What Is FloorScore Certified Flooring?

FloorScore certified flooring has been independently evaluated for indoor air quality and verified to meet established limits for emissions of specific volatile organic compounds, commonly called VOCs. FloorScore is specifically designed for flooring and related products, including luxury vinyl flooring.

If you see the FloorScore name while comparing LVT or LVP, think of it as an indoor air quality certification rather than a general statement about how durable the floor is.

It does not tell you the thickness of the wear layer, whether the flooring is waterproof, how strong the locking system is, or how resistant the surface is to scratches.

It answers a different question: does the product meet the VOC emissions requirements of the FloorScore certification program?

What Does FloorScore Certified Mean?

FloorScore is an indoor air quality certification program for hard surface flooring materials and related products.

The program was developed by SCS Global Services in conjunction with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, commonly called RFCI.

Products that earn FloorScore certification must comply with the program's requirements for VOC emissions.

This gives flooring shoppers a third-party certification they can look for rather than relying only on a manufacturer's own indoor air quality claims.

What Are VOCs?

VOC stands for volatile organic compound.

VOCs are organic compounds that can be emitted as gases from certain materials and products.

Indoor air quality programs are concerned with the concentrations of specific VOC emissions from building materials and other products used inside buildings.

FloorScore focuses specifically on emissions from flooring and eligible related products.

What Does FloorScore Test For?

FloorScore certification evaluates flooring for emissions of specific VOCs according to the applicable certification criteria.

The program uses California's Standard Method for testing and evaluating VOC emissions from indoor sources, commonly associated with California Section 01350.

This is laboratory emissions testing. It is different from simply reviewing a list of ingredients.

That distinction matters.

Does FloorScore Mean Flooring Has No VOCs?

No.

I would not describe FloorScore certified flooring as "VOC-free."

Certification means the product has demonstrated compliance with the applicable VOC emissions criteria established by the FloorScore program.

That is different from claiming that a flooring product contains or emits absolutely zero volatile organic compounds.

When shopping for flooring, "meets established VOC emissions criteria" is much more accurate than "contains no VOCs."

Does FloorScore Mean Flooring Is Non-Toxic?

I would not use FloorScore certification to make a blanket claim that a flooring product is "non-toxic."

That term is much broader than what FloorScore actually certifies.

FloorScore evaluates specified VOC emissions and indoor air quality performance according to its certification standard.

It should be described for what it measures rather than expanded into a claim about every material, chemical, or potential exposure associated with a flooring product.

Does FloorScore Test for Phthalates?

FloorScore is a VOC emissions-based indoor air quality certification and should not be treated as a certification for phthalate content.

This is an important distinction because shoppers sometimes see an indoor air quality certification and assume it covers every chemical that could be present in a flooring product.

Different certifications can evaluate different characteristics.

When a particular material or chemical-content issue matters to you, look for documentation or certification that specifically addresses it rather than assuming FloorScore covers it.

Does FloorScore Test for Formaldehyde Emissions?

Formaldehyde is among the individual VOC emissions addressed by the FloorScore program.

However, FloorScore should not be confused with regulations specifically governing formaldehyde emissions from certain composite wood products.

Those are different programs with different scopes.

For luxury vinyl flooring, the important takeaway is that FloorScore evaluates the finished flooring product against its applicable VOC emissions criteria.

Who Certifies FloorScore Flooring?

SCS Global Services is the certification body for the FloorScore program.

The certification process goes beyond a flooring company simply placing a logo on its packaging.

The program includes product emissions testing and evaluation as well as requirements associated with manufacturing and ongoing certification compliance.

This independent third-party component is one of the reasons I consider certification information useful when comparing flooring.

Is FloorScore a Government Certification?

No. FloorScore is not a government certification program.

It is an independent certification program developed by SCS Global Services with RFCI.

However, its VOC emissions criteria reference the California Standard Method used for evaluating emissions from indoor sources.

This distinction is worth understanding when you see FloorScore described online.

Is FloorScore Only for Vinyl Flooring?

No.

FloorScore can apply to multiple types of hard surface flooring and related products.

Eligible categories include luxury vinyl tile, vinyl flooring, laminate, hardwood, bamboo, linoleum, rubber flooring, ceramic, porcelain, underlayments, flooring adhesives, and certain flooring accessories.

For our purposes at BELK Tile, you will most often see us discussing FloorScore in relation to luxury vinyl flooring.

Why Does FloorScore Matter When Buying LVP?

Luxury vinyl flooring contains several specifications that tell you different things about the product.

A wear layer tells you about the thickness of the protective layer above the decorative visual.

An aluminum oxide finish tells you something about the surface-protection system.

An SPC core tells you about the rigid core construction.

A locking-system specification tells you how the planks connect.

FloorScore tells you something different: the product has met specified VOC emissions criteria for indoor air quality.

I prefer having that information available rather than trying to infer indoor air quality performance from unrelated flooring specifications.

Does FloorScore Mean a Floor Is High Quality?

FloorScore is a positive indoor air quality certification, but it should not be used as a complete measure of flooring quality.

A FloorScore certified product still needs to be evaluated for:

• Core construction
• Wear-layer thickness
• Surface protection
• Total thickness
• Locking system
• Attached backing
• Installation requirements
• Warranty
• Intended application

I would not choose one floor over another based on FloorScore alone.

Instead, I would include certification as one part of the complete product comparison.

Does FloorScore Mean Flooring Is Waterproof?

No.

FloorScore certification has nothing to do with whether flooring is waterproof.

Water performance depends on the flooring construction, installation system, product specifications, and approved applications.

Indoor air quality certification and water resistance are completely different flooring characteristics.

Does FloorScore Measure Scratch Resistance?

No.

FloorScore does not tell you how resistant a flooring surface is to scratches or abrasion.

For surface durability, I would look at specifications such as wear-layer construction and the protective finish.

For example, our guide to aluminum oxide finishes on vinyl flooring explains how that specification relates to surface protection.

Does FloorScore Tell You the Wear-Layer Thickness?

No.

A FloorScore certified floor could have different wear-layer specifications depending on the product.

If you are comparing a 22 MIL wear layer with other options, see our 22 MIL wear layer guide.

The wear layer and FloorScore certification tell you two completely different things about the flooring.

Does FloorScore Tell You Whether a Floor Is SPC?

No.

SPC describes a rigid core construction. FloorScore describes indoor air quality certification.

A flooring product can therefore have an SPC core and also carry FloorScore certification.

If you are comparing rigid core floors, our SPC flooring guide explains what the core construction means.

FloorScore vs GREENGUARD: Are They the Same?

No. FloorScore and GREENGUARD are separate certification programs.

Both can provide useful information related to chemical emissions and indoor air quality, but they are administered under different certification programs and should not be treated as interchangeable labels.

FloorScore is specifically focused on flooring and eligible flooring-related products.

We explain the other certification in our guide to GREENGUARD Gold certified flooring.

What Does FloorScore Not Tell You?

This may be just as useful as understanding what it does tell you.

FloorScore certification by itself does not tell you:

• Whether the flooring is waterproof
• Whether it is scratch-proof
• How thick the wear layer is
• How thick the plank is
• Whether the core is SPC or WPC
• How the locking system performs
• Whether an attached pad is included
• Whether the flooring is right for your subfloor
• How long the flooring will last
• Whether a specific installation method is appropriate

This is why I keep coming back to the same advice throughout our LVP guides: evaluate the floor as a complete system.

How Can You Tell Whether Flooring Is FloorScore Certified?

Look for current certification information associated with the flooring product rather than relying on a vague "low VOC" claim.

FloorScore certified products can carry the FloorScore mark, and certification information can also be verified through certification records.

If indoor air quality certification is important to your project, confirm that the flooring you are considering is actually covered by the certification rather than assuming every product from the same manufacturer carries it.

Does FloorScore Certification Expire?

FloorScore is not simply a one-time product claim that lasts forever without oversight.

The certification program includes ongoing requirements for maintaining certification.

That is another reason I recommend looking for current certification information when verification matters for a particular project.

Can FloorScore Certified Flooring Still Have an Odor?

FloorScore certification should not be interpreted as a guarantee that a person will detect absolutely no odor from new flooring or installation materials.

Odor perception and VOC emissions are not the same measurement.

Also remember that a flooring installation can involve more than the plank itself. Adhesives, underlayments, sealants, subfloor treatments, paint, cabinetry, and other materials in a renovation can all be separate products.

Does FloorScore Cover the Entire Flooring Installation?

No. A certification on the flooring product should not automatically be extended to every material used during installation.

If your project requires adhesive, underlayment, moisture-control products, or other installation materials, evaluate those products separately.

This is particularly important when indoor air quality is a major project consideration.

FloorScore Certification and Arvora LVT

The Arvora LVT Collection at BELK Tile carries FloorScore certification, giving you an independently certified indoor air quality specification alongside the flooring's performance and construction features.

Arvora combines:

• FloorScore certification
• GREENGUARD certification
• 22 MIL wear layer
• Aluminum oxide finish
• 5mm SPC rigid core
• 1mm attached IPXE pad
• 6mm total thickness
• Unilin Angle/Drop locking system
• Micro-beveled edges
• 24-hour acclimation requirement

Each specification answers a different question.

The FloorScore certification relates to VOC emissions and indoor air quality. The 22 MIL wear layer and aluminum oxide finish describe surface protection. The SPC specification describes the core. The Unilin system describes how the planks connect.

That is exactly why I prefer looking at flooring this way instead of trying to identify one specification as the single measure of quality.

You can view all 10 Arvora LVT colors at BELK Tile.

Should You Look for FloorScore When Buying LVP?

I consider independent indoor air quality certification useful information when comparing luxury vinyl flooring.

FloorScore gives you something more specific than a general marketing claim about indoor air quality because it indicates that the product has been independently evaluated against established VOC emissions criteria.

But I would not stop there.

Compare the wear layer, surface finish, core, total thickness, attached pad, locking system, installation requirements, warranty, trim availability, appearance, and other certifications as well.

Our complete LVP buying guide brings all of those specifications together.