Source: KRAIBURG laboratory (also compare the DLG test reports)
DIN 7861 and DIN 3762: Technical regulations for the use of elastic stable floorings for horses
Husbandry & Stable construction
Elastic floorings are used in a variety of different ways in horse husbandry. The products differ in terms of their structure, softness and intended use, for example. A team of experts in the DIN standards committee “Elastomer Mats” has been working on defining technical regulations for this specific area of application. The goal: Uniform and binding standards for high-quality products that offer animal-friendly comfort. The floor plays a key role in horse husbandry, as it is used by horses seven days a week. Tested, high-quality stable mats boost performance and ensure wellbeing: Protection of tendons and joints, stress-free getting up and lying down, horse-friendly comfort when lying, etc.
Why new standards?
As descendants of steppe animals, domestic horses of today need a horse-friendly ground to guarantee species-appropriate behavior. The lying area must be dry and deformable. Further, as a flight animal, horses must find sufficient support when getting up quickly or lying down. Walking areas need to provide horses with sufficient slip resistance and sure-footedness. As such, specific requirements and tests have been defined for elastic flooring in the field of horse husbandry. Two DIN standards are relevant for the use of elastic floorings for horses’ movement, rest and lying surfaces: DIN 7861 (technical and animal-related minimum standards for elastic floorings) and DIN 3762 (testing procedure for relevant pollutants).
Your advantage
Focusing on animal welfare and consumer protection, the two DIN standards set uniform standards and minimum requirements are clearly defined. This brings transparency to the market and facilitates product selection. It also allows horse owners to base their investments on established standards, thereby providing them with reliable protection. Using a unique process, we have been developing and producing innovative and high-quality rubber mats for animal husbandry at our location in Tittmoning / Germany since 1968. We ensure the satisfaction of our customers through the top quality of our products and rigorous tests by independent testing institutes. This ensures that you, too, can find what suits you and your horse best among our products!
DIN 7861:2024 "Elastic floorings for horses' movement, rest and lying surfaces – Requirements and testing"
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) promotes global progress in agriculture, agribusiness and the food sector by advancing knowledge, quality and technology, contributing to the sustainable protection of global livelihoods. The DIN standard is based on the DLG test programme, which has been used by DLG for more than 30 years and is continuously being developed. Products must meet certain standards in terms of durability (e.g. abrasion resistance, acid resistance) and animal welfare (e.g. slip resistance) to be compliant with the DIN standard.
BELMONDO® mats are DIN-compliant
All BELMONDO® rubber floorings are DIN-compliant. BELMONDO® offers the ideal product for every application. Discover all the products here: products
| Application | Product | Deformability (point and surface load) | Slip resistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loosebox and lying area | Basic, Classic, Trend, Kingsize Cover | ✓ Horse-friendly soft and slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Lying area | Kingsize Duo | ✓ Horse-friendly soft and slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Stable walkway | Walkway, Walkpro | ✓ Slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Stable walkway and indoor washdown area | Walkpro | ✓ Slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Loosebox paddock / washdown area | Paddock | ✓ Slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Walkways | Paddock, Flix, Step | ✓ Slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Horse walker | Motion, Horsewalker | ✓ Slip-resistant | ✓ |
| Anesthesia / recovery pen | Kingsize | ✓ Horse-friendly soft and slip-resistant | ✓ |
A combination of stability and softness is needed to protect your horse's tendons, muscles and joints. Sure-footedness and slip resistance are also relevant. If the floor is too deformable, it can have a negative impact on the entire musculoskeletal system.
| Further technical requirements of all BELMONDO® products | |
|---|---|
| Abrasion resistance, permanent tread load / wear, acid resistance | ✓ |
| High-pressure cleaning | ✓ |
| PAH migration (continuously tested by the DLG according to DIN 3762:2022) | ✓ |
With BELMONDO® Rodeo, we also offer a shock-absorbing and PAH-harmless impact protection for the loosebox wall that protects both the legs of a horse and the wall.
DIN 3762:2022 "Rubber flooring – Determination of the migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)"
In addition to animal welfare, the DIN standards also stand for consumer protection. Standard DIN 7861 defines migration limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Standard DIN 3762 specifies a test method for determining the migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from synthetic flooring. DIN 7861-compliant flooring thus represents a safe application in which there is no questionable transfer of PAHs. Our DIN-compliant floorings for cattle husbandry have also been proven not to transfer PAHs into farm animals or their products (milk, meat).
Info: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
What are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) actually?
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced in the combustion of organic matter and have a ubiquitous occurrence in the environment. A well-known process is, for example, the burning of barbecue charcoal. Some PAH compounds are considered to be carcinogenic.
We only use vegetable oils as plasticizers
The decisive factor is whether or not PAHs from the products are released into the environment, i.e. whether they migrate or not.
If PAHs are contained in plasticizer oils, they are very mobile and highly volatile. This is the reason why 'label-free' – i.e. harmless – plasticizers must be used in the European Union.
But we have gone one step further, as environmental and health protection are very important to us. Instead of mineral plasticizer oils, we only use food-grade vegetable oils from European cultivation!
Pioneer in transparency
We were the first company to be awarded the DLG quality seal CONTINUOUS MONITORING!
This involves regularly reviewing the entire manufacturing process – from raw material to finished product. Both the quality measures from the DLG tests, and our environmental compatibility – here we have achieved PAH test certification, according to the DIN 3762 – are inspected during ongoing production.
The process audit is repeated every year, and is therefore higher-ranking than any one-off test conducted by the DLG.
DIN-compliant rubber floorings not only meet the requirements of the new DIN standards but also contribute to animal, environmental and consumer protection!
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KRAIBURG guidance DIN standards
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