Flooring submittals on multifamily projects are reviewed more carefully than most other interior finishes submittals because flooring is the largest surface area in any residential unit and the most visible element at the developer’s first walkthrough. Despite this scrutiny, flooring submittals consistently arrive missing information that matters: the acoustic assembly IIC documentation, the specific moisture testing protocol being used, the substrate flatness measurement standard being applied, and the specific installation method for each application area.
Understanding what a complete flooring submittal must contain, what is commonly missing, and what each element tells you about the flooring sub’s process allows GCs to conduct reviews that actually protect the project rather than simply checking a box.
What a complete LVP submittal must include
Product identification. The specific manufacturer, product name, and SKU for the LVP being installed. The color or finish name and code. The format , plank dimensions in width and length. The overall thickness. The wear layer thickness in mils, confirmed from the manufacturer’s technical data sheet, not from a marketing description.
The wear layer specification is the single most commonly misrepresented element in LVP submittals. A product described as “commercial grade” or “heavy duty” in a product brochure may carry a 12 mil wear layer, not the 20 mil that the project specification requires. Confirm the wear layer from the technical data sheet, not from the product name or the marketing copy on the submittal cover sheet.
Acoustic assembly documentation. The tested IIC rating for the specific LVP product and underlayment combination being installed, from an accredited laboratory test report. The test report should identify the testing laboratory, the test standard used (ASTM E492 or ISO 140-6), the specific LVP product tested, the specific underlayment tested, and the floor-ceiling assembly configuration used in the test.
A submittal that states “IIC 52 compliant” without a laboratory test report, a specific product combination, and a tested assembly description is not an acoustic compliance submittal. It is an assertion. Return it and require the actual test documentation before approving.
Moisture testing protocol. The specific ASTM moisture test method being used, either ASTM F1869 (calcium chloride) or ASTM F2170 (in-situ relative humidity probe), and the manufacturer’s acceptable moisture range for the specific LVP product. This confirms that the flooring sub has a defined moisture testing process and knows what result they are testing against, not just that they intend to do some form of moisture testing.
Substrate flatness standard. The flatness tolerance the flooring sub will use for substrate acceptance, expressed as inches of deviation over a defined radius. For most LVP products, this is 3/16 inch over a 10-foot radius. Confirm that the submitted flatness standard matches the LVP manufacturer’s installation requirement, not a more lenient standard that the sub is substituting.
Underlayment identification. The specific underlayment product being used, including manufacturer, product name, and thickness. This must match the underlayment used in the acoustic assembly test documentation. If the submittal identifies a different underlayment than the one in the acoustic test, the acoustic documentation does not apply to the actual installation.
Installation method by application. The installation method for each application area in the project: floating installation for residential units, glue-down for commercial applications, and any other variations. If transitions between application methods exist within the project, each method should be identified with the areas where it applies.
What is missing from most flooring submittals
The most commonly missing element is the acoustic assembly test documentation. Most flooring subs submit the LVP product data sheet and describe it as “IIC compliant” without providing the actual test report. The product data sheet may reference a general IIC rating achieved by the product class, not the specific product and underlayment combination being installed on the project.
The second most commonly missing element is the underlayment identification. Many submittals identify the LVP product but not the underlayment, leaving the acoustic assembly documentation incomplete because the test report cannot be evaluated without knowing whether the installed underlayment matches the tested underlayment.
The third most commonly missing element is the substrate flatness standard. Most submittals describe the product and the acoustic performance without confirming what substrate condition the flooring sub will accept before installing.
Evaluating the acoustic documentation
When the acoustic test documentation is provided, confirm three things: that the testing laboratory is accredited (NVLAP or IAS accreditation is appropriate), that the tested assembly matches the project’s floor-ceiling construction type (concrete slab versus wood frame), and that the tested IIC result meets the project’s specified minimum.
If the tested assembly uses a wood-frame floor-ceiling construction but the project has concrete slab floors, the test result does not apply to the actual installation. A concrete slab transmits impact energy differently than a wood-frame assembly, and the IIC result from one assembly type cannot be reliably extrapolated to the other.
The plank direction confirmation
A complete flooring submittal for LVP on a Class A multifamily project should also confirm the plank direction relative to the building’s corridor orientation or the unit’s primary view. Plank direction inconsistency between units on the same floor is visible when adjacent unit doors are open simultaneously and is a quality deficiency that the developer’s walkthrough team will identify.
Confirm the plank direction as part of the submittal review for Class A projects. If the submittal does not address plank direction, add it as a required element before approval.
How Innergy prepares flooring submittals
Innergy covers Division 9-Flooring for multifamily construction under a single subcontract.
Innergy’s LVP submittals include the manufacturer’s technical data sheet with wear layer confirmed, the laboratory acoustic test report for the specific product and underlayment combination, the substrate flatness standard, the moisture testing protocol with the manufacturer’s acceptable range, the underlayment product identification, and the installation method by application area. For Division 9 flooring scope as a standalone or seven-division package in TX, WA, OR, CO, UT, NM, or AZ , contact us and we respond within one business day.