ISO 26987:2008

Overview

ISO 26987:2008 specifies a laboratory test method for assessing the reaction of resilient floor coverings to chemical substances and staining. The standard defines how to apply liquid or paste chemicals to representative specimens, how long to expose them, how to clean and inspect the surface, and how to record a standardized rating for any residual staining, discoloration, swelling or other damage.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and principle: Applies to resilient floor coverings; chemicals (liquid or paste) are placed on specimens for defined periods, removed, cleaned and evaluated under controlled lighting.
• Specimen preparation: Take representative samples from new rolls/boxes. Avoid samples treated with finishes; attach specimens to a rigid backing if solvents may cause distortion.
• Equipment and materials: Standard lab tools (pipettes, watch glass, spatulas), white cotton wipes, non‑abrasive brushes, abrasives (steel wool No. 00, scouring pads or P240 grit or finer), and manufacturer‑recommended cleaning agents.
• Application and exposure:
  • Liquids applied with pipette and covered with a watch glass to produce the defined test patch.
  • Pastes spread with a spatula to produce a test patch (thickness guidance included in the standard).
  • Main exposure period: 2 hours; evaluate within 5 minutes after removal. If effect observed, a follow‑up exposure of 30 minutes is specified.
• Cleaning and observation: Remove excess from edge to centre, clean with warm water and appropriate detergents or stain removers (Annex A lists examples). If residue persists, use abrasives or recommended cleaning agents and re‑examine.
• Lighting and viewing: Controlled illumination with correlated color temperature ~5 500–6 500 K, an illuminance of (1 500 ± 100) lx, viewed from ~800 mm at ~45° using a rotating viewing table.
• Result expression: Use the ISO index scale: 0 = not affected, 1 = slight, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe.
• Test report: Must state conformity to ISO 26987 and include full product ID, sample history, chemicals and cleaning agents used, exposure times, results, and any deviations.

Applications and users

ISO 26987 is used by:

• Flooring manufacturers for product development, quality control and claims validation.
• Independent test laboratories conducting conformity and comparative testing.
• Specifiers, architects and procurement teams evaluating material durability and maintenance requirements.
• Facility managers assessing suitability of flooring for environments exposed to chemicals (healthcare, industrial, laboratories, commercial kitchens).

Practical uses include validating cleaning regimes, comparing chemical resistance across products, supporting technical datasheets, and informing maintenance instructions.

Related standards

• EN 423 (Resilient floor coverings - Staining)
• ASTM F925 (Resistance to Chemicals of Resilient Flooring)
• JIS A 1454 (Staining Test for resilient floorcoverings)

Keywords: ISO 26987, resilient floor coverings, staining resistance, resistance to chemicals, flooring test method, laboratory testing, quality control, flooring manufacturers.