Does the Building Code call for a specific COF number?
Dale Roberts
Tile & Stone Installation Expert, Commercial Sales Manager for Custom Building Products
ASTM C1028 has been withdrawn as of 2/1/14 with no replacement. This test method covered the measurement of static coefficient of friction (SCOF) of ceramic tile or other surfaces under both wet and dry conditions. This test method could be used in both the laboratory and/or the job site. A study by the Southern California Medical Center on human traction has stated that the static friction test ASTM C1028 has no relationship to human traction. People do not slip when they are standing still (static), they slip when they are walking (dynamic). Specifiers should remove any reference to this test and the correlating 0.60 for level floors and a 0.8 for ramps.
A common misconception is that OSHA has a slip resistance requirement of SCOF 0.5. The SCOF of 0.5 was once published in an appendix to Subpart D of 1910.22, which was non-mandatory. OSHA does not mandate a slip resistance of 0.5.
Also, there is no ADA requirement of 0.60 for floors or 0.80 for ramps. This was a commonly misunderstood document from 1991. See U.S access Board “Bulletin #4: Ground and Floor Surfaces.
The 2012 International Building code References the 2008 ANSI A137.1. Some people have come to the conclusion, since dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) is referenced in the 2012 ANSI A137.1, that this means that it is now in the building code. The 2012 IBC references the 2008 ANSI A137.1 which references C1028 which did not have an acceptable value, it is just a test method, and has been withdrawn. Some websites actually quote that DCOF is in the 2012 IBC per ANSI A137.1 which is inaccurate. So this means that there is no code reference to any specific test method or value COF or DCOF test in the building code.
2015 IBC does not reference ANSI A137.1 for slip resistance.
ICC PUBLIC HEARING ::: April - May 2012
Delete without substitution:
SECTION 202
DEFINITIONS
2103.6 Ceramic tile. Ceramic tile shall be as defined in, and shall conform to the requirements of, ANSI
A137.1.
So what is in the International Building Code (IBC)? 1003.4 Floor Surface. Walking surfaces of the means of egress shall have a slip resistant surface and be securely attached.
The TCNA along with MIA proposed changes to the 2015 IBC to include ANSI A137.1 and the DCOF of 0.42, which was not approved by the committee. The committee stated that the reason they did not approve it is because it is limited to ceramic tile and does not deal with all hard surfaces. Also, there is confusion as to which floors are subject to wet conditions.
In conclusion, there is not a Building Code, ADA or OSHA requirements beyond “Walking surfaces of the means of egress shall have a slip resistant surface and be securely attached”.
If it is in the contract documents (specifications/drawings) (legal documents between the architect, Owner and GC) you must install exactly as indicated in the contract documents (specifications/drawings). If what’s indicated does not meet standard of common practice, it must be brought to the attention of those listed in the contract (GC, Architect, Owner) thru the proper submittal forms.
Registered Architect
4 年Maybe DCOF will get added back in the new 2017 code?
Great information and it's a 2-year old article. The only change is that A326.3 is now published. It will be interesting to watch IBC evolve now that there are several test methods. A326.3 however, doesn't provide safety thresholds beyond saying that a material should be equal or greater to 0.42 for an indoor, level floor, normally walked upon wet. It does call out that the contaminate can only be water or the 0.42 isn't valid. It also clearly calls out that the specifier is 100% responsible for selecting the appropriate COF threshold. I've not met many material specifiers that could do that well.