There is a lot to consider when first placing an order to a new supplier. You’re not sure if the quality is the same as the supplier promised. Actually, it’s quite easy to verify the quality of SPC flooring.
Generally speaking, we can divide the inspection into three parts, appearance, dimensional stability, and physical properties.
Before the inspection, according to our regular service standards, we will pick out three cartons randomly from each pallet(e.g 60 cartons for 20 pallets).
Appearance & Dimensional Inspection
Cartons & Pallets
We will check if the printing of the carton is consistent with the design submitted by the customer, and whether the cartons and pallets are damaged after packaging.
Also, we will check if the label is printed correctly, and if there is a barcode, we will scan it for verification.
Planks Inspection
Firstly, after unpacking, we will assemble the whole carton of flooring. This step is aimed to confirm if the surface of the SPC flooring has dust and defects. Then stand at a distance of about 2 meters from the floor to see whether the surface gloss of the floor is uniform or not.
Secondly, we’ll use tools to check the gap the installation as well as the height difference.
After this step, we will remove the SPC flooring to check the length, width, thickness, and squareness. Especially for the thickness of the plank, in order to ensure the accuracy of the value, and to avoid the problem of height difference after installation, we will test 6 points for each piece of plank(totally 20 pcs, 120 points), so as to get a relatively accurate data.
The last step is to carry out the stain resistance inspection of the planks. We will use a marker to write on the surface of the floor, and after 2 hours, wipe with alcohol to judge the result.
Summary Of Appearance & Dimensional Inspection
Regarding the above-mentioned testing items, we will strictly follow international standards to conduct tests to ensure that each batch of SPC flooring we send to our customers is free of quality problems, and the testing standards are listed below.
| Test Item | Test Standard |
| Pollution Resistant | No contamination is allowed |
| Gap After Installation | ≤0.25mm |
| Height Difference By Assembly | ≤0.25mm |
Physical Properties Inspection
The further inspection of physical properties, we need to use the experimental instruments from the laboratory. All the processes are implemented by professional technicians.
Lock Strength Inspection
The locking system for both the short and long side need to be inspected by Tensile Testing Machine. We take one piece plank, cut it into 4 parts as samples, joint short-side clicks together, long-side clicks do also same. Then put the samples on the machine, we don’t turn off the machine until the clicks broke. We will get the maximum tensile strength data. The locking strength quality affects the cost of installation and daily use.
Peel Resistance Strength Inspection
In order to know whether the color film sticks with the rigid core firmly or not, we need to test the strength can peel the film from the rigid core. We will test both horizontal and vertical sides. This process uses the same tensile machine as the locking system. Why we do this, due to the residential and commercial use, at the joints of flooring and wall, if the peel resistance too small, the film layer will separate from the core after daily walking.
Abrasion Test
Generally speaking, the abrasion resistance level decides the lifetime of the flooring mainly. We cut a small and square plank and get its weight, put it on the rub tester, the machine will grind the surface of the flooring in circles. We will record how many rounds till the surface was broken. Then get its weight again to calculate every 1000 circles loss how many weight.
Dimension Stability To Heat Inspection
Most countries in summer will be in high temperature, so it is necessary to test the stability under extreme environments for commercial and residential usage. We cut a sample piece from one box, put it into the constant temperature and humidity testing machine, increase the temperature to 80℃ and keep it for 6 hours. After finishing testing, we take out the sample to measure how much the long side and short side expanded. If both sides less than 0.25%, which means this batch of SPC flooring is qualified.
Curling After Expose To Heat Test
Same as the dimension stability, the curling situation will affect the appearance and step feeling directly. We still cut a sample piece from one box, put it into the constant temperature and humidity testing machine, increase the temperature to 80℃ and keep it for 6 hours. Then measure how high the flooring will be curled compared with the original plank.
Summary Of Physical Properties Inspection
Regarding the above-mentioned testing items, we will strictly follow international standards to conduct tests to ensure that each batch of SPC flooring we send to our customers is free of quality problems, and the testing standards are listed below.
| Test Item | Test Standard |
| Lock Strength | Long Side ≥ 1.50N/mm, Short Side ≥1.50N/mm |
| Peel Resistance Strength | Length ≥ 1.25N/mm, Width ≥1.25N/mm |
| Abrasion Test | Weight loss ≤ 0.04g/1000R |
| Dimension Stability To Heat | Long Side ≤0.25%, Short Side ≤0.25% |
| Curling After Expose To Heat | ≤2.0mm |