ASTM_F_1240_-_01_2009.pdf

Designation:F124001(Reapproved 2009)Standard Guide forRanking Footwear Bottom Materials on ContaminatedWalkway Surfaces According to Slip Resistance TestResults1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1240;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide describes a method for ranking slip resis-tance test results of footwear bottom materials on contaminatedwalkway surfaces.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Summary2.1 Slip resistance test results of two or more footwearbottom materials are compared on a walkway surface afteradding contaminants likely to be found on the walkway.Foreach contaminant,the footwear bottom material with thehighest test result is ranked 1,the footwear bottom materialwith the next highest test result is ranked 2,and so forth.Therankings for each footwear bottom material are totaled.2.2 The footwear bottom material with the lowest totalranking number can be regarded as the most slip-resistantunder the conditions of the test.3.Significance and Use3.1 This guide provides a method for comparing footwearbottom materials based on their slip characteristics on contami-nated surfaces.3.2 In places where the presence of contamination is ex-pected and in places where it is not feasible to keep walkwaysurfaces continually clean and dry,it may be appropriate tosuggest footwear bottom materials with better slip resistancetest results(that is,a lower total ranking number).Examplescould include food preparation areas,rendering operations,places where machine oil is used,and cargo handling areas.3.3 This guide may be useful to safety professionals,unionofficials,and company management.4.Procedure4.1 Select two or more pieces of footwear bottom materialfor slip resistance testing.If testing the whole shoe bottom isnot feasible,select a piece from the back of the heel bottom orfrom the center of the ball of the shoe bottom.Considerationshould be given to both tread design and soling material.Footwear or soling suppliers,or both,can be a source ofinformation for assisting with selection of appropriate bottommaterials.4.2 Select an appropriate method for slip resistance testing.Test methods under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F13would be appropriate.4.3 Select a walkway surface and contaminants based on theexpected normal environmental exposure of the footwear.4.4 Place an appropriate contaminant on the walkway sur-face and on the footwear bottom material.Describe thecontaminant and the method for applying it,the walkwaysurface,and the test procedure in sufficient detail so others canreproduce the test procedure.4.5 Test slip resistance of the bottom material on thewalkway surface in accordance with the appropriate testmethod instructions.4.6 Select another bottom material and place contaminanton it.Replenish the contaminant on the walkway surface.Continue as in 4.5.4.7 Continue testing in this way until all the bottom mate-rials have been tested.4.8 Assign a rank of 1 to the bottom material that has thehighest test result,2 to the material with the next highest testresult,and so on until all the materials have been ranked.Whentwo or more slip resistance test results are equal,give each onethe average of the rank values they otherwise would have had.For instance,if there is a tie for second and third,give each avalue of 2.5.If there is a tie for second,third,and fourth,giveeach a value of 3.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F13 on Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF13.30 on Footwear.Current edition approved Jan.15,2009.Published March 2009.Originallyapproved in 1989.Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F1240 01.DOI:10.1520/F1240-01R09.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.9 Clean the walkway surface and bottom materials com-pletely to prevent cross contamination,without damaging thebottom materials or walkway surface.4.10 If desired,select another contaminant and continue asin 4.4-4.9 until all contaminants have been tested.4.11 Tabulate the rank numbers using columns for contami-nant and rows for footwear bottom material(see example inTable 1.)4.12 Add the rankings for each bottom material.The lowesttotal rank value is assumed to be the most slip-resistant underthe conditions of the test.A high total rank value does notnecessarily indicate poor slip resistance,but may indicate thatother materials perform better under the parti