Forbo Flooring Systems has unveiled the latest update to its Allura Decibel luxury vinyl tile (LVT) collection, bringing together superior acoustic performance and a refreshed, on-trend design palette tailored to today’s fast-moving interiors market.
Alongside its refreshed range of natural-look and contemporary designs, all influenced by wood, concrete and textile materials, the updated Allura Decibel collection delivers 19dB impact sound reduction, coupled with exceptional indentation resistance of 0.11mm and high dimensional stability. By integrating acoustic performance directly within the LVT construction and eliminating the need for a separate acoustic underlay, which can result in compression levels doubling and increased indentation over the life of the product, Allura Decibel helps to reduce installation time, material costs and on-site complexity. The new collection also marks an improved sustainability profile, with a 25% increase in recycled content compared to the previous range.
As well as reducing noise transfer between floors in multi-occupancy buildings, the loose-lay, tackified installation method allows for easy handling in smaller spaces and simple plank replacement in the event of damage further down the line. This makes it particularly suitable for sectors such as Build to Rent (BTR) and Private Rented Sector (PRS), student accommodation, housebuilding, education and hotels, where durability and ease of maintenance are essential.
Contemporary design refresh
The evolved collection places greater emphasis on a natural aesthetic, finishes and texture. The ‘Minerals and Textiles’ range has been expanded and now forms the largest part of the collection, reflecting increased demand for stone and terrazzo-inspired finishes. Six new designs have been introduced – Terrazzo, Urban Concrete, Gravelstone, Perlino, Pompeii and Twill.
Classic herringbone
Within the ‘Woods’ range, nine colours are available in a new 50×12.5cm plank format, making it easier to achieve the classic herringbone installation even in compact areas such as student accommodation and housing, bringing a premium, design-led finish to smaller footprints.
In total, the Allura Decibel collection offers a palette of 100 items across 12 designs, all featuring four-sided bevelling for added depth and realism.
Sustainability improvements and unique new b+ option
Challenging traditional perceptions of vinyl flooring, the updated range also delivers meaningful sustainability improvements.
The standard collection now contains a 25% increase in recycled content, whilst the newly introduced enhanced sustainability Allura Decibel b+ range takes this further still with 31% recycled content, incorporating post-production material, clean installation waste and recycled plasticisers partly derived from used plastic bottles. The b+ option also replaces traditional fossil-based PVC with a bio-based PVC, increasing the share of renewable materials and further reducing environmental impact. This all supports a more circular approach to flooring design, production and end-of-life recycling.
Commenting on the updated Allura Decibel range, Donna Hannaway, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo, said: “Acoustic performance is a key requirement in many multi-occupancy projects, but it can add complexity or limit design choice. Allura Decibel simplifies this by integrating the acoustic layer within the product, removing the need for additional underlay, all whilst maintaining best-in-class indentation resistance.
“Available in a choice of wear layers (0.35 and 0.8mm) to suit different project requirements and price points, and with a modular format that is easy to handle, install and maintain, the updated collection also introduces a more contemporary design palette and an enhanced sustainability offer – especially through our new Allura Decibel b+ range.”
Acoustics. Design. Innovation.
Allura Decibel brings comfort, performance and contemporary style into balance, supporting interior designers and specifiers to create quieter, more considered living spaces without compromising on design or practicality. See the full collection here: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/alluradecibel
