Pedestrian Slip Resistance:
How to Measure It and
how to Improve It
by William English,
CSP, P.E.
© 1996
A Safety engineering handbook in print on
slipmeters and pedestrian slip resistance
Table of Contents
Author's Preface
Chapter 1. Designing for
Slip Resistance
The physics of slipping. The elements of a safe walking surface.
The hydrodynamic squeezefilm. The role of floor maintenance. Remedial floor
treatments. Using mats effectively. Ladder cleats and stair nosings. Falls
from elevation. Technical definitions. Coefficient of friction/Slip resistance
Chapter 2. NBS Research in
Tribometry
The Hunter Machine. The Sigler pendulum tester. Theoretical research.
The Brungraber testers. NBS comparative testing of meters
Chapter 3. Comparability
of Various Meters
The Bucknell Workshop. Slipmeter design philosophy. The role of
the forceplate. The Universal Slip Resistance Tester. Specialized tester
adaptation. Elemental forces in ambulation. The English
XL (VIT) Tester. The ergonomically sound portable slipmeter.
The state of the art in slipmeter development
Chapter 4. Slider Pads
Required properties. Leather. Neolite. Neoprene. 4-S Rubber.
Other materials. Slider pad preparation. Availability of recognized materials
Chapter 5. Myths about Pedestrian
Slip Resistance
SCOF of .50. How people walk. Pedestrian traction demand.
Measurement techniques. Slider pad selection. The Static/Dynamic controversy.
Traction requirements on stairs
Chapter 6. Slips and Falls
in Restaurants
Selection of floor materials. Grease load. When to clean. Cleaning procedures.
Cleaning chemistry. Polymerization. Gimmicks that don't work
Chapter 7. The Validation
of Slipmeters
The fall problem. Causation of accidental slips. The effect of gait dynamics.
The German ramp test. The baseline problem. Validation guidelines
Chapter 8. Factoring Slip
Resistance into Means of Access to Mobile and Industrial Equipment
Falls from heavy equipment. SAE research findings. Application
of human factors principles. Practical illustrations of good and bad design
Chapter 9. On the Uses of
Tribometry
Who uses slipmeters. What they are good for. Who produces the
tribometric standards. How to get involved. Regulation compliance
Chapter 10. Traction Testing
of Footwear
Absence of valid standards. Proliferation of bogus test methods. The serious
shoe testers: SATRA. SSS. Redfern machines. The English
XST Shoe Traction Tester
Chapter 11. Effects of Controlling
Dynamic Parameters of slipmeters
The effects of velocity of impact. Angle of impact. Magnitude
of thrust and Area of contact. Results of advanced experiments with the
XST shoe traction tester
Chapter 12. Standards affecting
Tribometry
A listing of applicable standards and their issuing organizations.
Comments concerning their significance
Chapter 13. SENRAC
A report of the latest use of slipmeters in developing proposed
OSHA construction safety standards for slip resistance of structural steel
products. Copies of significant documents in the fierce battle against
the regulations by affected industries
Appendices
Manufacturers' instruction manuals and Copies of patents for
the English XL
(VIT) and the Brungraber Mk II (PIAST) slipmeters
The book contains 208 pages and is profusely illustrated.
Order Now!
From within the USA just
send a check for $65.00 plus 5.00 shipping & handling ($70.00 total)
to:
William English, Inc.
P. O. Box 985
Alva, FL 33920
For international orders, just send a bank draft for $100us to the above address (this includes air shipment).
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