Micro-grooves cannot compromise the locking system. The standard requires that the presence of grooves does not alter the width or length tolerance beyond ±0.5 mm for planks. Groove depth must be consistent across a production batch (±0.1 mm).
Without specific details on EN 17168, let's consider what kind of content or areas such standards might cover:
When buying "hand-scraped look" laminate, ask the seller: "Does this meet EN 17168?" If they show only a generic EN 13329 certificate, the grooves will likely wear down or discolor within 2-3 years.
The micro-groove edge exposes the raw decorative layer at an angle. Under UV light, this edge can fade faster than the flat surface. EN 17168 requires Blue Wool Scale ≥ 6 (very good lightfastness) for the groove edge, which is one step higher than EN 13329's requirement of ≥ 5. en 17168
Every 12 meters (or less), there must be a break-out panel or swing gate that:
Myth 1: "EN 17168 is just a minor update to EN 13329." Reality: No. It is a separate standard. A product cannot claim both unless tested for both (rarely happens).
Myth 2: "All European laminate flooring automatically meets EN 17168." Reality: Only products explicitly labeled with "EN 17168" on the packaging or technical data sheet have been tested. Many budget micro-grooved floors are sold without any standard. Micro-grooves cannot compromise the locking system
Myth 3: "A micro-groove is the same as a bevel." Reality: A bevel is typically at the plank edge (V-groove). EN 17168 covers grooves anywhere on the surface, including cross-grooves or embossed-in-register textures.
EN 17168 is a European standard titled: "Laminate floor coverings — Laminate floor coverings with a micro-grooved surface — Specification, requirements and test methods."
Published by CEN (European Committee for Standardization), this standard was officially adopted to fill a gap in the flooring industry. Traditional laminate standards assume a relatively flat, smooth surface. However, modern manufacturing techniques have introduced micro-grooves—tiny, machined channels (typically less than 1mm deep) that run along the edges or across the board surface to mimic the authentic look of hand-scraped wood or textured stone. or AFNOR (France). For existing platforms
These micro-grooves create significant challenges for testing:
EN 17168 specifically addresses these challenges, ensuring that micro-grooved laminates perform as well as their smooth counterparts.
If you are a railway infrastructure manager, platform barrier manufacturer, or station design consultant, EN 17168 is your roadmap to legal compliance and passenger safety. Ignoring it exposes your organization to:
More importantly, adopting EN 17168 demonstrates a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable people in your station — the elderly, the distracted, the child, and the visually impaired.
The standard is available for purchase from national bodies like BSI (UK), DIN (Germany), or AFNOR (France). For existing platforms, a gap analysis against EN 17168 should be your first step. Retrofitting may be expensive; doing nothing is far more costly.