the incorporation of a photograph or print preferably the substrate layer 10 the barrier layer 30 and an outer layer formed by the decorative layer 50 and the protective outer layer 60 unless the decorative layer is created on the barrier layer are formed separately prior to being assembled in the manner illustrated in fig1 and described above after the laminate layers are assembled they are laminated i e consolidated by heat and pressure into a unitary decorative laminate the lamination machine may include a mechanism for applying a matte finish to the outer surface of the laminate if desired or a mirror polish may be applied to the outer surface in any event during lamination the reaction products emitted by the substrate layer 10 as the substrate resin is cured are precluded by the barrier layer 30 from reaching the decorative layer 50 and destroying the integrity of the ink used to form the decorative layer thus ink does not discolor or change in some other way that disrupts the decorative pattern further post lamination processes are not affected by the addition of an appropriately chosen barrier layer during actual use of the decorative laminate the barrier layer minimizes the heat released during combustion of the laminate and the underlying components to which it is attached as measured in the osu heat release test the barrier minimizes the heat release by i acting as a heat sink and ii forming an impenetrable barrier against combustible toxic products released by the heating thereby reducing the contribution of those gases to the flammability of the surrounding area fig2 illustrates a flexible decorative laminate formed in accordance with this invention the flexible decorative laminate embodiment of the invention illustrated in fig2 includes a barrier.