Mobile walls
Wall claddings
CPL and HPL are the same material – a laminate made of decorative paper and resins, classified according to the same EN 438-3 standard. The only difference between them is the production method: CPL (Continuous Pressed Laminates) is produced in twin-belt presses in a continuous process, while HPL (High-Pressure Laminates) is produced in multi-shelf presses under higher pressure. Identical performance characteristics, identical density ≥ 1.35 g/cm³ and an identical qualitative assessment mean that CPL is a fully-fledged substitute for HPL in commercial facilities—recognized as its equivalent by the same European laminate manufacturers.
CPL and HPL are two variants of the manufacturing technology for the same material—high-pressure laminate used for surface finishes in commercial buildings. The abbreviation CPL stands for Continuous Pressed Laminates, which is laminate pressed using continuous-press technology. HPL stands for High-Pressure Laminates – a high-pressure laminate that, when ≥ 2 mm meets the definition of a compact laminate in accordance with EN 438.
Architects often treat HPL and CPL as two distinct materials of varying quality. This is a mistake caused by marketing, not by the physics of the material. The EN 438-3 standard defines both laminates as having the same composition: decorative paper and core paper impregnated with resins, pressed under pressure and at temperature. Identical laboratory criteria are used to evaluate their performance.
Optimal Poland supplies CPL laminates manufactured by the same suppliers, who offer HPL on the European market. For architects and developers, this means one thing: The “HPL” specification in a commercial building design can be met using CPL material without compromising technical or quality parameters. The equivalence of both variants is confirmed by the manufacturers’ technical documentation (including EGGER) and their identical classification according to the EN 438-3 standard.
CPL and HPL consist of the same five components:
The EN 438-3 standard defines this composition as “paper and resins”—consistently for both production variants.
Decorative paper forms the visible layer of the laminate. It is printed with wood-grain, patterned, or solid-color (uni) designs. The weight of the decorative paper ranges from 60 to 130 g/m². In commercial buildings, wood-look finishes are predominant in hotels and office buildings, while neutral tones are used in doctors’ offices and classrooms.
Core paper It determines the thickness and stability of the laminate. It is impregnated with phenolic resin, and its weight per unit area falls within the range of 80–300 g/m². Higher basis weights are used primarily in compact laminates—those with a thickness of ≥ 2 mm, which are classified as compact HPL.
Overlay It is a transparent paper with high resin absorption capacity. It protects the printed decorative layer and increases abrasion resistance—a key parameter for finishes subjected to heavy use (hotel lobbies, office hallways, conference rooms).
Underlay (barrier paper) is sandwiched between the decorative paper and the core paper and prevents chemical interactions between the different resins.
Melamine-formaldehyde resins form a transparent, hard coating that impregnates decorative paper. Phenol-formaldehyde resins They are more flexible and brown in color—they impregnate the core paper, providing mechanical strength. These two resin systems are common to both CPL and HPL—hence the identical chemical composition of the finished laminate.
CPL and HPL differ only in the way they are pressed. CPL is manufactured in twin-belt presses using a continuous process, while HPL is manufactured in multi-deck presses using a batch process. This difference in the manufacturing process accounts for all other differences—sheet length, thickness, and production time.
This difference in the manufacturing process results in a basic functional classification: CPL is produced in thicknesses of 0.15–1.50 mm (thin laminates for veneering particleboard and MDF), while HPL is produced in thicknesses of 0.50–2.00 mm in the standard version and over 2 mm in the compact version (self-supporting panels used for walls, countertops, and furniture fronts). It is the thickness, not the pressing method, that determines the application.
The EN 438-3 standard specifies identical minimum values for performance parameters for CPL and HPL. Identical abrasion resistance, identical density, identical impact and scratch resistance. The only differences are in the maximum dimensions (thickness, length), not in the quality of the material.
| Parameter | CPL | HPL | According to EN 438-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ≥ 1.35 g/cm³ | ≥ 1.35 g/cm³ | ≥ 1.35 g/cm³ |
| Abrasion Resistance, IP Revolutions | ≥ 150 / ≥ 350 | ≥ 150 / ≥ 350 | ≥ 150 / ≥ 350 |
| Impact resistance | ≥ 20 N | ≥ 20 N | ≥ 20 N |
| Scratch resistance | Class 3 | Class 3 | Class 3 |
| Light resistance | 4 to 5 | 4 to 5 | 4 to 5 |
| Resistance to water vapor | Level 3–5 | Level 3–5 | ≥ 3 |
| Stain resistance : Grades 1+2 / Grade 3 | ≥ 5 / ≥ 3 | ≥ 5 / ≥ 3 | ≥ 5 / ≥ 3 |
| Min. thickness | 0.15 mm | 0.50 mm | – |
| Max. thickness | 1.50 mm | 40 mm (compact) | – |
| Compact laminates (≥ 2 mm) | No | Yes | – |
The abrasion resistance values given in IP revolutions meet the requirements for kitchen countertops—that is, the highest performance standard for surfaces in commercial buildings. An architect designing a hotel lobby, an office building reception area, or a conference room receives a material with the same durability regardless of whether they choose CPL or HPL. The differences are purely in terms of dimensions.
The EN 438-3 standard uses two parallel classification systems for laminates: alphabetic (three letters describing the application and intended use) and numeric (three numbers describing the mechanical properties). The alphabetic system has a counterpart in the numeric system—together, they define the complete specification of the laminate.
The first letter indicates the intended orientation of the laminate:
For example: HGP = Horizontal General-purpose Postforming – horizontal general-purpose laminate, thermoformable. HDF = Horizontal Heavy-Duty Flame-Retardant – horizontal, heavy-duty, flame-retardant laminate.
Each laminate is also characterized by three numbers (classes 2, 3, or 4) corresponding to the following parameters: abrasion resistance / impact resistance / scratch resistance. A higher number indicates greater resistance. The numerical classification corresponds to the alphabetical classification as shown in the table below.
| Performance Category | Numerical Classes(abrasion / impact / scratches) | Alphabetical equivalents | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very high resistance | 4 / 4 / 4 ≥ 350 IP revolutions, min. 25 N, level 4 |
HDS, HDF, HDP | Cash registers, government facilities, prisons, military facilities |
| High resistance | 3 / 3 / 3 ≥ 350 IP revolutions, min. 20 N, level 3 |
HGS, HGF, HGP | Kitchen and office countertops, restaurant and hotel tables, doors, and wall panels in public spaces |
| Average resistance | 2 / 2 / 2 ≥ 150 IP revolutions, min. 15 N, stage 2 |
VGS, VGF, VGP | Kitchen cabinet fronts, office and bathroom furniture, wall and ceiling panels, shelves, and furniture components |
An interpretive guide for architects: The letters H and V indicate the direction of application (horizontal vs. vertical), rather than the quality itself. Higher numerical grades (4/4/4) are most commonly found in laminates intended for horizontal use (HDS, HDF, HDP), because countertops and counters require greater durability than wall paneling. The third letter (S/P/F) indicates a special property—standard, thermoformable, or flame-retardant.
The entire classification works the same way for both CPL and HPL. Laminate designated as HGS in the CPL variant meets the same standard requirements as HGS in the HPL variant. When specifying laminate in a design, the architect should provide the classification symbol (e.g., HGS, HDF)—it is the classification, not the production technology (CPL or HPL), that defines the performance parameters.
In commercial facilities, CPL and HPL serve different roles based on their dimensions, not their quality. CPL is the dominant choice for veneering core boards (particleboard, MDF) due to its thin thickness and continuous lengths. Compact HPL is used as a self-supporting material—for countertops, furniture fronts, bathroom partitions, interior facades, and reception desks.
Hospitality Industry: CPL is the standard finish for walls in guest rooms and hallways. Particleboard panels covered with CPL laminate serve as wall paneling—they are lightweight, easy to install, and available in hundreds of designs. In hotel lobbies architects often combine CPL on wall surfaces with compact HPL on reception desk countertops.
Offices: CPL is used for veneering the fronts of cabinets, storage units, and modular desks. Office spaces typically require the HGS or HGF categories—resistance to everyday use without heavy wear and tear. In open-plan offices, CPL finishes combine aesthetic appeal with acoustic requirementswhen applied to panels with a sound-absorbing core.
Educational Institutions: Laminates are used in classrooms, university lecture halls, and conference centers. Here, the standard is uni decors in the HDS or HGS classes—resistant to daily wear and tear and easy to keep clean. Laminate has become an integral part of movable and acoustic wall systems, where it serves both decorative and hygienic purposes—for example, in systems OPTIMAL 110 installed in university facilities.
Sanitary and Medical Facilities: Compact HPL is used as a self-supporting material for toilet stall walls, hospital fixtures, and wall cladding in rooms with high hygiene requirements. CPL is used in these applications as a finish for furniture components and surfaces with lower water resistance requirements.
Choosing a laminate for a commercial project comes down to three factors: wear resistance class, material size, and decor availability. The production technology (CPL vs. HPL) is a consequence of these requirements, not the primary criterion.
View the available designs in the configurator.
Design Principle: You specify the resistance class (e.g., HGS) and the dimensions (length, thickness, width), and the manufacturer selects the technology (CPL or HPL) based on the availability of the decor. Optimal Poland provides technical consulting during the specification phase—please contact our team before placing your order to verify the availability of a specific decor in the selected technology and resistance class.
Below are the questions designers most frequently ask us regarding the use of laminate panels in commercial projects.
No. CPL and HPL both comply with the same EN 438-3 standard and have identical performance characteristics: density ≥ 1.35 g/cm³, and resistance to abrasion, impact, and scratches. The difference lies solely in the production method—continuous (CPL) or multi-sheet (HPL). Optimal Poland provides a 15-year warranty on CPL laminate and a 10-year warranty on HPL—both warranty periods confirm the high durability of high-pressure laminate in commercial use.
Yes, provided that the resistance class and thickness are maintained. If a project requires HPL with an HGS class and a thickness of 0.8 mm, HGS-class CPL of the same thickness is a fully acceptable substitute. The exception is compact laminates ≥ 2 mm, which are available exclusively in HPL technology due to the required pressing pressure.
Compact laminate is HPL with a thickness of ≥ 2 mm. It is a material self-supporting – It does not require particleboard or MDF as a substrate. It is used for bathroom walls, countertops, furniture fronts, and interior facade elements. The EN 438 standard defines it separately due to its self-supporting nature and the resulting differences in installation.
Production in accordance with the EN 438-3 standard requires regular testing at accredited laboratories. Laminate manufacturers (including EGGER, whose technical data form the basis of this comparison) operate under the ISO 9001 quality management system and the ISO 14001 environmental management system. For environmentally sensitive projects, formaldehyde emissions (Class E1 or E0) and sustainable forestry certifications (FSC, PEFC) should also be verified.
Yes, but it requires specifying a flame-retardant variant (laminate marked with the third letter “F”—e.g., HGF, HDF). Standard CPL and HPL laminates are classified as fire reaction class D-s2,d0 or C-s2,d0 according to EN 13501-1. Flame-retardant variants achieve Class B-s2,d0 —which is permitted in escape routes and facilities with required fire safety standards. In designs combining laminate with a fire-resistant wall system , the compatibility of the reaction classes of both components must be verified—precise data is provided in the technical data sheet for the specific decor from the laminate supplier.
CPL and HPL are the same material produced using two different manufacturing processes. The EN 438-3 standard sets identical quality requirements for them, resulting in laminates with the same durability, resistance, and aesthetic appeal. When specifying the finishes for a building, the architect should focus on service resistance class (HDS, HGS, VGS) and material dimensions – the production technology is a consequence of these decisions, not a selection criterion.
Optimal Poland supplies CPL laminates manufactured by the same suppliers that offer HPL on the European market. The full range of laminated panels is available in the product catalog and from technical advisors. A 15-year warranty on CPL and a 10-year warranty on HPL reflect the long-term durability of both materials in commercial use.
Contact the Optimal Poland team…to verify the availability of the design, technical specifications, and lead times for your project. Technical advisors will help you select the resistance class according to EN 438-3 and the laminate format best suited to the specific nature of your facility—whether it’s a hotel, office building, educational institution, or medical facility.
Use the configuratorto design your own movable wall and get a quote for the project.
