BS EN 17317:2020 - Resilient, Textile, Laminate and Modular Mechanical Locked Floor Coverings

Understanding the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of Flooring Surfaces

The BS EN 17317:2020 standard is an essential document for professionals in the flooring industry, providing comprehensive guidelines on the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of various flooring surfaces. Released on March 4, 2020, this standard is a crucial tool for architects, designers, and manufacturers who aim to ensure that their flooring products meet the necessary aesthetic and functional requirements.

With a total of 12 pages, this standard offers detailed insights into the measurement and significance of LRV in flooring materials, including resilient, textile, laminate, and modular mechanical locked floor coverings. The ISBN for this standard is 978 0 539 01681 9, ensuring its authenticity and ease of reference in professional settings.

What is Light Reflectance Value (LRV)?

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a critical metric used to quantify the amount of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. It is expressed as a percentage, where 0% represents absolute black (no reflection) and 100% represents pure white (total reflection). Understanding LRV is vital for creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also energy-efficient and comfortable for occupants.

Why is LRV Important in Flooring?

LRV plays a significant role in the selection and design of flooring materials for several reasons:

• Visual Comfort: Flooring with appropriate LRV can enhance the visual comfort of a space by optimizing the distribution of natural and artificial light.
• Energy Efficiency: By selecting flooring with the right LRV, it is possible to reduce the need for artificial lighting, thereby saving energy and reducing costs.
• Safety and Accessibility: Proper LRV can improve visibility and contrast, which is crucial for the safety and accessibility of spaces, particularly for individuals with visual impairments.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The LRV of flooring materials can significantly impact the overall aesthetic of a space, influencing color perception and mood.

Key Features of BS EN 17317:2020

The BS EN 17317:2020 standard provides a structured approach to understanding and applying LRV in flooring design. Here are some of the key features of this standard:

• Comprehensive Guidelines: The standard offers detailed instructions on how to measure and interpret LRV for different types of flooring materials.
• Applicability: It covers a wide range of flooring types, including resilient, textile, laminate, and modular mechanical locked floor coverings, making it versatile for various applications.
• Industry Relevance: As a recognized standard, it ensures that flooring products meet industry benchmarks for quality and performance.
• Professional Reference: With its ISBN 978 0 539 01681 9, the standard is easily accessible for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and application of LRV in flooring.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS EN 17317:2020 standard is an invaluable resource for a wide range of professionals, including:

• Architects and Designers: To ensure that their designs meet both aesthetic and functional requirements.
• Flooring Manufacturers: To produce flooring products that comply with industry standards and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Building Contractors: To select appropriate flooring materials that contribute to the overall quality and safety of construction projects.
• Facility Managers: To maintain and upgrade flooring in existing buildings, ensuring optimal performance and compliance with safety standards.

Conclusion

The BS EN 17317:2020 standard is a vital document for anyone involved in the design, manufacture, or selection of flooring materials. By providing clear guidelines on the Light Reflectance Value of flooring surfaces, it helps professionals create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also energy-efficient and safe. Whether you are an architect, designer, manufacturer, or contractor, this standard is an essential tool for ensuring that your flooring solutions meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

BS EN 17317:2020

This standard BS EN 17317:2020 Resilient, textile, laminate and modular mechanical locked floor coverings. Light reflectance value (LRV) of a flooring surface is classified in these ICS categories:

• 97.150 Floor coverings

This document establishes a test and calculation method for resilient, textile, laminate and modular mechanical locked floor coverings.

This document is also intended to provide guidance for manufacturers, specifiers and consumers, to enable them to choose the appropriate performance of floor covering regarding the light reflectancy of the use surface.