ASTM F924-90(2004)

Standard Test Method for Resistance to Puncture of Cushioned Resilient Floor Coverings

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Much of the cushioned resilient flooring in use today is in household kitchens. Kitchen flooring is frequently subjected to the hazard of dropped tableware and cutting knives, that can puncture the wear layer of cushioned resilient flooring. Food and soil that become embedded in these punctures often can not be removed by ordinary maintenance, resulting in unsightly marks. Moisture, grease, or oils that penetrate to the cushion layer can be wicked into the foam and cause permanent discoloration. Ultimately, the service life of the material is shortened.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the laboratory procedure for determining the resistance of cushioned resilient floor coverings to punctures from dropped pointed objects such as dinner forks.
1.2 This test method employs a 35-g cylindrical dart with a flat, small-diameter tip that is dropped onto a specimen of flooring. The dart represents the weight of a typical fork and the tip produces a similar puncture to those which result from dropped forks.
1.3 Flooring with thick wear layers may not puncture under even the most severe drop. Although data can be obtained by increasing the drop height or the weight of the dart, values of this magnitude have no practical application.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability and regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precaution statement see 8.2.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2004
• Technical Committee: F06 - Resilient Floor Coverings

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F924-90(1999) - Standard Test Method for Resistance to Puncture of Cushioned Resilient Floor Coverings
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM F924-90(2009) - Standard Test Method for Resistance to Puncture of Cushioned Resilient Floor Coverings
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F924–90(Reapproved 2004)
Standard Test Method for
Resistance to Puncture of Cushioned Resilient Floor
1
Coverings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 924; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 For definitions of other terms used in this test method,
refer to Terminology F 141.
1.1 This test method covers the laboratory procedure for
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
determining the resistance of cushioned resilient floor cover-
3.2.1 puncture—a break in the wear layer of the specimen.
ings to punctures from dropped pointed objects such as dinner
An indentation at the point of impact shall be considered a
forks.
puncture only if the wear layer is broken completely through at
1.2 This test method employs a 35-g cylindrical dart with a
some point.
flat, small-diameter tip that is dropped onto a specimen of
3.2.2 wicking—the presence of ink below the wear layer of
flooring. The dart represents the weight of a typical fork and
the specimen in areas adjacent to a puncture. This can be seen
the tip produces a similar puncture to those which result from
next to the actual cut, and appears either as spots on the pattern
dropped forks.
layer or as a general discoloration.
1.3 Flooring with thick wear layers may not puncture under
even the most severe drop. Although data can be obtained by
4. Significance and Use
increasing the drop height or the weight of the dart, values of
4.1 Much of the cushioned resilient flooring in use today is
this magnitude have no practical application.
in household kitchens. Kitchen flooring is frequently subjected
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
to the hazard of dropped tableware and cutting knives, that can
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
puncture the wear layer of cushioned resilient flooring. Food
responsibility of whoever uses this standard to consult and
and soil that become embedded in these punctures often can
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
notberemovedbyordinarymaintenance,resultinginunsightly
mine the applicability and regulatory limitations prior to use.
marks. Moisture, grease, or oils that penetrate to the cushion
For specific precaution statement see 8.2.
layer can be wicked into the foam and cause permanent
2. Referenced Documents discoloration. Ultimately, the service life of the material is
2
shortened.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 171 Specification for Standard Atmospheres for Condi-
5. Apparatus
tioning and Testing Materials
1
5.1 Dart Drop Assembly (Fig. 1), consisting of a ⁄2 in.
F 141 Terminology Relating to Resilient Floor Coverings
plywood platform tilted 20° from horizontal, and a vertical
F 410 Test Method for Wear Layer Thickness of Resilient
slotted tube at least 40 in. (1016 mm) long with an inside
Floor Coverings by Optical Measurement
diameter of 1.05 6 0.05 in. (26.7 6 2 mm). The mouth of the
3. Terminology tube shall be approximately 2 in. (50.8 mm) above the center
of the platform. The tube shall be marked in 1 in. or less
3.1 Definitions:
graduations showing the height above the surface of a mounted
specimen positioned on the platform. At the top of the tube
1
shall be a flat cap with a ⁄4 in. diameter opening in the center.
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF06onResilient
This hole should have smooth, rounded sides.
Floor Coverings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F06.30 on Test
5.2 Dart (Fig. 2), consisting of a 0.970 6 0.003 (246 6
Methods-Performance.
0.76 mm) outside diameter hollow cylindrical aluminum body
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2004. Published September 2004. Originally
approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as F 924 – 90(99).
with a 0.078 6 0.0005 in. (2.0 6 0.013 mm) diameter tip at
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
one end and a steel wire loop at the other end, weighing a total
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
of 35 6 0.10 g. A length of size “A” silk thread at least 60 in.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. long shall be attached to the wire loop.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F924–90 (2004)
FIG. 1 Dart Drop Assembly
5.3 Microscope or magnifier, 3X or greater. 7. Conditioning
5.4 Alcohol-based ink.
7.1 Condition the specimens at 73.4 6 3.6°F. (23 6 2°C)
...