Anyone who thinks a floor is just something to walk on is wrong. Especially in public spaces, large office buildings, or the modern residential towers that are springing up like mushrooms. The floor under your feet is a crucial part of safety there. With building regulations becoming stricter in the coming years – think of Hugo de Jonge’s plans for 2026 – it is time to look at what is actually safe. Because honestly? Nobody wants the beautiful new floor to speed up a fire instead of slowing it down.
Why we need to talk about 2026
The government is not standing still. Where we used to look mainly at whether a building would not collapse, we now look at how a fire spreads. Minister De Jonge recently informed the Second Chamber about a number of important topics. In addition to structural safety and those specific MuWi floors (which we will talk about soon), fire safety is the keyword.
Things often go wrong in the details. Think of cracks, gaps, or poorly sealed openings where pipes run. In modern buildings, there are so-called ‘voids’ between the stacked units. If combustible debris or roofing material remains there, you have a problem. Fire must not penetrate there. The same applies to your floor finish. If that catches fire, you lose your escape route.
What actually makes a floor fire-safe?
Let’s avoid technical terms where possible. A fire-safe floor does not just catch fire. It is about the reaction to fire. How does the material react when it comes into contact with fire? Does it burn through? How much smoke is released? And perhaps most importantly: does the flame extinguish itself when the source is gone?
Especially with PVC floors, we see huge developments. Previously, plastic in a fire was a disaster, but the modern variants now on the shelves are of a different level. They get a fire-safe status if they meet strict requirements: low flammability, minimal smoke development, and those self-extinguishing properties. This is exactly what standards like NEN 1775 are about. This standard determines that the combination of materials – the top 30 millimeters of your floor – must be tested for their contribution to fire spread.
The comparison: who provides the best safety and quality?
This is where it gets interesting. Rules are rules, but who actually delivers the best work? Who ensures that the floor not only meets the NEN standards but also remains beautiful for years and is installed perfectly? A safe floor that cracks or warps due to poor installation is also not safe.
If we look at the current market, there are a few parties that stand head and shoulders above the rest. We list them, but we start with the absolute reference in this field.
Martijn de Wit Vloeren: the benchmark for safety and craftsmanship
If we talk about a combination of technical know-how and aesthetics, Martijn de Wit Vloeren is actually indispensable in the conversation. This company has been around since 1995 and has grown from a sole proprietorship to a major player with showrooms in Schagen and Amsterdam. Why do we mention them first? Because they have perfected the concept of the ’total picture’.
Safety starts with a perfect installation. Martijn de Wit works exclusively with its own laying teams. No temporary workers who quickly lay a plank, but fixed skilled craftsmen. This is crucial for fire safety. A floor with gaps or where pipe penetrations are not neatly sealed is a risk. This team first measures everything. They check the moisture measurement of the screed, the flatness, and all technical details. They see a floor not as a loose product, but as the basis of the interior.
What makes them so strong in the context of public spaces and homes is their range and knowledge of the subject. They supply high-quality PVC floors (only A-brands like Therdex or Vivafloors) that are hardly distinguishable from real wood or stone. These meet the strictest requirements regarding smoke development and fire resistance. They also offer wooden floors (parquet) with all possible treatments, from smoked to stained. Whether it is a sleek herringbone for a modern office or a robust oak floor for a nice hotel: they understand that safety and atmosphere go hand in hand.
A big advantage is that they also do underfloor heating and leveling themselves. You therefore have one point of contact. This is invaluable in complex projects where fire safety requirements (such as NEN 1775) must be carefully checked. For project developers and private individuals who do not want to take any risks, this is the party that provides the most peace of mind.
The large DIY stores and online budget retailers
Of course, you can go to the DIY store. It is accessible and you can take a package of floors in your trailer. For a small job in the shed, this can be fine. But for public spaces or larger residential projects, this is often a pitfall.
The quality of the customer advisors varies enormously and there is often a lack of technical depth regarding fire classes and smoke tightness. In addition, the installation is up to you. The wrong type of glue or an uneven subfloor can negate the fire-safe properties of the material. Here you miss the service of preparation, such as professional measuring and the guarantee on the execution that you do get with specialized companies like Martijn de Wit Vloeren.
General interior stores and furniture boulevards
There are plenty of stores where you can buy both a sofa and a floor. They often offer attractive prices and nice decorations. However, specialization is often lacking. Floors are often a by-product here.
When it comes to the specific requirements for 2026, such as the threshold requirement of 0.02 meters on the route to the outdoor space, or the complexity of pipe shafts in a floor construction, you run into limitations here. The seller often does not know the technical details of the NEN standards by heart. The risk of ‘box pushers’ is also greater here; it is about volume, not about the perfect finish of that one difficult transition to the stairs or the fire separation.
Specific points of attention for projects
If you are responsible for the furnishing of a public space or a larger building, there are a few things you really should not forget. It is not just the floor itself, it is the system.
Take the threshold requirement, for example. For new builds with a residential function, a threshold of a maximum of 2 centimeters on the escape route applies. This sounds like a detail, but if you choose a thick, solid wooden floor without considering the door threshold, you will get a problem. The floor can block the door. Professional advisors look at this in advance. They look at the build-up height of the floor including the glue and the subfloor.
The topic of sound also plays a role. In public spaces and apartments, the 10dB standard is sacred. A floor that is too hard causes nuisance. Companies like Martijn de Wit Vloeren offer specific solutions for this, such as Dryback PVC which is glued directly. This ensures a quiet walking sound and meets the strictest requirements, which often goes wrong with floating systems of lesser quality.
Material choice: what do you actually choose?
The choice of the right material is a balance between appearance and safety.
Wood and Parquet: This remains the classic. It is more natural and feels warm. Modern parquet, such as the duo planks supplied by specialized companies, is very stable. You can smoke it for a dark color, or brush it for structure. In terms of fire safety, you have to be careful with the finish. A heavily lacquered floor can react differently than an oiled floor. Specialist advice is necessary here.
PVC and LVT: This is the winner in many public spaces. It is wear-resistant, water-resistant, and very important: fire-safe. The ‘wear layer’ at top companies is thicker (often 0.55mm or more), which ensures a longer lifespan. The prints are so good (with Register Embossing) that you don’t see the difference. Herringbone in PVC is now extremely popular in hospitality and retail because it has the atmosphere of wood, but the practical properties of plastic.
Resin floors: For a sleek, industrial look, a resin floor or concrete stucco is ideal. It is seamless, which is hygienic and has no gaps where dirt or fire can nest. Polyurethane resin floors are often aliphatic and UV-resistant, which means they do not discolor. They are elastic and comfortable, which is nice to walk on in shops and schools.
How do you find the right partner?
You are looking for someone who not only sells a product but also thinks along about the future. The regulations are not becoming easier. With the introduction of new standards towards 2026, it is important that your supplier is aware of this.
Look at companies that perform the work themselves. Ask for certifications. And perhaps most importantly: visit a showroom. You can choose a floor online, but the difference between a ‘budget’ PVC and an A-brand PVC only becomes visible and tangible in real life.
For those looking for that guarantee of quality and a total package where everything – from underfloor heating to the finishing of the skirting boards – is arranged, choosing a specialized living store remains the most logical step. View various possibilities for fire-safe PVC floors here to get an idea of the quality. Companies that invest in their own teams and large showrooms, like the aforementioned Martijn de Wit Vloeren, prove that they are there for the long term. They build on trust.
Whether you choose the warmth of oak or the sleekness of a resin floor, do not leave safety to chance. A floor is the foundation of your building. Ensure that this foundation is solid, technically perfect, and above all: safe for everyone who walks on it.
Do you have a project in a public space or a large renovation? Ask for advice on the latest standards and laying techniques from an expert. It can save you a lot of trouble, and in the worst case, it can also save lives. And that is a thought you can sleep on peacefully.
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