EN 16094 

mARTINDALE MICRO-SCRATCH TESTING 

lAMINATE FLOOR COVERINGS

Procedure A

Before testing, all specimens are wiped down with a cotton cloth. Using a gloss meter with a geometry of 60°, four measurements are taken per specimen. The specimens are then placed on the Martindale machine testing plates and secured. Next, a "very fine" scrub material and 612g (6N) weight are loaded onto the guide plates. A cycle of 80 rubs is selected and the test is conducted. After testing, each specimen is wiped down with a cotton cloth and gloss measurements are taken again at the same initial locations. The change in gloss is calculated and the specimen is given a class rating between MSR-A1 (≤10% gloss change) to MSR-A5 (>70% gloss change).  The ratings for all three specimens are then averaged and rounded up to the next classification rating.

Procedure B

Before testing, all specimens are wiped down with a cotton cloth. Specimens are then secured to the Martindale machine testing plates. The "medium fine" scrub material and 413g (4N) weight are loaded onto the guide plates, a cycle of 160 rubs is selected, and the test is conducted. After testing, each specimen is wiped down with a cotton cloth and conditioned for at least 24 hours at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5) %RH.  Specimens are then visual inspected and given an overall class rating based on visual inspection under a light source providing a 6500K color temperature and 1200 lx illumination. Class ratings are based on sample scratch diagrams provided in the standard, and range from MSR-B1 (no visible scratches) to MSR-B5 (great many scratches).  The ratings for all three specimens are then averaged and rounded up to the next classification rating.