Firmfit Silent | CFL Flooring
Be-Lite is a thermoforming technology for SPC panels invented and patented by CFL that, depending on the panel’s thickness, uses up to 20% less raw materials during the panel core manufacturing process without creating any extra production offcuts, contrary to competing technologies. The resulting SPC panels maintain optimum performance reducing a panel’s total manufacturing raw material use while improving its acoustical performance and making it lighter. The lighter panel allows more efficient transportation and provides relief for installers.
CFL has already moved a significant portion of its SPC production to Be-Lite and has calculated based on 2021 volumes that moving 100% will allow us to annually save up to 28,775 metric tons of raw materials, ship 1308 containers less per year which is the equivalent to reducing our carbon footprint by 1,112 metric tons of CO2
(based off of BSR’s shipping emissions report).
In order for the broader flooring industry to benefit from Be-Lite Technology, CFL has entered into a technology partnership with i4F Patents & Technologies to extend the positive impacts of this more sustainable SPC panel production. Considering that over 81.5% of the LVT category was imported in 2020, we believe this new technology will have a huge impact on the SPC category, which is today one of the largest and still the fastest growing category of flooring.
The impact of Be-Lite on the flooring industry has already been recognized with the 2022 GreenStep Practice/Process Honoree award. Floor Covering Weekly's GreenStep Sustainability Awards honor those in the industry making great sustainable strides among their initiatives, products, people and practices.
The Characteristics
The resilient floor market has grown by 30% in 2021 in the US, and very similarly in Europe mainly because of consumers increasing desire for more performance. Most resilient products are partially or fully made of PVC, PP, or other fossil-based material.
Tenacity was developed to be an alternative, exceeding resilient click products’ features & benefits while using an engineered stone base, being 100% PVC and PP free.
Tenacity also features Net Plus pre-attached backing, the only flooring underlay that is made of recycled plastic bottles (PET). These bottles are first collected and processed into flakes. After being washed, the flakes are melted, and yarns are pulled from the melted polyester. Finally, the raw filament is spun and ultimately woven: Net Plus. For every 500 ft2 / 50 m2 of Tenacity floors installed, 550 plastic bottles are recycled.
Tenacity floors are also Greenguard Gold certified, IAC Gold and REACH compliant.
Tenacity is the pinnacle of the waterproof category, with this superior platform the product is of course waterproof, rigid, extremely wear resistant, and offers supreme stability. This means Tenacity can be installed over large surfaces with no transitions, installed in all spaces, such as 3-season rooms and sunrooms, and is approved for kitchen islands to be placed directly on top of the floor. It also brings better smoke and fire ratings, making it a far better choice for commercial applications. Then Tenacity’s TriTec finish adds an extra layer of resistance with up to 30% better scratch and stain resistance than the industry leading rigid coatings.
The need for quieter spaces has never been more in demand and CFL’s FirmFit Silent, branded as Novocore Q in North America, is the quietest rigid vinyl floor on the market. FirmFit Silent is a patented engineered vinyl flooring that comes with all the advantages of a rigid core floor, while being up to 6x more sound absorbing. Sound and noise are key design considerations in modern residential, commercial and industrial architecture. The noise in a building can disturb workers or residents and lead to adverse health effects and stress over long periods of time. FirmFit Silent contributes to this sound management.
On top of the sound advantage, FirmFit Silent is GREENGUARD Gold and IAC Gold (including AgBB, M1, French VOC A+, Belgian VOC label, Blue Angel and more) certified. The “GOLD” labels show additional compliance of product emissions with the criteria of many of the voluntary specifications issued by most relevant ecolabels and similar specifications in the EU and requirements for sustainable building certifications.
FirmFit Silent also has been awarded the Assure certificate, guaranteeing that it has been manufactured to the highest standards and meets all the requirements for indoor air quality, rigorous performance, with no heavy metals & orthophthalates content. It comes with a sustainable and hypoallergenic cork backing, which helps avoid reducing the use of fossil-based materials by around 12 kg per 100 sqm installed.
FirmFit Silent comes with CFL’s patented and award winning Be-Lite technology, that allows us to reduce the use of raw materials by up to 20% during the panel core manufacturing process, and optimize our loading factors, both translating into a significant reduction of our carbon footprint.
FirmFit Silent floors are manufactured with around 30% of pre-consumer recycled content, which allows us to reduce the use of virgin materials and reduce our environmental impact.
CFL Flooring | Hall 23 | Stand A56
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