ASTM F1637-02

Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces

SCOPE
1.1 Scope—This practice covers design and construction guidelines and minimum maintenance criteria for new and existing buildings and structures. This practice is intended to provide reasonably safe walking surfaces for pedestrians wearing ordinary footwear. These guidelines may not be adequate for those with certain mobility impairments.
1.2 Conformance with this practice will not alleviate all hazards; however, conformance will reduce certain pedestrian risks.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for information only.
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 the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Sep-2002
• ICS: 91.120.01 - Protection of and in buildings in general
• Technical Committee: F13 - Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear
• Drafting Committee: F13.50 - Walkway Surfaces

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1637-02e1 - Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2002

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: F 1637 – 02
Standard Practice for
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Safe Walking Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1637; 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 (ε) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.4 element—an identifiable part of an architectural com-
ponent, for example, a stair handrail, tread, riser, or landing.
1.1 Scope—This practice covers design and construction
3.1.5 fair—a smooth transition between adjacent surfaces.
guidelines and minimum maintenance criteria for new and
3.1.6 foreseeable pedestrian path—any place where a pe-
existing buildings and structures. This practice is intended to
destrian could reasonably be expected to walk.
provide reasonably safe walking surfaces for pedestrians wear-
3.1.7 footwear—shoes,includingboots,sandals,slippers,or
ing ordinary footwear. These guidelines may not be adequate
foul weather gear such as overshoes and rubbers, or a combi-
for those with certain mobility impairments.
nation thereof.
1.2 Conformance with this practice will not alleviate all
3.1.8 planar—flat.
hazards; however, conformance will reduce certain pedestrian
3.1.9 ramp—awalkwaysurfacethathasaslopesteeperthan
risks.
1:20 (5 %).
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.10 sidewalk—a paved surface, such as concrete or
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
asphalt, usually parallel and adjacent to streets.
information only.
3.1.11 slip resistance—the relative force that resists the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tendency of the shoe or foot to slide along the walkway
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
surface. Slip resistance is related to a combination of factors
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
including the walkway surface, the footwear bottom, and the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
presence of foreign materials between them.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.11.1 Discussion—Slip resistance is dependent upon
2. Referenced Documents
many factors, such as material and condition of the walkway
2.1 ANSI Standard: surface, material and condition of the shoe sole or heel
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ANSI-Z535.1 Safety Color Coding material, the physical abilities of the user, the attempted or
proposed activities of the user, the presence of any contami-
3. Terminology
nants on any or both of the surfaces, and other factors.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.12 slip resistant—the provision of adequate slip resis-
3.1.1 bollard—a thick, low, short, post, often of iron or steel
tance to reduce the likelihood of slip for pedestrians using
and usually used in series, provided for the purpose of
reasonable care on the walking surface under expected use
excluding or diverting motor vehicles from a road, lawn, or
conditions.
path.
3.1.13 walkway surface hardware—includes manhole cov-
3.1.2 carpet—permanently secured fibrous floor covering.
ers, cellar doors used as walking surfaces, junction box covers,
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Area rugs, mats, and runners are not
cleanout covers, hatches, sidewalk elevator covers, sewer
considered to be carpet for the purpose of this practice.
grates, utility covers, and similar elements that pedestrians can
3.1.3 cross slope—the slope of a pedestrian walkway that is
reasonably be expected to walk on.
perpendicular to the direction of travel.
3.1.14 walkway—walking surfaces constructed for pedes-
trian usage including floors, ramps, walks, sidewalks, stair
1 treads, parking lots and similar paved areas that may be
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F13 on Safety and
reasonably foreseeable as pedestrian paths. Natural surfaces
Traction for Footwear and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F13.50 on
Traction.
such as fields, playing fields, paths, walks, or footpaths, or a
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2002. Published November 2002. Originally
combination thereof, are not included.
published as F 1637 – 95. Last previous edition F 1637 – 95.
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Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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F1637–02
4. Significance and Use 5.4.2 Building entrances shall be provided with mats or
runners, or other means to help remove foreign particles and
4.1 This practice addresses elements along and in walkways
other contaminants from the bottom of pedestrian footwear.
including floors and walkway surface
...