Is Floor Vinyl Suitable For Wall Protection?

A question we get asked a lot is, “is floor vinyl suitable to be used on a wall, as a wall protection?” Like most answers, it is…

… “It depends”

However, the answer is generally always “No.”

“Why’s that” they ask.

Firstly, soft vinyl (even if it is named ‘Wall Vinyl’) belongs on the floor. They are ideal for flooring as they are soft to walk on, can be welded and can be easily coved up the skirting. The softness of the vinyl however makes it a very poor performer on a wall, where it is prone to be hit with sharp objects, like corners of beds or trolleys.

Secondly, and probably more importantly, the fire rating requirements for wall linings are more stringent than floor linings. You may be aware that regulations around fire compliance of wall linings has recently changed and this may deem many soft vinyls unusable as a wall lining in a Group 1 building application. Softer materials generally have a quick flashover and higher heat release rate than rigid products. Be wary of this and ensure you have a thorough understanding of the ISO 9705 testing requirements for compliant wall linings.