EU Wheelmark Marine Flooring
The wheelmark — that small ship’s-wheel logo on a marine flooring roll — is the visible proof that the product complies with EU Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU. It is also the easiest piece of paper for a Class surveyor to reject if the certificate behind it is missing, expired or wrongly referenced.
This page explains what the wheelmark actually proves, how to verify it on a real product, and which gotchas catch buyers out before classification review.
The Major Marine Notified Bodies
When you see wheelmark/0098 on a roll, the 0098 identifies the issuing Notified Body. These are the ones you will encounter most often on marine flooring datasheets.
0062 — Bureau Veritas Marine
French marine classification society. One of the most active Notified Bodies for marine flooring; certificate register is searchable online by product or manufacturer name.
0098 — DNV
Norwegian-German classification society (former GL + DNV merger). Active for Scandinavian and German shipyard supply chains.
0038 — Lloyd's Register
UK-based classification society and one of the longest-established Notified Bodies. Common on UK and Asian-supplied marine equipment.
0474 — RINA Services
Italian classification society. Active for Mediterranean shipyards and Italian-manufactured marine equipment, including custom wood flooring suppliers.
1463 — PRS (Polish Register)
Polish Register of Shipping. Less common on flooring but appears on Eastern-European supplied marine equipment.
EU NANDO database
Full current list of all EU Notified Bodies authorised under MED. Search “marine equipment directive” to filter. Bookmark this — it is the only source you should trust for who is currently authorised.
How to Verify a Wheelmark on a Real Product
Three steps. Five minutes. Saves a Class delay later. Do this once when you receive samples — not at the bottom of the project when the surveyor is on the boat.
Find the Certificate Number
The wheelmark logo on the product is the advertised claim. The proof is the Module B Type Examination Certificate number — usually printed on the EU Declaration of Conformity and on the product datasheet. It looks something like MED/3.18a/EC0062-CERTNNNN/Year. If you cannot find it on paper, ask the supplier — refuse to proceed without it.
Look It Up in the Notified Body Register
Every Notified Body publishes its current certificates online (e.g. Bureau Veritas Marine certificate search, DNV PRODCERT). Search by certificate number, manufacturer or product. The register tells you the validity period, what products are covered, and whether the certificate has been suspended or withdrawn.
Confirm Module D Coverage is Current
Module B alone is not enough — the manufacturer needs a current Module D production-quality certificate from the same body, audited annually. The supplier should be able to send a copy on request. If they cannot, the wheelmark is not legitimately being applied.
Wheelmark Gotchas — What Catches Buyers Out
The wheelmark looks simple — a logo, a number, done. These are the four problems that show up in real Class reviews and cost projects time.
Test reports without a wheelmark certificate
A product passes IMO FTP tests in a recognised lab but never goes through the EU Notified Body process. The result: lab reports exist, the wheelmark does not. Class surveyors on EU-flagged vessels will not accept it. Always require both test reports AND the wheelmark Type Examination Certificate.
Expired Module B certificate
Type Examination Certificates are typically valid five years. If the certificate referenced on the datasheet has expired and not been renewed via repeat testing, the product cannot legally carry the wheelmark — even if old stock still has the logo printed on it. Verify the current validity in the Notified Body register.
Module B valid, but no Module D audit
Some suppliers can show a valid Module B but the Module D factory audit has lapsed or was never set up. Without Module D the wheelmark cannot legitimately be applied to new production. Ask for the current Module D certificate as part of the documentation package.
System scope different from finish scope
A vinyl finish passes Part 2, the manufacturer gets a wheelmark for “surface flammability” — but the complete deck system (substrate + adhesive + covering) was never tested under Part 5. If your project requires Part 5, that scope must be explicitly on the certificate. Check the wording carefully.
Related Reading
The full picture of marine flooring compliance — guides, segment overview and certified product ranges.
IMO/MED certification explained
IMO/MED Certification for Marine Flooring — the full explainer of IMO, MED, FTP Code Part 2/5 and the modules.
Marine flooring catalogue
Marine Flooring Solutions — IMO/MED certified vinyl, carpet, linoleum and deck systems for the EU.
Marine deck systems
Marine Deck Coverings — A-60 floating floors, mineral screeds and resin deck coatings.
Wheelmark Marine Flooring — Frequently Asked Questions
What buyers ask about the wheelmark when reviewing marine flooring datasheets, samples and supplier documentation.
01 What is the EU Wheelmark?
The wheelmark is the conformity mark of the EU Marine Equipment Directive (2014/90/EU). It is a small ship’s-wheel logo accompanied by the four-digit number of the Notified Body that issued the product’s MED certificate. The mark must appear on the product (or its packaging) for any item of marine equipment placed on the market in the EU and required by SOLAS.
02 What does the four-digit number after the wheelmark mean?
The four-digit number identifies the EU Notified Body that issued the Module B Type Examination Certificate and performs the annual Module D factory audit. For marine flooring the most common ones are 0062 (Bureau Veritas Marine), 0098 (DNV), 0038 (Lloyd’s Register), 0474 (RINA Services) and 1463 (Polski Rejestr Statków). The full current list is in the EU NANDO database under “marine equipment directive”.
03 How do I verify that a wheelmark on flooring is current?
Find the certificate number on the product datasheet or EU Declaration of Conformity, then look it up on the Notified Body’s online certificate register — each major body publishes one (e.g. Bureau Veritas Marine certificate search, DNV PRODCERT). The register tells you the validity period, the covered product range and whether the certificate has been suspended or withdrawn. If the certificate is not findable, treat the wheelmark as unverified.
04 Is wheelmark certification required for non-EU flagged vessels?
Legally MED is mandatory only on EU-flagged vessels, but in practice almost all serious marine flooring carries it because the major classification societies (Lloyd’s, DNV, Bureau Veritas, RINA) accept the wheelmark as proof of IMO FTP compliance regardless of flag. Buying wheelmark-certified flooring is the easiest way to be ready for any flag state without arguing certificates project by project.
05 What is Module B+D in the context of the wheelmark?
Module B is the EU Type Examination — a Notified Body witnesses the IMO FTP fire tests on a sample and issues a Type Examination Certificate. Module D is the production-quality assurance step — the same body audits the factory annually so that every roll on the line matches the approved type. The combined B+D pairing is what authorises the manufacturer to print the wheelmark on actual product. See our IMO/MED guide for the alternatives (Module E, Module H).
06 What is the difference between a wheelmark certificate and an EU Declaration of Conformity?
The wheelmark Type Examination Certificate is the underlying certificate that the Notified Body issues to the manufacturer — typically valid for up to five years and covering a defined product range. The EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is what the manufacturer signs for each shipment, referencing the certificate number and confirming this batch was produced under the approved process. Class surveyors normally want to see both.
07 Where does the wheelmark physically appear on a flooring product?
On vinyl rolls and sheet products it is usually printed on the back of the roll at intervals, plus on the box or pallet label. On carpet tiles it is on the tile backing and on the carton. On dry-laid systems it is on the system documentation rather than the visible surface. The wheelmark must always appear in the product datasheet too, with the certificate number.
08 Can a product have IMO FTP test reports but no wheelmark?
Yes — and it is a frequent gotcha. A product can pass the IMO Part 2 / Part 5 tests in a recognised lab without going through the EU Notified Body process — meaning it has test reports but no MED Type Examination Certificate and no wheelmark. Class surveyors on EU-flagged vessels will not accept lab reports alone. Always require both the test reports AND the current wheelmark certificate from a Notified Body.
Need Wheelmark-Certified Flooring with Full Documentation?
Trivaro is a B2B supplier of wheelmark-certified marine flooring across the EU — vinyl, carpet, linoleum, marine LVT and A-60 deck systems, with current Module B+D certificates and EU Declaration of Conformity supplied as standard.
Send us your vessel type, classification society and area estimate — we will respond with certified product recommendations, current wheelmark documentation and a B2B quotation.
