DCOF Testing

New Requirements, New Method and New Threshold for Coefficient of Friction (COF) on tile.

Dynamic Coefficient of Friction, or DCOF, is often mistakenly portrayed as the sole indicator of a surface’s slipperiness. While DCOF can be helpful in assessing slipperiness, the measurement of DCOF by traditional means does not consider many aspects relating to traction and the DCOF value does not indicate where a product should be used, which is fundamentally important to tile purchasers. To provide a better assessment of traction and better communicate product use, the most recent version of ANSI A326.3, American National Standard Test Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard Surface Flooring Materials, includes a mandatory requirement that hard surface flooring products be classified into one or more of five new “product use classifications” listed in Table One of the standard.

Descriptions for each of the five product use categories defined in Sections 4.1.1 through 4.1.5 of A326.3, as well as the “possible areas of use” for each section, are excerpted below:

TTMAC now offers this testing service in our Concord Ontario office and laboratory

Testing is conducted with the BOT 3000E and is called the DCOF AcuTest. The BOT 3000E is a type of Tribometer which measures the parameters such as frictional forces, coefficient of friction and the effects of lubrication.

Standard Testing conducted will be Wet Dynamic Coefficient of Friction. Also available, for an additional fee a Dry Dynamic Coefficient of Friction can be conducted. This is not required by ANSI A A326.3 – 200 but could be helpful for comparison purposes when the tile is used in wet versus dry applications.

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