When the laminate was first produced, it was divided into 6 strength classes (21; 22; 23; 31; 32; 33) and 6 abrasion classes (AC1; AC2; AC3; AC4; AC5; AC6):
Laminate classes 21, 22 and 23 are intended for home use, 31, 32 and 33 - for cafes, restaurants, hotels and other catering establishments. However, after a while, since there is no significant difference between the cost of the laminate of these two categories, they began to sell the laminate used for public catering for the home. Thus, the customer received a more durable and reliable product. Such words as “this is 31st class, this is 32nd”, “it is more durable” and “it is water resistant”, which you often hear on the market, are all lies. Of course, 31st class is better than 32nd, but when buying for a home, this is not so important. Laminate abrasion is defined as AC3, AC4 and AC5. You can see this in the video:
When purchasing a Class 31 AC3 laminate, keep in mind that you are getting a minimum 10-year warranty. Don't worry about this when choosing your laminate flooring. Also, sometimes when you buy laminate flooring, you see the expression "waterproof laminate". This is completely incorrect information. No laminate is waterproof. But there is a slight difference. For example, a laminate without various resins in the locking system absorbs water faster. This does not mean that the laminate with resin in the locking system is a highly waterproof laminate. It's just that in terms of time, laminate with resin in the locking system will absorb water later. One of the main problems is the penetration of water under the laminate. In this case, no amount of resin will help you. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to apply a lot of silicone to the edges of the skirting boards.