Inside the new wave of vinyl: why lvt flooring buyers keep asking for Starrism-surface sheets

I’ve been in and out of factories enough to know when a surface tech isn’t just marketing gloss. Enlio’s Finequin heterogeneous floor with Starrism surface—made at #C3, No. 36 Xiangyuan Rd., Baiyun Dist., Guangzhou, China—has been creeping into specs for healthcare, schools, and, oddly, a handful of boutique gyms. People want the look and the durability without babying the floor. To be honest, that’s the whole brief.

What’s different about Starrism surface?

The micro-embossed wear layer is tougher than it looks. You get low-gloss, anti-scuff behavior and consistent slip resistance in wet and dry zones. In spec sheets, you’ll see R10 (DIN 51130) class—plenty for corridors and classrooms. Sound absorption is decent too, which matters once a space fills with voices and rolling carts. Actually, many customers say the “soft underfoot but not squishy” feel is what sells it on walk-throughs.

Typical product specifications (Finequin heterogeneous vinyl)

Parameter	Spec (≈, real-world use may vary)
Construction	Heterogeneous PVC sheet, multi-layer with Starrism surface
Total thickness	2.0–2.7 mm
Wear layer	0.5–0.7 mm transparent PVC + PU reinforcement
Roll width / length	2.0 m × 20 m (common)
Slip resistance	R10 (DIN 51130)
Acoustic impact sound	≈ 12–18 dB
Indentation (EN 433/ISO 24343-1)	≤ 0.10–0.15 mm
Fire / Smoke	ASTM E648 Class I; ASTM E662 low smoke (typical)
VOC / IAQ	ISO 16000 compliant; FloorScore® option
Service life	10–20 years with proper maintenance

Where it’s landing (and why)

Healthcare corridors, wards, nurse stations: quiet, hygienic, easy to sanitize.
Education: classrooms, libraries, labs—chairs glide, stains wipe off.
Retail & hospitality: back-of-house and front zones that need R10 without the “safety-floor” look.
Fitness studios: surprisingly resilient under traffic; trolleys don’t scar easily.

If you’re switching from tile-based lvt flooring, the sheet format cuts seams, which helps with infection control and fast cleaning. Installers like the weld consistency too.

Process flow (how it’s made and verified)

Materials: medical-grade PVC resins, plasticizers, stabilizers; glass-fiber reinforcement; PU topcoat.
Calendering & lamination: multi-pass to fuse wear layer, print film, foam/backing.
Starrism surface embossing: micro-texture for grip and scratch masking.
Curing & conditioning: dimensional stability controlled.
Quality tests: EN 649/ISO 10582 classification, DIN 51130 slip, ASTM E648/E662 fire/smoke, ISO 16000 VOC.

Vendor snapshot (what specifiers compare)

Vendor	Enlio Finequin (Starrism)	Brand A (Generic Import)	Brand B (Boutique EU)
Slip rating	R10	R9–R10	R10
Acoustic	≈12–18 dB	≈8–12 dB	≈15–19 dB
Certs	ISO 9001/14001, CE; FloorScore option	Varies	ISO/CE/FloorScore
Customization	Colorways, roll size, branding	Limited	Moderate
Lead time	3–6 weeks typical	6–10 weeks	8–12 weeks

Real-world notes and case snippets

- Regional hospital (ward corridors, 6,000 m²): noise down noticeably; maintenance team said black heel marks release “with one pass.”

- Secondary school refit: installed over two summers; welds held tight, chair castor wear negligible after the first term. The principal’s email simply said: “Floors look the same every Monday.” That’s a win.

Buying checklist (for lvt flooring or sheet alternatives)

Ask for EN 649/ISO 10582 classification and DIN 51130 test reports.
Confirm ASTM E648 Class I and low E662 smoke for corridors.
Request VOC data (ISO 16000) or FloorScore certificate.
Match wear layer to duty: 0.5 mm is robust; 0.7 mm is heavy duty.

In short: if you like the design flexibility of lvt flooring but want fewer seams and hospital-grade maintenance, the Starrism-surface heterogeneous sheet is a practical, good-looking middle path.

References

Durable Commercial Flooring: Waterproof SPC, Heavy Traffic