Form · 4–12 mm
Plant-Based — indicative fig. O·08
Fire Combustible CombustibleEmbodied carbon Data pending Per-m² sourceCompressive 0.5-2.0 (at 10% deformation)MPa StructuralDesign life 25yr
Natural cork flooring from renewable cork oak bark, offering exceptional acoustic absorption (NRC 0.3-0.7), thermal insulation (R-value 3.6-4.2 per inch), and verified carbon-negative lifecycle (-11.8 kg CO2-eq/m2). Available in tiles and planks from 4-12mm for residential and commercial applications.
01 Physical
Density 120-650 (varies with compression)kg/m3
Specific gravity 0.12-0.65
Porosity 80-90%
Water absorption 3-12 (sealed 3-8, unsealed higher)%
Hardness 40-60 Shore AShore A
UV resistance Moderate (requires UV-protective coating or window coverings)
Chemical resistance Good (when sealed)
pH tolerance 4-9pH
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 0.5-1.0MPa
Compressive strength 0.5-2.0 (at 10% deformation)MPa
Flexural strength N/A (flexible material — does not fracture in bending)MPa
Impact resistance Excellent (compresses and recovers rather than fracturing)J/m
Creep resistance Good (90-97% recovery from sustained compression)
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.036-0.065W/mK
Specific heat 1800-2100J/kgK
Thermal expansion 200 x 10^-6mm/mK
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class Combustible but self-extinguishing (does not propagate flame)
Fire resistance level Assembly dependent (cork layer contributes 5-15 min)minutes
Ignition temp 300-380degC
Flame spread index 25-75FSI
Smoke dev. index 50-150SDI
Heat release rate 50-120kW/m2
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon -11.8 (verified negative carbon balance)kg CO2-eq/m2
Carbon footprint -5 to 2 (lifecycle, typically negative)kg CO2-eq/kg
Embodied energy 10-25MJ/kg
Water footprint 100-400L/kg
Recyclability 80-95%
Recycled content 30-90 (includes recycled cork granulate)%
Renewable content 95-100%
Circular score 9.0/10
VOC emissions <10 (GreenGuard Gold certified)ug/m3
Toxicity rating Very Low (GreenGuard Gold certified)
LEED contribution 8-12points
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 25-50years
Maintenance interval 3-7years
Warranty period 10-25 (residential)years
Material cost (range) 45-150AUD/m2
Material cost (per unit) 40-120AUD/m2
Lead time 14-70days
Lifecycle cost 120-280AUD/m2
Annual maintenance 3-8AUD/m2/year
Market availability Moderate — specialist distributors only
07 Assessment
Advantages
- 100% renewable and sustainable harvest (9-year bark regeneration cycle)
- Exceptional acoustic absorption (NRC 0.3-0.7 depending on thickness)
- Outstanding thermal insulation (R-value 3.6-4.2 per inch of thickness)
- Comfortable and resilient underfoot — 50% compression with 95% recovery
- Naturally antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and mould-resistant
- Self-extinguishing fire properties — does not propagate flame
- Verified carbon-negative lifecycle (-11.8 kg CO2-eq/m2 per Amorim LCA)
- GreenGuard Gold certified — zero VOC, A+ indoor air quality rating
- Compatible with hydronic underfloor heating systems
- Cork oak forests support critically important Montado biodiversity ecosystem
Constraints
- Higher cost than conventional vinyl, laminate, or carpet flooring ($45-120 AUD/m2)
- Susceptible to damage from sharp objects and heavy pointed furniture legs
- Requires periodic sealing/recoating for moisture protection (every 3-7 years)
- UV fading possible with prolonged direct sunlight — requires UV-protective blinds
- Limited Australian supplier network — primarily specialist flooring distributors
- Professional installation recommended for adhesive-down cork tiles
- Not suitable for permanently wet areas without waterproof core (standard cork tiles)
- Indentation from heavy static loads (recovers 90-97% but not 100%)
08 Applications
A1 Residential flooring (bedrooms, living areas) Residential flooring providing exceptional comfort, warmth, and acoustic insulation
A2 Commercial flooring (offices, retail) Commercial and office flooring with ergonomic comfort and acoustic absorption
A3 Educational facilities and libraries Acoustic flooring for educational environments requiring quiet, comfortable spaces
A4 Healthcare facilities (quiet environments) Hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, GreenGuard Gold certified flooring for healthcare
A5 Recording studios and acoustic spaces High NRC acoustic absorption for recording and performance spaces
A6 Underfloor heating compatible applications Cork flooring compatible with hydronic underfloor heating systems (max 28 degC surface)
A7 Green building certification projects LEED, BREEAM, and Green Star projects leveraging cork's verified carbon-negative lifecycle
A8 Renovation and retrofit projects Thin-profile cork tiles/planks suitable for retrofit over existing substrates
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.