News to help you with Walkway Management
This is a short introduction to the ASM 925 Tribometer
The 925 is the newest tribometer from American Slip Meter. Measuring DCOF, you can use the 925 to test walkways, stairs, ramps, and flooring materials (installed or in the lab). Take our 925 Operator Certificate course and learn to use the 925 yourself or give us a call to have us do it. We both rent and sell the 925.
This is a short introduction to the GS-1 Tribometer
The GS-1 tribometer is so much more than a pedestrian-focused slip meter. You can use the GS-1 to test shoes, bath and walk-off mats, stairs, ramps (in the direction of the slope), and flooring materials (installed or in the lab). Take our GS-1 Operator Certificate course and learn to use the GS-1 yourself or give us a call to have us do it. We both rent and sell the GS-1.
Sports Facility Flooring Materials Must Be Properly Selected, Installed, and Maintained
Win the flooring game with data. Use published standards and slip meters based on physics to evaluate and select your materials.
Chair Glide Research Finds Some Combinations of Glides and Flooring Materials May Be Hazardous
Chair Glides. Designed or Hazardous? There are no published standards on the design and selection of chair glides in the built environment so we did some research to evaluate the dry and wet static and dynamic coefficients of friction between 3 chair glide materials (steel, plastic, felt) and 3 flooring materials (commercial carpet, vinyl sheet, porcelain tile). We used the Johnson Forensics GS-1 slip meter to measure SCOF and DCOF. We created a custom sled that allowed us to attach different chair glide material and tested SCOF/DCOF on several commercially available flooring materials. One thing we found using the GS-1 is that adhesion increases the SCOF at the glide/flooring material. Using the digital graph of the SCOF/DCOF data we could see that the calculated SCOF is lower than the actual SCOF. The lower SCOF calculation is because in pedestrian walkway testing adhesion, a time dependent factor affecting SCOF calculations, isn’t a desired factor. However, in chair glides, where the chair is usually not moving, adhesion helps.
Initial data shows some combinations could be hazardous. More research to follow as we develop our test methods and data.
New Online Course At Substratum University – IDCEC-approved for 0.3 CEU – “Flooring: Design Considerations and Material Selection for Health, Safety, & Welfare” – 3 Hours
Flooring materials provide a foundation for the spaces designed by Interior Designers. Design considerations affect health, safety, and welfare issues. Material selection affects the risk and costs of slips and falls as well as cleaning time and cost.
This IDCEC-approved CEU online course is presented in three sections. Each section can be taken separately ($40 each) or bundled together ($80 as bundle). In Section 1, we investigate the annual $40+ billion slip and fall problem in residential and commercial facilities, the causes, key definitions, and factors affecting pedestrian safety.
In Section 2, we explore 18 types of flooring materials, the main contaminants found on floors, and provide a framework for assessing facilities by zones. We describe best practice cleaning procedures to share with clients, and solutions to reduce the risk of slips and falls.
In Section 3, we analyze the physics of slip resistance and friction,new ANSI and ASTM standards available to measure friction,testing devices available for use in material selection and developing specs, and current OSHA/ADA compliance requirements related to flooring. We cover in-depth the A326.3 test method now referred to in the A137.1 tile manufacturing specification. There is a lot of new guidance for specifiers that increases their responsibility and liability when selecting materials.
In 3 hours you will learn what you need to know. You will be able to apply your knowledge immediately, adding value on your design teams and to your clients. Successful completion is automatically reported to IDCEC for any members of IIDA, ASID, and IDC. Other professionals will be provided an IDCEC digital certificate of completion for use in claiming CEUs in their organizations.
CNA 6 Year Slip And Fall Study
New Online Course At Substratum University “Walkways: What You Need To Know To Design, Maintain, And Insure Cleaner, Safer Floors” – 3 Hours
Walkway safety knowledge is important for interior designers, architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers, building owner/operators, building service contractors, risk managers, loss control managers, safety managers, lawyers, forensic engineers, and anyone in the insurance business. This course covers what you need to know to design, maintain, and insure cleaner and safer floors. The 3-hour online course is broken into 3 one hour parts to make it easy for you to learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace. Training can also be done onsite. Free preview of the introduction and course curriculum.
“6 Steps to Prevent Falls” infographic
It’s the 10th anniversary of Fall Prevention Week. Here is a great infographic on “6 Steps to Prevent Falls” for older adults.
Advance copy of A326.3 Wet Dynamic Coefficient of Friction Standard
The A137.1 tile manufacturing specification is being modified to remove all of the DCOF test method. The A326.3 will now be referenced. The A326.3 is now a standalone DCOF hard surface test method. It also has new guidance for specifiers like “if the contamination is anything other than water the 0.42 wet DCOF threshold does not apply”. The standard is being distributed for free. Here is an advance copy:
American Slip Meter825A Operator Certificate Course, $99
This is the course literature for the 1-hour online course will teach you to prepare, calibrate, and test wet static coefficient of friction using the ASM 825A. Purchase an ASM 825A from Substratum ($899) and the course and ground shipping within the U.S. is free.
The $50+ Billion problem we need to fix
Slip, Trip, and Falls (STF) cost U.S. business over $12+ billion in direct costs due to worker incidents and $31+ billion in costs for older adult incidents. It’s time to provide locally available and affordable Walkway Auditor services.
ISSA Today publishes article on why agitation is important during the floorcare process
The June edition of “ISSA Today” published a condensed version of the white paper written by David Collette. To read it online go to http://issatoday.issa.com/?issueID=33&pageID=31
These organizations are ready to help you reduce the risk and cost of slips and falls.
American National Standards Institute
Oversees development of product, service, and process standards within the U.S. ASTM is a global leader in the development and delivery of international standards
American Society of Safety Engineers
ASSE promotes the expertise, leadership and commitment of its members, while providing them with professional development, advocacy and standards development. It also sets the occupational safety, health and environmental community’s standards for excellence and ethics.
Carpet and Rug Institute
The leading science-based source for facts about carpet and rugs.
Construction Specifications Institute
An organization that manages the standardization of construction language as it pertains to building specifications.
Foodservice Industry Risk Management Association
FIRMA is the first trade association to provide risk management support exclusively for Risk, Claims, and Safety Professionals in the Restaurant, Food Production, Retail, and Hospitality industries.
IICRC
Establishes educational programs for the flooring inspection, cleaning and restoration industries.
International Sanitary Supply Association
The leading trade association for the cleaning industry worldwide.
National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is the largest foodservice trade association in the world—supporting nearly 500,000 restaurant businesses.
National Floor Safety Institute
An organization dedicated to reducing trip, slip and falls through education and standards.
National Safety Council
The only global organization promoting safety in the areas of workplace, on the road and in emergency situations.
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Oversees the standards for walking/working surfaces for all permanent places of employment.
Tile Council of North America
Supports the research and development of ceramic tile via testing, creating testing standards and improving installation materials.
American National Standards Institute
Oversees development of product, service, and process standards within the U.S. ASTM is a global leader in the development and delivery of international standards
American Society of Safety Engineers
ASSE promotes the expertise, leadership and commitment of its members, while providing them with professional development, advocacy and standards development. It also sets the occupational safety, health and environmental community’s standards for excellence and ethics.
Carpet and Rug Institute
The leading science-based source for facts about carpet and rugs.
Construction Specifications Institute
An organization that manages the standardization of construction language as it pertains to building specifications.
Foodservice Industry Risk Management Association
FIRMA is the first trade association to provide risk management support exclusively for Risk, Claims, and Safety Professionals in the Restaurant, Food Production, Retail, and Hospitality industries.
IICRC
Establishes educational programs for the flooring inspection, cleaning and restoration industries.
International Sanitary Supply Association
The leading trade association for the cleaning industry worldwide.
National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is the largest foodservice trade association in the world—supporting nearly 500,000 restaurant businesses.
National Floor Safety Institute
An organization dedicated to reducing trip, slip and falls through education and standards.
National Safety Council
The only global organization promoting safety in the areas of workplace, on the road and in emergency situations.
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Oversees the standards for walking/working surfaces for all permanent places of employment.
Tile Council of North America
Supports the research and development of ceramic tile via testing, creating testing standards and improving installation materials.