3.1.5 static coeffıcient of friction, n—the ratio of the hori-
zontal component of force applied to a body that just over-
comes the friction or resistance to sliding, to the vertical
component of force applied.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Test Method D2047 establishes a compliance criterion
relating static coefficient of friction measurements of flooring
surfaces with human locomotion safety. The compliance crite-
rion is based on extensive experiential data from residential,
commercial, industrial and institutional walkway surfaces
since 1942.
NOTE 1—The compliance criterion does not purport to address the static
coefficient of friction of contaminated flooring surfaces.
4.2 Polishes and other floor coatings having a static coeffi-
cient of friction of not less than 0.5, as measured by this test
method, have been recognized as providing nonhazardous
walkways.
NOTE 2—The value of 0.5 meets the requirements for compliance with
Rule 5 on “The use of terms slip retardant, slip resistant, or terms of
similar import,” of the Proposed Trade Practice Rules for the Floor Wax
and Floor Polish Industry as issued by the Federal Trade Commission on
March 17, 1953.
4.3 The 0.5 static coefficient of friction compliance criterion
of this test method is only appropriate for polish-coated
surfaces tested in accordance with this machine and test
method. The use of this compliance criterion with other test
methods, other test instruments, and other surfaces is improper,
because they are not a part of the body of experiential data
upon which the conformance criterion is based.
NOTE 3—The conformance criteria of this test method may be valid for
other surfaces and surface coatings tested by this test method, but this has
not been substantiated by correlation with experiential data.
5. Apparatus
5.1 James Machine
4
—See Fig. 1.
5.2 Shoe Material
5
—For interlaboratory and specification
testing, the shoe material shall be leather conforming to
Federal Specification KK-L-165C. Other materials commonly
employed as footwear sole or heel material may be used.
However, it should be understood that the 0.5 static coefficient
of friction compliance criterion value is not relevant when such
materials are substituted for the specification leather (Note 2
and Note 3). To date, compliance criterion values for polish
interfaces with other shoe materials have not been determined
with respect to establishing minimum requirements for non-
hazardous walkways. If a standard rubber shoe material is
required, the test rubber should be in accordance with Test
Method D1630.
NOTE 4—The static coefficient of friction measured with elastomeric
compositions are frequently as much as 0.3 to 0.5 higher than leather.
5.3 Substrate—For interlaboratory and specification testing,
official vinyl composition tile (OVCT)
6
, wood panels
7
, or
standard ceramic tiles
8
shall be used.
5.3.1 If substrates other than the above standards are to be
used, they should be of uniform porosity and free of surface
irregularities which would interlock the shoe material with the
surface or otherwise impede smooth sliding of the shoe over
the film surface.
6. Test Surface
6.1 For interlaboratory and specification testing of floor
polishes, films on OVCT, wood panels, or ceramic tiles shall be
prepared in accordance with Practice D4103.
7. Test Shoe Material
7.1 The size of the shoe material used by the apparatus is
3 in. by 3 in. square by 0.25 in. thick (76.2 mm by 76.2 mm by
6.4 mm).
7.2 For interlaboratory and specification testing, the shoe
material shall be leather manufactured in accordance with
Federal Specification KK-L-165C. Cut the 3 in. by 3 in.
(76.2 mm by 76.2 mm) specimen from the center portion of the
hide by any suitable method. Mark the direction of the grain
fibers for later reference. The alignment of the sides of the test
specimen shall be along the length and width of the hide. Do
not compress the leather during cutting. Dress the edges
square.
5
7.3 Before use, the specification leather should be equili-
brated at 50 %(65 %) relative humidity for one week. Be-
tween uses, the leather shoe material should be stored under
these same constant humidity conditions.
7.4 Other shoe materials may be used for individual and
specific testing purposes. If rubber is used, a standard rubber
compound conforming to Test Method D1630, Section 7.1, is
recommended. It is further recommended that the thickness of
the shoe material not be greater than 0.25 in. (6.4 mm) or less
than 0.20 in. (5.1 mm).
4
Engineering/machinist drawings are available from the Household & Commer-
cial Products Association (HCPA), 1625 I Street NW Suite 700, Washington, D.C.
20006. Assembled, non-motorized machines can be contracted through machine
companies, for example, Reardon Machine Company, Inc., 5015 SE Hwy 169, St.
Joseph, MO 64507, or similar specialty machining companies. Assembled, motor-
ized machines can be available from Credo Product Development, Inc, 4904
Commerce Ct. McFarland, WI 53558. These are the sole sources of supply of the
apparatus known to the committee at this time. If you are aware of alternative
suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM International Headquarters.
Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee,
1
which you may attend.
5
The sole source of supply of the precut specification leather material known to
the committee at this time is available from the Household & Commercial Products
Association (HCPA), 1625 I Street NW Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006. If you
are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM
International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a
meeting of the responsible technical committee,
1
which you may attend.
6
OVCT tile may be obtained through Armstrong Flooring from various home
improvement stores. The following Armstrong tile substrates have been found
suitable to perform adequately for this test method: Armstrong Excelon Feature Tile:
Black (56790).
7
Wood panels may be constructed from assembled Rock Maple shorts (Second
Grade, or better), available from Robbins, Inc., 4777 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati, OH
45226, or from local distributors for Bruce Hardwood Floors, or Harris-Tarkett
Floors. Alternatively, panels may be cut from 3/4 in. (19.1 mm) furniture grade
maple veneer plywood, available from local lumberyards or millworks.
8
Available from the Tile Council of North America, 100 Clemson Research
Blvd, Anderson, SC 29625. The tiles should be prepared for coating in accordance
with the procedure in Test Method D4103.
D2047 − 25
2