Europeans have been using it for over 20 years.
Laminate flooring is a tongue and groove interlocking flooring system.
It is installed over the top of the existing substrate and simply lays there. This has made it a natural for Europe and its older buildings. Less new construction goes on in relation to home sales than the building in the United States and Canada. In a typical floating installation, only the joints are glued or attached. The body of the floor rests unattached to an appropriate underlayment.