Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) Testing measures the available traction of any hard surface flooring. Industry standards, such as the ANSI A326.3, provide guidance on acceptable slip resistance under anticipated environmental conditions. DCOF, or sliding friction, correlates to the slip risk of a floor in the tested condition. Accepted by most professionals, this is the industry state of the art.
DCOF slip testing is imperative to protecting yourself and others from potential slips and falls. Knowing whether your floor meets the slip resistance standards increases your slip and fall prevention as well as protects yourself against potential claims should a fall occur.
The last thing any business owner wants is a slip and fall injury from a slippery tile or wet floor. Thankfully, DCOF slip testing provides whether your floor meets ANSI A326.3 industry standard slip resistance requirements which significantly reduces the likelihood of a slip occurring. Designers, contractors, and building and business owners are just some of the professionals that benefit from Moore Engineering Services’ slip testing of dynamic coefficient of friction.
Testing is non-destructive and can be done at any time once the flooring is installed. If installing a new floor system during a remodel, we recommend measuring the DCOF of the floor prior to installation to ensure it complies with manufacturers data and will meet the needs of the use of the space. Moore has often found that manufacturers reported DCOF values are inaccurate and recommends that all of its clients verifies this important property prior to installation, especially on larger projects. If you are worried about slip and fall and resulting claims, we recommend our routine Walkway Safety Auditing to ensure continued satisfactory performance of your flooring (this also creates a paper trail to avoid a claim of negligence when a claim does arise).
We utilize the state-of-the-art BOT-3000E tribometer for slip resistance testing. This easy to use yet complex machine measures the amount of force required to slide a rubber sensor across flooring and then calculates the slip resistance for the finished floor. ANSI A326.3 American National Standard Test Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard Surface Flooring Materials provides the appropriate values for slip testing and determines that values above 0.42 are considered more slip resistant and acceptable for use in the tested condition.
Another facet of slip testing, if a manufacturer used pendulum data to test and verify a product, we can use the pendulum test to ensure that all appropriate standards are met upon installation.
The equipment consists of a frame, a swinging pendulum arm, rubber sliders, and a pointer and a PTV/BPN (Pendulum Test Value or British Pendulum Number) scale. The pendulum attaches to the center of the frame so that the rubber slider on the pendulum head contacts with the test surface during the base of its swing. The skid resistance is measured based on the energy lost to friction when the slider contacts the surface.
The pendulum can be operated per British Standard HSE BS 7976, which describes the operation and calibration and is used to UK, European, and other international standards. This test uses a passing value of 36 or above. Similarly, an Australian committee developed SA HB 198:2014 for the Specification and Testing of Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surfaces.
ASTM E303-22 Standard Test Method for Measuring Surface Frictional Properties Using the British Pendulum Tester was revised in 2022 to more closely represent other pendulum-based standards across the world. The other American standard, F2461-20a Standard Practice for Manufacture, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aquatic Play Equipment is currently being revised to update language to address the term slip resistance. Section 314 of IAPMO provides similar specifications for inclined and level surfaces to be walked on when wet and the slip resistance necessary.
Pendulum testing works on interior and exterior surfaces in wet and dry conditions. Testing is recommended after the product has been installed to ensure appropriate data is met.
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