WTF is LRV?

LRV stands for Light Reflection Value and basically describes the amount of visible light that is reflected from a surface when it comes into contact with a light source. This covers everything from paint and wallpaper to furniture fabrics and yep you guessed it, carpet tiles.

LRV is measured according to British Standard 8493:2008 and is normally displayed as a percentage, although it is sometimes shown as a decimal number.

How is LRV measured then?

The LRV scale runs from 0 to 100 and when it comes to light reflection, it is a case of the more the merrier. So all you really need to remember is that the higher the LRV, the more light the carpet tile will reflect and the less artificial light you'll need.

With things like colour, pattern, texture and surface treatments, flooring products very rarely reach either end of the LRV spectrum and usually settle at about 5% to 85%. That's means the darkest of dark floors typically reflect around 5% at least, while the palest floors reflect about 85% at most.

High LRVs are particularly popular in the flooring and interior design industries as they mean a lot less artificial light is required, which is good news for budgets and eco-conscious efforts.

Which one should I choose?

Reflection requirements depend largely on the look or aesthetic you're going for. Or you may very well be working to a project brief provided by a picky client who is hoping to achieve a specific ambience for their interior.

If you're kitting out a pitch black layer for Dracula's new bachelor pad, you'll want a dark coloured floor with a low LRV. Alternatively, if you're building a new balance for Princess Sunbeam, go for a light coloured carpet tile with a high LRV.

Got it? If you have, great. If not, just give us a buzz on 0345 222 1544 or pop up on LiveChat and we'll be more than happy to go over it with you some more.