Rigid Core flooring is an innovative hybrid product that combines some of the best features from multiple flooring categories. There are varieties of Rigid Core solutions ideal for spaces ranging from classrooms and cafeterias to apartment buildings and small businesses.
Like luxury vinyl, Rigid Core is a layered product. Its construction consists of four layers: a wear layer, image layer, resilient polymeric core, and attached underlayment. The main difference is its solid polymer core, which is sturdy and rigid, unlike vinyl planks that are more flexible.
To encourage standards for this rapidly growing category, ASTM International developed Standard F3261 that sets minimum criteria for both commercial and residential applications. It standardizes areas like product material and performance requirements with the goal of providing buyers and consumers with confidence in the product category.
The unique construction of Rigid Core flooring can really benefit commercial projects — for spaces where time is money, and durability matters. Here are three reasons why Rigid Core flooring could be the right product for your project.
Rigid Core Essentials helps prevent airborne sound (e.g. voice, music) as well as impact noise (e.g. footfall, rolling cart) from being transmitted between building floors. With a Delta IIC of 25, Rigid Core Essentials can block almost as much sound as a 6” slab of concrete. For this reason, Rigid Core Essentials can improve sound blocking in spaces where noise transmission reduction is critical — like Multi-Family spaces, and hotels. When tested on a 6” slab of concrete, Rigid Core Essentials has an IIC rating of 55, which exceeds building code requirements. Because the Rigid Core structure includes an attached underlayment, there’s no need for an additional underlayment to meet building codes.