Stress class

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A stress class generally describes the requirements that are placed on certain components with regard to their resistance or robustness.

Classification of exposure to moisture

When dividing damp rooms into certain stress classes, there are different standards and specifications depending on the perspective:

In structural terms , the classification has been carried out in eight stages by the Central Association of the German Building Industry since 2005 . A distinction is made between areas regulated by building authorities and non-regulated areas.

Moderately stressed area (not regulated by the building authorities)

class description example
0 Wall and floor surfaces, only occasionally and briefly exposed to slight spray water Bathrooms with normal household use without floor drain with bath or shower tray
A01 Wall surfaces, only temporarily and briefly exposed to moderate spray water Bathrooms with normal household use with floor drain
A02 Floor areas, only occasionally and briefly exposed to moderate spray water Bathrooms with normal household use with floor drain
B0 Components outdoors with non-pressing water stress

(In the building authority test certificates there are no regulations regarding the suitability of substrates, i.e. in the case of drywall construction there are no regulations regarding the suitability of certain panel materials.)

Highly used area (regulated by building authorities)

class description example
A1 Wall surfaces, highly stressed by service and cleaning water Walls in public showers
A2 Floor areas, highly stressed by service and cleaning water Floors in public showers, pool surrounds
B. Wall and floor surfaces in swimming pools, inside and outside with water that is pressing from the inside ---
C. Wall and floor surfaces with high water stress and in connection with chemical stress Meat cutting plants

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In terms of electrical engineering , the classification of electrical installations suitable for damp rooms is regulated by the VDE 100 Part 200 standard. Basically, a distinction is only made between dry and damp or wet rooms:

section description annotation
A.6.3 Dry rooms are rooms or locations in which condensation does not usually occur or in which the air is not saturated with moisture These include B. living rooms (including hotel rooms), offices; this can also include: business premises, sales rooms, attics, stairwells, heated and ventilated cellars. In terms of installation, kitchens in apartments and bathrooms in apartments and hotels are considered to be dry rooms, as moisture occurs in them only intermittently.
A.6.4 Damp and wet rooms are rooms or locations in which the safety of the equipment can be impaired by moisture, condensation, chemical or similar influences For this purpose z. B. include: Large kitchens, sculleries, granaries, fertilizer sheds, milk rooms, feed kitchens, laundry rooms, bakeries, cold rooms, pump rooms, unheated or non-ventilated cellars, rooms whose floors, walls and possibly also facilities are hosed down for cleaning purposes: beer and wine cellars, wet workshops , Car washrooms, greenhouses, as well as rooms or areas in baths and laundry facilities, shower cubicles, galvanic plants.

The electrical installation in damp or wet rooms is subject to further regulations. According to VDE 0100 Part 737, electrical equipment there must be at least protected against dripping water ( protection class IPX1). In areas and rooms in which jets of water are also handled, but electrical equipment is usually not directly exposed to direct cleaning, the equipment must be at least splash-proof (protection class IPX4). Where equipment is emitted directly, its degree of protection must meet the requirements. (Usually protection class IPX6 or higher).

Classification of laminate floors

According to DIN EN 685, laminate floors are divided into six stress levels. This enables the consumer to compare the quality of different makes. The standard is not a mandatory guideline, but is used by almost all manufacturers.

In order to clearly show the consumer what kind of stress the laminate flooring is suitable for, the standards committee has made a distinction between commercial and residential use. In both areas of use, the load is divided into low , medium and intensive .

Criteria for classification in the exposure class are lightfastness , pressure and abrasion resistance , chair roll resistance and insensitivity to stains.

Areas of application

The standard differentiates between the following areas of application and stresses:

Stress classes.jpg

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Individual evidence

  1. "Composite seals" leaflet, published classification