall prevent the products from

collision, scratches and stains.

8.3 Transportation and Storage

The products shall be flat stacked in the process of transportation and storage to prevent stains,

and shall be prevented from moisture, rain or exposure to the sun.

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