If you have been searching for "EN 17168," you are likely dealing with a specific type of laminate flooring or decorative wall panel. Unlike broad standards such as EN 13329 (general laminate flooring), EN 17168 addresses a niche but growing market:
"All European laminate flooring automatically meets EN 17168." Reality: Only products explicitly labeled with "EN 17168" on the packaging or technical data sheet have been tested. Many budget micro-grooved floors are sold without any standard. en 17168
| Feature | EN 13329 (Standard Laminate) | EN 17168 (Micro-Grooved Laminate) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Flat, smooth | Machined micro-grooves (<2mm deep) | | Wear test | Abrasion wheels run flat | Modified test with forced groove wear | | Stain test | Surface application | Vacuum-assisted into groove | | Light fastness | Blue Wool 5 | Blue Wool 6 (stricter) | | Edge swelling | 24h test | 48h test (grooves trap moisture) | | Typical Use Class | AC3, AC4, AC5 | Primarily AC3 and AC4 (AC5 is rare due to groove stress) | If you have been searching for "EN 17168,"