New Hard Surface Testing Standard Released

The National Floor Safety Institute recently released a new safety standard for walkway testing. The standard, ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 Test Method for Measuring Wet SCOF of Common Hard-Surface Floor Materials, determines the static coefficient of friction (SCOF), or traction, of any walkway screed. The standard also provides property owners, facility managers and risk professionals a way to measure slip-and-fall risks, according to Brent Johnson, chief auditor at Traction Auditing LLC (South Lake, Texas). "Up until now, OSHA, ADA [the Americans with Disabilities Act] all required surfaces be stable, firm and slip-resistant," Johnson said. "However, they didn't give you a way to determine that. Now, there is a definition to it." Through testing, walkways are designated as having high, moderate or low traction. Floors garnering a high traction rating represent a low risk of slip and fall; floors with a moderate or low traction rating represent a higher risk of slip and fall accidents. The standard publication is available from NFSI for $59.95.