ANSI A326.3 Revised: New Minimum DCOF Values

In February 2022, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) released a revised version of the Test Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) of Hard Surface Flooring Materials. The new version includes the addition of a five-category product use classification system.

The five categories include:

1. Interior, Dry
2. Interior, Wet
3. Interior, Wet Plus
4. Exterior, Wet
5. Oils/Greases

The A326.3 revised version also gives minimum DCOF values for each product use category. It advises minimum DCOF values range from 0.42 to 0.55. These new values are seen as a key step towards better specifications and consumer safety.

How to determine DCOF values

The coefficient of friction (COF) is a numeric value that represents the friction between two objects. So, how to use the coefficient of friction with testing to find DCOF values?

DCOF (Dynamic Coefficient of Friction) testing is used to specify the friction of an object that is already in motion. The results of DCOF testing determine the likelihood of whether a surface could contribute to someone slipping and falling.

Recommended equipment for slip tests to determine DCOF values

The equipment recommended for the slip testing service is the BOT-3000E. This is an advanced digital tribometer used for both laboratory and real-world environments. It is designed to crawl along the floor at a constant speed measuring the resistance to slip of a standardized piece of rubber loaded into the bottom of the device. The BOT 3000E can perform this test without any human input.

If you're looking for slip-resistance meters online - BOT 3000E is available to buy and rent at SlipDoctors.

The BOT-3000E is capable of measuring the COF on all product use categories as specified by the revised ANSI A326.3 guidelines.

Need a slip testing service?

If you wish to find out more about the testing of your floors, please contact our team.