3.1 The test methods presented herein are intended to provide both a factual and comparative means of appraising the suitability of finish flooring. The procedures developed simulate some conditions of use that may require either maintenance beyond that considered normal or replacement of the floor surface material.

3.2 It is important for some of the evaluations that the substrate to be used beneath the finish flooring be duplicated because the type and degree of support will have a direct influence on the value obtained from test. For example, in some present-day construction, low-density materials are used for sound-deadening immediately below the finish flooring. The way this substrate distributes loading and absorbs energy will have an influence on evaluations such as those in rolling and concentrated loads.

3.3 The test methods presented herein may be used to compare different finish floorings as to their resistance to severe and ordinary service loads and also may serve as the means to set specification limits. The properties obtained by these test methods are needed in addition to such basic material properties as stiffness, strength, hardness, and dimensional stability.

3.4 All tests may not be required for any specific investigation. There may be an interrelation between two tests, and when it has been demonstrated what the interrelation is, a complete evaluation is only required as a final stage of a study. In each instance, therefore, it is necessary to determine which evaluations shall be made to fulfill the objectives.

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for measuring the performance of finish flooring under the following service loadings and conditions:

Section

Loading Tests

 Concentrated Loading

 7

 Floor Surface Indentation from Small Area Loads

12

 Falling-Ball Indentation

18

 Rolling Load

23

Mechanical Tests

 Abrasion Resistance

28

 Coefficient of Friction

33

Moisture Tests

 Surface Wetting

38

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.