ASTM F1637-95

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 Application -This practice addresses elements along and in walkways including floors and walkway surfaces, sidewalks, short flight stairs, gratings, wheel stops, and speed bumps. Swimming pools, bath tubs, showers, natural walks, and unimproved paths are beyond the scope of this practice.  
1.3 Conformance with this practice will not alleviate all hazards; however, conformance will reduce certain pedestrian risks.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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: 31-Dec-1994
• 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

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 – 95
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 3.1.3 cross slope—the slope of a pedestrian walkway that is
perpendicular to the direction of travel.
1.1 Scope—This practice covers design and construction
3.1.4 element—an identifiable part of an architectural com-
guidelines and minimum maintenance criteria for new and
ponent, for example, a stair handrail, tread, riser, or landing.
existing buildings and structures. This practice is intended to
3.1.5 fair—a smooth transition between adjacent surfaces.
provide reasonably safe walking surfaces for pedestrians wear-
3.1.6 foreseeable pedestrian path—any place where a pe-
ing ordinary footwear. These guidelines may not be adequate
destrian could reasonably be expected to walk.
for those with certain mobility impairments.
3.1.7 footwear—shoes,includingboots,sandals,slippers,or
1.2 Application—This practice addresses elements along
foul weather gear such as overshoes and rubbers, or a combi-
and in walkways including floors and walkway surfaces,
nation thereof.
sidewalks, short flight stairs, gratings, wheel stops, and speed
3.1.8 planar—flat.
bumps. Swimming pools, bath tubs, showers, natural walks,
3.1.9 ramp—awalkwaysurfacethathasaslopesteeperthan
and unimproved paths are beyond the scope of this practice.
1:20 (5 %).
1.3 Conformance with this practice will not alleviate all
3.1.10 sidewalk—a paved surface, such as concrete or
hazards; however, conformance will reduce certain pedestrian
asphalt, usually parallel and adjacent to streets.
risks.
3.1.11 slip resistance—the relative force that resists the
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
tendency of the shoe or foot to slide along the walkway
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
surface. Slip resistance is related to a combination of factors
information only.
including the walkway surface, the footwear bottom, and the
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
presence of foreign materials between them.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.11.1 Discussion—Slip resistance is dependent upon
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
many factors such as: material and condition of the walkway
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
surface; material and condition of the shoe sole or heel
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
material; the physical abilities of the user; the attempted or
2. Referenced Documents
proposed activities of the user, and; the presence of any
2.1 ANSI Standard: contaminants on any or both of the surfaces, and other factors.
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3.1.12 slip resistant—the provision of adequate slip resis-
ANSI-Z535.1 Safety Color Coding
tance to reduce the likelihood of slip for pedestrians using
3. Terminology
reasonable care on the walking surface under expected use
3.1 Definitions:
conditions.
3.1.1 bollard—a thick, low, short, post, often of iron or steel
3.1.13 walkway surface hardware—includes manhole cov-
and usually used in series, provided for the purpose of
ers, cellar doors used as walking surfaces, junction box covers,
excluding or diverting motor vehicles from a road, lawn, or
cleanout covers, hatches, sidewalk elevator covers, sewer
path.
grates, utility covers, and similar elements that pedestrians can
3.1.2 carpet—permanently secured fibrous floor covering.
reasonably be expected to walk on.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Area rugs, mats, and runners are not
3.1.14 walkway—walking surfaces constructed for pedes-
considered to be carpet for the purpose of this practice.
trian usage including floors, ramps, walks, sidewalks, stair
treads, parking lots and similar paved areas which may be
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reasonably foreseeable as pedestrian paths. Natural surfaces
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F13 on Safety and
Traction for Footwear and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F13.50 on
such as fields, playing fields, paths, walks, or footpaths, or a
Traction.
combination thereof, are not included.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1995. Published January 1996.
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F 1637
4. Walkway Surfaces 4.4.3 Mats or runners should be provided at other wet
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