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May 2022
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Inside the May Issue |
National Standard, ANSI A326.3 Product Use Classifications Based on Slip Resistance
In February, the Tile Council of North
America (TCNA) announced the addition
of a five-category “product use
classification system” in ANSI A326.3
American National Standard Test
Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient
of Friction of Hard Surface Flooring
Materials.
A326.3 describes the test method for measuring dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) of hard surface flooring materials in the laboratory and in the field. The standard also includes DCOF specifications, product use classifications, and guidance on specifying hard surface flooring materials. This standard is intended to serve as a guide to the general public, manufacturers, distributors, specifiers, architects, contractors, testing laboratories, building owners, and other businesses and professionals.
For architects, designers and consumers, A326.3 communicates where themanufacturer of the product expects it can be used based on slip resistance-related criteria. The standard provides possible areas of use for the specifiers’ consideration. This provides information to help choose appropriate hard surface flooring products, ultimately benefiting all end-users of flooring through better choices.
The standard, originally published in
2017, is referenced by IAPMO’s Uniform
Swimming Pool, Spa, & Hot Tub Code
and will be referenced in the International
Code Council’s International
Swimming Pool & Spa Code beginning in
2024.
The five categories, developed by the
ANSI Accredited Standards Committee
responsible for the standard, will allow
manufacturers to directly communicate
areas of use based on the slip resistance
characteristics of their products, with
manufacturers starting to provide these
classifications for their products in the
upcoming months.
“This revision to A326.3, resulting from
years of testing, research, and consensusbuilding,
represents perhaps the most
significant slip/fall communications advancement
in the flooring industry since
the 1950’s when standards were proposed
to measure the frictional properties
of flooring,” said TCNA Director of
Standards Development and Sustainability
Initiatives, Bill Griese. “This classification system is a key step forward for
better specifications and consumer
safety.”
Given its importance and beneficial impact, TCNA has made a free digital copy of the standard available to the public at TCNAtile.com.
The five product use categories are as
follows:
1. Interior, Dry (ID)
2. Interior, Wet (IW)
3. Interior, Wet Plus (IW+)
4. Exterior, Wet (EW)
5. Oils/Greases (O/G)
According to the standard, hard surface
flooring products shall be classified
into one or more of the categories. Additionally,
the standard provides informative
“possible areas of use” for each
category.Full story »
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