Pendulum Slip Tester - How it works?
Pendulum Slip Tester - How it works?
The pendulum slip test was originally developed to simulate the action of a slipping foot. The method is based on a swing dummy heel, which sweeps over a specified area of flooring (just making contact with the surface) in a controlled manner. The slipperiness of the flooring has a direct influence on the pendulum value obtained (known as the Slip Resistance Value (SRV) or PSV (Pendulum Slip Value) with high CoF values slowing down the pendulum, reducing the distance it travels after contact with the test floor.
This is one of the preferred methods of test in the UK. Pendulum Slip Tester is simple to operate and said to demonstrate good correlation to real life conditions. The method of test is recognised in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive and detailed in the UK Slip Resistance Group Guidelines. The added good of full portability is essential in the evaluation of onsite slip potential.
How it works?
The Pendulum slip tester measures the frictional resistance between a rubber slider mounted on the end of a pendulum arm and the test surface. This provides highway and flooring engineers with a routine method of checking the resistance of wet and dry surfaces to slipping and skidding. The pendulum arm has a spring-loaded rubber slider on the pendulum foot. The Pendulum slip tester is placed on the portion of the road or floor surface to be tested. It is then levelled, and the height of the centre of suspension of the pendulum is adjusted to a fixed value which is read on a special gauge. The pendulum is then released from its horizontal position, to swing down freely until the rubber slider contacts the test surface. As the slider travels across the surface for a fixed distance, the pendulum is slowed and a frictionally-constrained point affixed to the pendulum arm measures the highest point in the pendulum arc. The position of the point is then read on a measuring arc graduated from 0 to 150. Point readings indicate the resistance to skidding of the test surface.
The test is measuring the point when a person is already slipping. The pendulum slip tester is a national standard for pedestrian slip resistance in 48 nations on four continents.
Satisfies the following standards
BS 7976
Method of Operation and Calibration of the Pendulum Tester
BS 812 Pt. 114: 1989
Method for the Determination of the Polished Stone Value (PSV)
BS EN 1097-8 : 2000
Tests for Mechanical and Physical Properties of Aggregates. Determination of Polished Stone Value.
BS 7044 : 1990 : section 2.2
Artificial Sports Surfaces : Person/Surface Interaction.
BS 7188 : 1989
Impact Absorbing Playground Surfaces.
BS 8204 : Part 3 : 1993
In situ Flooring Part 3. Screeds, Bases and In Situ Floorings. Polymer Modified Cementitious Levelling Screeds and Wearing Screeds. Code of Practice.
ASTM E303 : 93
Standard Test Method for Measuring the Surface Frictional Properties using the British Pendulum Tester.
EN 13036-4 : 2003
Road and Airfield Surface Characteristics. Test methods. Method for Measurement of Slip/Skid Resistance of a Surface. The Pendulum Test.
BS EN 13748-1:2004
Terrazzo tiles. Terrazzo tiles for internal use
BS EN 13748-2:2004
Terrazzo tiles. Terrazzo tiles for external use
EN 14231 : 2003
Natural Stone Test Methods – Determination of Slip Resistance by Means of the Pendulum Tester.
BS EN 13845:2005
Resilient Floor Coverings. Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with particle based enhanced Slip Resistance
AS/NZS 4586:2004
Slip Resistance Classification of New Pedestrian Surface Materials.