Beacons Boss Calls For SONE Standard
By admin
Issued on behalf of Beacons Products
Having already been outspoken in his challenge of the lack of an overall official British Industry Standard – Beacons Acoustalay underlay is unrivalled in the market place in that it is fully tested to the only available standard and guaranteed for at least 10 years – company founder and managing director, Adrian Stammers, shares his views on another contentious issue that he feels is causing further confusion both within the industry itself and for consumers.
“As it stands, there is currently no one standard to which everybody needs to comply in relation to the issue of drum sound (internal room sound) and clearly there needs to be if consumers are to be able to make the most informed decision as to which product they choose to purchase,” says Stammers.
“The European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) did introduce a draft to regulate drum sound evaluation back in 2001 and set up an international work group tasked with developing an industry guideline that would standardise the test method and measuring criteria used.
“Unfortunately, version 3 of the standard that was subsequently agreed by all EPLF members was withdrawn in 2006 and members are now asked not to promote any drum test – clearly creating the much greater risk of conflicting messages appearing in brochures, catalogues, any promotional literature and, of course, on packaging itself. However, within the industry companies are quoting SONE results based on flawed information.
“I realise that the EPLF is very active in seeking an alternative but with several potential standards currently under discussion, it’s extremely difficult to achieve any kind of uniformity.
“As far as I’m aware, there are currently 3 favoured methods – including the electronic tapping machine with rubber pad (instead of steel hammer), impact hammer with hard rubber cap and real walker as per IHD 431 standard (extended to a statistical group of people instead of 1 person) – and in all honesty, I have no real bias towards any of them, as long as it leads to just one method that will be approved, implemented and promoted by EPLF. The industry is currently alluding to standards that are no longer valid and we have to introduce a more coherent approach to this issue.
“As a company, we will work with whatever standard is approved and build products to meet any requirements, but it needs to be uniform in order to create a level playing field.”
The EPLF working group continues to work towards an agreed testing method. After 4 years of low activity, CEN (European approval) will meet in May 2008 to discuss ‘Laboratory measurement of walking noise on floors’, where various options still using the standard tapping machine will be discussed.
With over 20 years’ experience in foam engineering, Beacons Products was the first company in the UK to manufacture and market foam underlays for floating laminate flooring, and its Acoustalay range is designed and manufactured to provide the ultimate in floor protection and long life.
