EN 12466:1998

Overview

EN 12466:1998 (published by CEN) is a European vocabulary standard for resilient floor coverings supplied in roll or tile form. Its primary purpose is to provide standardized, multilingual definitions for terms used when describing non-textile floor coverings for domestic and commercial use. The harmonized vocabulary reduces ambiguity in technical documents, specifications and communication across manufacturers, specifiers and regulators.

Key topics

This vocabulary standard focuses on clear, agreed definitions rather than test methods or performance limits. Key elements include:

• Scope and classification of resilient floor coverings (rolls and tiles; non-textile floor coverings)
• Standardized terminology for product types and basic characteristics used in specifications and documentation
• Multilingual alignment - the document aligns terms across languages (English, French, German and Slovenian are represented in the national adoption extract)
• ICS and subject indexing - classification under ICS categories (e.g., 97.150 for non-textile floor coverings; 01.040.97 for domestic/commercial equipment vocabularies)
• Guidance for consistent use of vocabulary in procurement, technical literature and standards development

Applications

EN 12466:1998 is practical for professionals who need consistent terminology when specifying, producing, testing or regulating resilient floors:

• Manufacturers - for product descriptions, labels and technical datasheets
• Architects and specifiers - to ensure unambiguous project specifications and tender documents
• Flooring contractors and installers - to interpret product information and installation documents accurately
• Standards writers and test laboratories - to harmonize terminology used across performance standards and test reports
• Procurement and regulatory bodies - to avoid misinterpretation in contracts and compliance documentation

Using EN 12466 helps improve clarity in cross-border trade and technical communication for resilient flooring products.

Related standards

EN 12466 is a vocabulary standard and is typically used alongside other CEN standards addressing:

• product specifications and classifications for resilient floor coverings
• performance and testing methods
• installation and safety requirements

For best results, use EN 12466 to harmonize terms before applying product or test standards so that definitions are consistent across documents and stakeholders.

Keywords: EN 12466, resilient floor coverings, vocabulary, non-textile floor coverings, roll, tile, CEN standard, flooring terminology.