New Technical Report on Measurement for Slip Resistance Registered With ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recently registered a new technical report, "Using Variable Angle Tribometers (VAT) for Measurement of the Slip Resistance of Walkway Surfaces" (ANSI/ASSE TR-A1264.3-2007), submitted to ANSI by Subcommittee A1264.2 of the A1264 Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) of which the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is secretariat. The technical report is due for publication in February.
A1264.2 subcommittee of the A1264 ASC Safety Standards for Floor and Wall Openings, Railings, and Toeboards and Fixed General Industrial Stairs developed this technical report to provide guidance for the performance of slip resistance testing of in-place walkway surfaces, such as sidewalks, catwalks in factories, grocery store floors and floors in commercial kitchens. The report covers the technical aspects, research, legislation, standards activities and operation of the two widely used VATs commercially available for testing of walkway surface slip resistance, the Brungraber Mark II and the English XL.
"This technical report provides detailed information on the validity of the VAT class of slip meters, including how they work, how to operate them, recommended thresholds of safety and numerous precision and ruggedness studies performed," said Steven DiPilla, ARM, A1264.2 subcommittee chair and director, research and development at ESIS, Inc. "It was developed to serve as another tool for safety professionals to use in accurately assessing the slip resistance of walkway surfaces so that effective improvements can be made when needed."
"Since the withdrawal of two ASTM International standards for using VATs, there has been a need to give credence to the use of these devices in industry and the scientific community," said Keith Vidal, P.E., A1264 committee chair and president of Vidal Engineering Inc. "The new ANSI/ASSE technical paper provides guidance to industry, researchers, consumers and the legal community regarding the use of these devices so that they can be used in a standardized and scientific manner and as legitimately recognized safety tools."
According to ANSI procedures for technical report registration, technical reports may only be submitted for registration by an accredited standards developer, such as the A1264 ASC. All technical reports registered with ANSI must be entirely informative in nature and should not contain information implying that the report is a standard.
The A1264.2 Subcommittee operates under the auspices of the ANSI A1264 ASC and its accredited Standards Development Organization, ASSE. The goal of A1264.2 is to help reduce falls due to preventable conditions by providing guidelines and recommendations for the minimum performance requirements for increased safety on walking/working surfaces in the workplace.