Evaluation of Slip and Fall Resistance of Flooring Surfaces

1. Evaluation of Slip and Fall Resistance of Flooring Surfaces Presented by: Fred Goodwin, BASF

2. 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

3. Why this document? • 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).

4. 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

5. 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

6. COF (cont’d) • Describes the ratio of the force of friction between two bodies and the force pressing them together Static Dynamic Tires Skis

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. Traction • Traction between two surfaces depends on several factors: • Slip resistance • Tread design • Tread hardness • Shape of sole and heel • Abrasion resistance • Contaminants at floor/shoe interface • Chemical resistance • Heat resistance

14. ANSI 1264.2 • Suggests 0.5 slip resistance on drywalking/working surfaces • Other factors need to be considered • Footwear types, • Contaminants (water, oil, dirt, dust, etc.) • Human factors (gait, attentiveness, activity, etc.)

15. ASTM F609 • Standard test method for using a horizontal pull slipmeter (HPS)

16. ASTM F1677 • Standard test method for using a portable inclinable articulated strut slip tester (PIAST)

17. ASTM F1679 • Standard test method for using a variable incidence tribometer (VIT)

18. ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 • Test method for measuring wet SCOF of common hard surface floor materials

19. 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)

20. 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

21. Slip Resistance (cont’d) • The property of a walking surface that tends to inhibit slipping of a pedestrian’s shoes under the prevailing conditions

22. 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

23. 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 polished-coated 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Testing Machines • Variable incidence machines • ASTM F1679 • ASTM D5859

27. Testing Machines • Horizontal drag sleds • ASTM F609 • ASTM C1028

28. Horizontal Drag Test (cont’d)

29. ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Test Method for Measuring SCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor Materials

30. ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Test Method for Measuring SCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor Materials

31. ANSI/NFSI B101.3-2012 Test Method for Measuring DCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor Materials

32. ASTM D2047 Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine

33. ASTM F462, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Slip-Resistant Bathing Facilities

34. ASTM F1677 Standard Procedure for Using a Portable Inclinable Articulated Strut Slip Tester (PIAST)

35. Reporting Test Results Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)

36. Reporting Test Results Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)

37. Reporting Test Results Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)

38. Reporting Test Results Appendix (based on ASTM F1964-90)

39. Questions Fred Goodwin, BASF Construction Chemicals Chair SSPC C8.3 Commercial Flooring