ASTM_F_373_-_13.pdf

Designation:F37313Standard Test Method forEmbossed Depth of Resilient Floor Coverings1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F373;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of originaladoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 Two important characteristics involved in the manufac-ture of resilient flooring relate to the smoothness of the wearsurface and the hardness of the layers under the wear surface.The surfaces may vary from completely textured areas toportions that are flat but separated by textured areas.This testmethod covers flooring with these interrupted wear surfaceswhich are not supported by soft,cushioned layers.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.3 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.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodF141 Terminology Relating to Resilient Floor Coverings3.Terminology3.1 For terminology relating to Resilient Floor Coverings,see Terminology F141.4.Significance4.1 This test method is designed to measure the verticaldistance between any two levels on the face of the flooring,thatis,between any two flat areas,between a flat area and any partof a textured area,or between two textured areas.This verticaldistance may be of interest in itself or it may be applied to thequestions of:(1)how much of the thickness of the flooring isavailable before the pattern is destroyed;or(2)how deep thedepressed areas must be before valley printing ink is notwalked on in normal traffic.5.Apparatus5.1 The apparatus shall consist of a comparator stand havinga flat anvil base at least 6 in.(15 cm)square,equipped with adial micrometer graduated to 0.001 in.(0.02 mm),and ahemispherical pressure foot132in.(0.80 mm)in diameter.Thefoot shall exert a force of not more than 1 ozf(0.28 N)at anypoint in its travel.The force shall be obtained by an appropriateweight.The plunger of the gage shall be perpendicular to theanvil.6.Test Specimen6.1 The specimen shall be a piece of flooring at least 9 by 9in.(230 by 230 mm).7.Calibration7.1 The calibration of the gage shall be verified by means ofgage blocks or shim stock traceable to national standard ofknown thickness of the appropriate thickness for the depthsbeing measured.8.Conditioning8.1 Condition the specimens at least 24 h at 73.4 6 3.6F(23 6 2C)and 50 6 5%relative humidity.Test at the sameconditions.9.Procedure9.1 Select the two types of areas on a specimen that are tobe examined.9.2 Zero the gage at a random point on the higher area.9.3 Move the gage to a random spot in the second area andmeasure the depth.9.4 When measuring on a nominally flat wearing surface,donot place the tip close to a built-up shoulder area around adepressed spot;such a shoulder reading would give an errone-ous result.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F06 on ResilientFloor Coverings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F06.20 on TestMethods-Products Construction/Materials.Current edition approved May 1,2013.Published May 2013.Originallyapproved in 1973.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F37306.DOI:10.1520/F0373-13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 9.5 Make five measurements per specimen scattered atrandom over the specimen face.Record the measurements tothe nearest 0.001 in.(0.02 mm).10.Report10.1 Report the average of the five measurements calculatedto 0.001 in.(0.02 mm)as the depth between the two types ofareas of interest.10.2 Report the minimum and maximum values obtained.11.Precision and Bias11.1 The number of laboratories,materials,and determina-tions in this study does meet the minimum requirements fordetermining precision prescribed in Practice E691.This StudyPractice E691 MinimumLaboratories66Materials54Determinations5211.2 Precision,characterized by repeatability,Sr,r,andreproducibility,SR,R has been determined for the materials tobe:MaterialsAverageASrBSRCrDREMaterial A14.072.052.515.747.02Material B17.472.252.486.306.9