IMO Certified Vinyl & Marine LVT
Marine LVT and marine vinyl look like any commercial floor — and carry one thing a commercial floor does not: IMO/MED fire certification for life at sea. This guide explains what makes a vinyl floor ship-ready, how marine vinyl and marine LVT differ, and where each belongs on board.
Written for shipyards, naval architects, interior outfitters and superyacht teams. Trivaro supplies IMO/MED certified marine vinyl and LVT across Europe with full classification documentation as standard.
Marine Vinyl vs Marine LVT
Both are IMO/MED certified vinyl floor coverings. The choice is format and zone — a jointless welded sheet for wet and hygienic areas, or a tile/plank décor for cabins and public spaces.
Marine Vinyl (sheet)
- What: homogeneous or heterogeneous sheet vinyl with welded seams.
- Best for: galleys, bathroom corridors, wet zones, high-traffic circulation.
- Why: a hygienic, jointless, slip-rated surface that is easy to clean.
- Slip: safety grades with higher DS/R-ratings for wet areas.
Marine LVT (tile/plank)
- What: luxury vinyl tile or plank with wood or stone décor.
- Best for: passenger cabins, suites, owner/VIP areas, public lounges, feature corridors.
- Why: premium appearance with maritime fire compliance built in.
- Slip: R9–R10 for dry zones; pair with safety vinyl in wet areas.
Where Marine Vinyl & LVT Go On Board
Maritime flooring is specified zone by zone. Here is where certified vinyl and marine LVT typically land across a passenger vessel.
Cabins & suites
Marine LVT wood/stone décors for comfortable, low-maintenance interiors with acoustic underlay between decks.
Corridors & circulation
High-traffic heterogeneous vinyl and marine LVT with slip ratings for main routes and stairwells.
Galleys & wet zones
Welded marine safety vinyl with anti-slip DS rating — hygienic and jointless under IMO FTP Code.
Lounges & dining
Marine LVT feature floors where a wood or stone look leads, with full IMO/MED certification.
Owner & VIP areas
Premium marine LVT and bespoke custom wood for superyacht and cruise feature spaces.
Crew & service
Practical certified vinyl for crew accommodation and service zones — durable and easy to maintain.
How to Specify Marine Vinyl & LVT
From vessel brief to documentation package — four steps that keep a marine vinyl specification on the right side of classification review.
Map the zones
Split the vessel into zones — cabins, corridors, galleys, wet areas, public spaces — and decide where a welded marine vinyl is needed and where marine LVT leads on appearance.
Set fire & slip per zone
Confirm the IMO FTP Code parts that apply, and the slip rating each zone needs — R9–R10 for dry circulation, higher DS/R-grades for galleys and wet areas.
Verify the certification
Check the MED Module B Type Examination Certificate number in the Notified Body register — the wheelmark logo is the claim, the certificate is the proof. See the wheelmark verification guide.
Assemble the documentation
Require IMO/MED certificates, test reports and the DoP for every line, prepared for Lloyd’s Register, DNV or Bureau Veritas review. Trivaro supplies this as standard.
Related Reading
Continue with the marine segment, the certification guides and the commercial LVT range.
Marine flooring
Marine Flooring Solutions — the full IMO/MED certified range, vessel zone map and classification documentation.
IMO/MED certification
IMO/MED Certification guide — FTP Code Part 2 & 5, the wheelmark and Module B+D in plain English.
Commercial LVT
Commercial LVT Flooring — the land-side LVT range, wear class, fire and slip specification.
Marine LVT & IMO Certified Vinyl — FAQ
The questions shipyards, outfitters and naval architects ask about certified marine vinyl and LVT. See also the marine flooring segment and the IMO/MED certification guide.
01 What is marine LVT and how does it differ from commercial LVT?
Marine LVT is luxury vinyl tile certified for use at sea — it carries IMO FTP Code fire testing and, for EU-flagged vessels, MED Module B+D certification with the wheelmark, on top of the wear, slip and acoustic performance of commercial LVT. A commercial LVT can look identical but without IMO/MED certification it cannot be specified on a passenger vessel. The difference is the maritime fire and smoke documentation, not the décor. See the commercial LVT range.
02 What is the difference between marine vinyl and marine LVT?
Both are IMO/MED certified vinyl floor coverings. Marine vinyl usually means homogeneous or heterogeneous sheet vinyl with welded seams — the standard for galleys, wet zones and high-traffic corridors where a hygienic, jointless surface matters. Marine LVT is a tile or plank with a wood or stone décor, used in cabins, suites and public lounges where appearance leads. Many vessels use both, zone by zone.
03 What certification does vinyl flooring need to be used on a ship?
On a passenger vessel, vinyl must meet the IMO FTP Code 2010 — Part 2 (surface flammability) and, as a primary deck covering, Part 5. EU-flagged vessels additionally require MED (2014/90/EU) Module B+D conformity, identified by the wheelmark. The proof is the Module B Type Examination Certificate number, verifiable in the Notified Body register — see the wheelmark verification guide.
04 Where is marine LVT used on board a vessel?
Marine LVT is specified for passenger cabins and suites, owner and VIP areas, public lounges, dining rooms and feature corridors — anywhere a wood or stone look is wanted with maritime fire compliance. For galleys, bathrooms and wet zones, a welded marine safety vinyl is usually specified instead for its jointless, slip-rated surface.
05 Is marine LVT slip resistant enough for wet areas?
Standard marine LVT carries an R9–R10 slip rating, suitable for dry cabins and circulation. For galleys, bathroom corridors and wet zones, specify a dedicated marine safety vinyl with a higher DS/R-rating and a defined pendulum value. Set the slip class per zone and prove it with test data — the same discipline as a commercial spec, with the added maritime fire documentation.
06 Can you supply marine LVT for superyachts and refits?
Yes. Trivaro supplies IMO/MED certified marine LVT and marine vinyl for newbuild outfitting and refit programmes on cruise ships, passenger ferries, RoPax vessels and superyachts. Stock ranges allow fast delivery for dry-dock schedules, and every order includes the IMO/MED certificates, test reports and DoP prepared for classification society review.
Specifying Marine Vinyl or LVT for a Vessel?
Trivaro is a B2B supplier of IMO/MED certified marine vinyl and marine LVT across Europe — for shipyards, outfitters, naval architects and superyacht teams. Full classification documentation included as standard.
Send us your vessel type, the zone breakdown and area estimates. We will respond with certified product recommendations, samples and a B2B quotation.
