Slip Testing for Covid-19 Social Distancing Floor Stickers by the James Machine – ASTM D2047

By: Katherine Hatherley, Lab Technician, email

As we continue with the new normal of social distancing, floor stickers directing the path of foot traffic through public and retail buildings are becoming more and more commonplace. You may have also seen these stickers used to show where people should stand in lines to remain six feet apart from each other.

As a floor sticker producer or building owner who uses social distancing floor stickers, how can you ensure these labels don’t pose as a slipping hazard to your customers? One such way is to use floor stickers that have been slip tested at an accredited laboratory. Dell Tech provides slip testing for such decals using the standard ASTM D2047 test method (Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine) to help you determine whether your product provides a safe walking surface.

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

The James Machine is used to determine the static coefficient of friction of a surface, through repeated testing. The static coefficient of friction is “the ratio of the horizontal component of force applied to a body that just overcomes the friction or resistance to sliding, to the vertical component of force applied” (ASTM Designation: D2047-11).

How does the static coefficient of friction tell us what the product’s slip resistance is? If the product’s static coefficient of friction is tested as being greater than or equal to 0.5, the surface is determined to have sufficient slip resistance. The ASTM D2047 method also applies to floor coatings or polishes.

Dell Tech is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory that can test your floor coating, polish, or sticker product for slip resistance to remove the guesswork out of the probability of a slip accident due to a floor surface product. Contact Dell Tech today to schedule testing for your product.

Contact:
Dell Tech
Joe McCarthy, Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist
jmccarthy@delltech.com
519-858-5024

Dell Tech has provided professional, confidential consulting services to the chemical specialty industry in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia for the last 40 years. 

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