Transcript presentation_slides

Evaluation of Slip and Fall Resistance
of Flooring Surfaces
Presented by: Fred Goodwin, BASF
Introduction
• This webinar will introduce information on
various standards for evaluating and
specifying slip resistance for a flooring
surfacing (or coating) in a given surface
environment
Why this document?
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Slip and fall, or trip and fall, is a personal injury legal case based on the claim that
the property owner was negligent in allowing a dangerous condition to exist that
caused the fall.
The law covers any accident that results from the victim encountering an unsafe
condition underfoot, whether it produces a stumble, overextension, twist, or other
movement. (Wilipedia)
Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, the leading cause
of visits (21.3%), are the primary cause of lost days from work and are the leading
cause of workers’ compensation claims (NFSI).
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring
materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year.
Half of all accidental deaths in the home are caused by a fall. Most fall injuries in
the home happen at ground level, not from an elevation.
Compensation & medical costs associated with employee slip/fall accidents is
approximately $70 billion annually (National Safety Council Injury Facts 2003
edition).
Understanding Slip and Fall Resistance
• Coefficient of Friction (COF)
– Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF)
– Dynamic Coefficient of Friction
– Traction
• Slip Resistance
– Static Slip Resistance
– Factor Affecting Slip Resistance
Coefficient of Friction (COF) μ
• The dimensionless ratio of the friction force
(F) between two bodies to the normal force
(N) pressing these bodies together
• A higher COF means more friction and
therefore more traction
N
A measure of “resistance to movement”
F
COF (cont’d)
• Describes the ratio of the force of friction
between two bodies and the force pressing
Static
Dynamic
them together
Tires
Skis
COF (cont’d)
• Depends on the materials used
– Ice on steel has a low COF, while rubber on pavement
has a high COF
• Depends on system variables
– Temperature, velocity, atmosphere, and geometric
properties of the interface between materials
• Ranges on a scale of 0 to greater than 1
– Under good conditions, a tire on concrete may have a
COF of 1.7
COF (cont’d)
• Depends on:
– The quality of both the walking surface and the
shoe soles
– To prevent slip and falls, a high COF between the
shoe and walking surface is needed
• On icy, wet, and oily surfaces, the COF can be as low as
0.10 with shoes that are not slip resistance
• A COF of 0.40-0.50 or more is needed for minimal
traction
Station Coefficient of Friction (SCOF)
• The force required to initiate relative motion
between an object and a surface it is resting
on
– Force required to move the object to its mass
• The tangent of the angle from the vertical at
which slipping begins to occur in variable
incidence strut instruments
SCOF (cont’d)
• It takes 5 lbs. of horizontal force to move a 10
lb. block resting on a floor
– SCOF is 0.50
10 Lbs.
5 Lbs.
Dynamic Coefficient of Friction
• The force required to keep a sliding object in
motion, once slipping has begun based on the
ratio of sliding resistance to vertical force
Traction
• The force that allows walking without slipping
is commonly referred to as “traction”
• A higher COF means more friction, and
therefore, more traction
• Maximum frictional force that can be
produced between surfaces without slipping
Traction
• Traction between two surfaces depends on several
factors:
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Slip resistance
Tread design
Tread hardness
Shape of sole and heel
Abrasion resistance
Contaminants at floor/shoe interface
Chemical resistance
Heat resistance
ANSI 1264.2
• Suggests 0.5 slip resistance on dry
walking/working surfaces
• Other factors need to be considered
– Footwear types,
– Contaminants (water, oil, dirt, dust, etc.)
– Human factors (gait, attentiveness, activity, etc.)
ASTM F609
• Standard test method for using a horizontal
pull slipmeter (HPS)
ASTM F1677
• Standard test method for using a portable
inclinable articulated strut slip tester (PIAST)
ASTM F1679
• Standard test method for using a variable
incidence tribometer (VIT)
ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009
• Test method for measuring wet SCOF of
common hard surface floor materials
ANSI/NFSI B101.3-1012
• Test method for measuring wet DCOF of
common hard surface floor material (including
action and limit thresholds for the suitable
assessment of the measured values)
Slip Resistance
• The relative force that resists the tendency of
the shoe or foot to slide along the walkway
surface
• The frictional force opposing movement of an
object across its surface, usually with
reference to the sole or heel of the shoe on a
floor
Slip Resistance (cont’d)
• The property of a walking surface that tends
to inhibit slipping of a pedestrian’s shoes
under the prevailing conditions
Slip Resistance (cont’d)
• Dependent upon many factors:
– Material and condition of the walkway surface
– Material and condition of the shoe sole or heel
material
– The physical abilities of the user
– The presence of any contaminants on any or both
of the surfaces, and other factors
Slip Resistance (cont’d)
• ASTM F1637 Standard practice for safe walking surfaces
– design and construction guidelines and minimum maintenance
criteria for new and existing buildings and structures
• ASTM D2047
– Standard test method for static coefficient of friction of polishedcoated flooring surfaces as measured by the James Machine
• ASTM F1240
– Standard guide for ranking footwear bottom materials on
contaminated walkway surfaces according to slip resistance test
results
Slip Resistance (cont’d)
• ANSI A1264.2
– Provision of slip resistance on walking/working
surfaces
– Suggests a slip resistance guideline of 0.5 for
walking surfaces in the workplace under dry
conditions
Considerations for Improving Slip
Resistance
• New design
• Maintenance
– Contamination
– Cleaning
• The National Floor Safety Institute’s (NFSI) product certification
program provides independent testing for floor cleaners, finishes,
coatings, etc. for which products that are “NFSI Certified” are in
compliance with the ANSI/NFSI B101 Standards
• Further guidance for cleaning and maintenance of flooring
surfaces can be found in the FeRFA Guide to Cleaning Resin Floors
Testing Machines
• Variable incidence machines
– ASTM F1679
– ASTM D5859
Testing Machines
• Horizontal drag sleds
– ASTM F609
– ASTM C1028
Horizontal Drag Test (cont’d)
ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Test Method for
Measuring SCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor
Materials
ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Test Method for
Measuring SCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor
Materials
ANSI/NFSI B101.3-2012 Test Method for
Measuring DCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor
Materials
ASTM D2047 Static Coefficient of Friction of
Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by
the James Machine
ASTM F462, Standard Consumer Safety
Specification for Slip-Resistant Bathing Facilities
ASTM F1677 Standard Procedure for Using a
Portable Inclinable Articulated Strut Slip Tester
(PIAST)
Reporting
Test
Results
Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)
Reporting
Test
Results
Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)
Reporting
Test
Results
Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)
Reporting
Test
Results
Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)
Questions
Fred Goodwin, BASF Construction Chemicals
Chair SSPC C8.3 Commercial Flooring