ISO 24339:2006

Overview

ISO 24339:2006 specifies a laboratory procedure to determine the dimensional stability of laminate and textile floor coverings after exposure to controlled humid and dry climate conditions. The standard reproduces realistic in‑situ conditions by installing a test floor (approx. 1 900 mm × 2 900 mm) on a rigid subfloor in a climate chamber and cycling through a conditioning period and defined humid and dry atmospheres. Measured results document how coverings behave (expand/contract) and, for laminated products, how joints and flatness are affected.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test atmospheres and timing
  • Conditioning: (23 ± 2) °C, (50 ± 5) % RH for 7 days.
  • Humid cycle: (23 ± 2) °C, (85 ± 5) % RH for 4 weeks.
  • Dry cycle: (23 ± 2) °C, (30 ± 5) % RH for 4 weeks.
• Test specimen and installation
  • Test area: ~1 900 mm × 2 900 mm installed per manufacturer instructions.
  • Subfloor: approx. 3 m × 2 m, rigid and flat (tolerances given in the standard).
  • No pre‑conditioning before installation; factory underlay remains in place when applicable.
• Measurements (initial after conditioning, then weekly)
  • Dimensional variations along length (∆l) and across width (∆w) measured at defined points.
  • For laminate only: width flatness, openings between elements (long and short sides), height difference between elements, and overall flatness.
• Apparatus and accuracy
  • Climate chamber, subfloor, thickness gauges (0.05 mm interval), dial gauge (±0.01 mm), calliper gauge (±0.01 mm), flexible/rigid rulers, and an optional measurement bridge.
• Reporting and calculation
  • Percent dimensional changes are calculated relative to the conditioning state and expressed to 0.01 %.
  • Recommended recording templates and measurement point schemes are provided.

Practical applications

• Quality control and product development for laminate and textile floor coverings to assess dimensional stability under realistic humidity swings.
• Independent testing laboratories validating manufacturer claims or supporting compliance with technical specifications.
• Specification writing and procurement: use test data from ISO 24339 to set acceptance criteria for installations in environments with variable humidity.
• For installers and building professionals to understand likely in-service behaviour and to plan tolerances, expansion joints, and installation direction.

Who should use this standard

• Flooring manufacturers (R&D and QC)
• Independent testing labs and certification bodies
• Specifiers, architects, and procurement teams
• Floor covering installers and quality inspectors

Related standards

ISO 24339 was prepared by ISO/TC 219 (Floor coverings). Users will often apply ISO 24339 together with manufacturer installation guidelines and other performance standards for flooring (e.g., standards covering wear, slip resistance and fire performance) when specifying complete flooring systems.

Keywords: ISO 24339:2006, laminate floor coverings, textile floor coverings, dimensional variations, humidity testing, climate chamber, flatness, joint openings, measurement bridge, conditioning atmosphere.