ASTM E1155-96(2008)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining FF Floor Flatness and FL Floor Levelness Numbers
Standard Test Method for Determining <span class="bdit">F<sub>F</sub></span><span class="bold"> Floor Flatness and </span><span class="bdit">F<sub>L</sub></span><span class="bold"> Floor Levelness Numbers </span>
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method provides statistical (and graphical) information concerning floor surface profiles.
Results of this test method are used primarily to:
Establish compliance of randomly trafficked floor surfaces with specified FF Flatness and FL Levelness tolerances,
Evaluate the effect of different construction methods on resulting floor surface flatness and levelness, and
Investigate the curling and deflection of floor surfaces.
Results of this test method shall not be used to enforce contract flatness and levelness tolerances on those floor installations primarily intended to support the operation of fixed-path vehicle systems (for example, narrow aisle warehouse floors).
Note 2—When the traffic patterns across a floor are random, (as is generally the case) evaluation of the floor's FF Flatness and FL Levelness will necessarily involve a random sampling of the surface, since all of the infinite potential profiles to be seen by the traffic can not possibly be measured. In those instances when the traffic across a floor will be confined to specific paths, however, the requirement for random sampling is eliminated, since the floor can indeed be inspected exactly as it will be seen by all of the traffic. In these special cases, rather than inferring the condition of the traffic paths from a random sample, it is far more useful to measure each of the traffic paths directly using continuous recording floor profilometer configured to run exactly in the traffic wheel paths. Such direct simulation measurements eliminate the inherent uncertainties of statistical sampling and provide profile information immediately applicable to the correction of the surface in way of the future traffic.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a quantitative method of measuring floor surface profiles to obtain estimates of the floor's characteristic FF Flatness and FL Levelness Face Floor Profile Numbers (F-Numbers) using the inch-pound system of units.
Note 1—A complete metric companion to Test Method E 1155 has been developed, Test Method E 1155M; therefore, no metric equivalents are shown in this test method.
1.2 The text of this test method references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this test method.
1.3 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.
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Designation: E1155 − 96(Reapproved 2008)
Standard Test Method for
Determining F Floor Flatness and F Floor Levelness
F L
Numbers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1155; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers a quantitative method of mea- 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
suring floor surface profiles to obtain estimates of the floor’s 3.1.1 elevation—height, altitude, vertical location in space.
characteristic F Flatness and F Levelness Face Floor Profile
Elevation measurements are always made parallel to the
F L
Numbers (F-Numbers) using the inch-pound system of units. direction of gravity.
3.1.2 flat—even, plane, homoloidal, free of undulation.
NOTE1—AcompletemetriccompaniontoTestMethodE1155hasbeen
developed, Test Method E1155M; therefore, no metric equivalents are 3.1.2.1 Discussion—For the purposes of this test method,
shown in this test method.
flatness will be measured by calculating curvature value, q,
between all 12-in. reading points separated by 24 in. The
1.2 The text of this test method references notes and
footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and curvature value is the difference between successive elevation
differences. The mean and standard deviation of all the
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be
considered as requirements of this test method. curvature values for a given test section are then converted
according to the equations in this test method to get the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
dimensionless F Flatness Number.
F
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.3 floor profilometer—a Type I device (see 6.1.1) that
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- produces a continuous record of the elevation of a single point
moving along a line on the floor’s surface.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.4 horizontal—level, normal to the direction of gravity.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.5 inclinometer—a Type II device (see 6.1.2) that mea-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
sures the angle between horizontal and the line joining the two
E1155MTest Method for Determining F Floor Flatness
F
points of contact with the floor’s surface.
andF Floor Levelness Numbers (Metric)
L
3.1.6 level—horizontal, normal to the direction of gravity.
2.2 ACI Standard:
3.1.6.1 Discussion—For the purposes of this test method,
ACI 117-90Standard Specifications for Tolerances for Con-
levelness will be measured by collecting elevation differences
crete Construction and Materials
atpointsspaced10ftapartandthatwillbedescribedbytheF
L
Levelness number (dimensionless).
3.1.7 longitudinal differential floor profilometer, n—a Type
II device (see 6.1.2) that produces a continuous record of the
elevationdifferencebetweentwopointsmovingalongalineon
the floor’s surface, which two points remain separated by a
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
fixed distance.
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21
3.1.8 samplemeasurementline—asamplemeasurementline
on Serviceability.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2008. Published January 2008. Originally shallconsistofanystraightlineonthetestsurfacealongwhich
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as E1155–96(2001).
measurements are taken, with the limitations listed in 7.3.
DOI: 10.1520/E1155-96R08.
3.1.9 sign convention—where up is the positive direction;
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
down is the negative direction. Consequently, the higher the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
reading point, the more positive its h value, and the lower the
i
the ASTM website.
reading point, the more negative its h value. Similarly, the
AvailablefromAmericanConcreteInstitute(ACI),P.O.Box9094,Farmington i
Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.aci-int.org. elevationdifferencefromalowpointtoahighpoint(thatis,an
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1155 − 96 (2008)
uphill difference) is positive, while the elevation difference 5.2.1 Establish compliance of randomly trafficked floor
from a high point to a low point (that is, a downhill difference) surfaces with specified F Flatness and F Levelness
F L
is negative. tolerances,
5.2.2 Evaluate the effect of different construction methods
3.1.10 test section—a test section consists of any subdivi-
on resulting floor surface flatness and levelness, and
sion of the test surface with the limitations listed in 7.2.
5.2.3 Investigatethecurlinganddeflectionoffloorsurfaces.
3.1.11 test surface—on any one building level, the entire
floor area of interest constitutes the test surface, with the 5.3 Results of this test method shall not be used to enforce
limitations listed in 7.1.
contract flatness and levelness tolerances on those floor instal-
lations primarily intended to support the operation of fixed-
3.1.12 vertical—parallel to the direction of gravity.
path vehicle systems (for example, narrow aisle warehouse
3.2 Symbols:
floors).
3.2.1 A—area of Test Section i.
i
NOTE 2—When the traffic patterns across a floor are random, (as is
3.2.2 d—differenceinelevation(ininches)betweenreading
i
generally the case) evaluation of the floor’s F Flatness and F Levelness
F L
points P and P (i ≥ 1).
i i−1 will necessarily involve a random sampling of the surface, since all of the
infinite potential profiles to be seen by the traffic can not possibly be
3.2.3 F—Face F Flatness Number (dimensionless).
f F
measured. In those instances when the traffic across a floor will be
3.2.4 F —composite F Flatness Number forTest Section i.
confined to specific paths, however, the requirement for random sampling
f F
i
is eliminated, since the floor can indeed be inspected exactly as it will be
3.2.5 F—Face F Levelness Number (dimensionless).
l L
seen by all of the traffic. In these special cases, rather than inferring the
condition of the traffic paths from a random sample, it is far more useful
3.2.6 F —composite F Levelness Number for Test Section
l L
i
to measure each of the traffic paths directly using continuous recording
i.
floorprofilometerconfiguredtorunexactlyinthetrafficwheelpaths.Such
3.2.7 h—elevation (in inches) of Reading Point P (i ≥ 0).
i i direct simulation measurements eliminate the inherent uncertainties of
statistical sampling and provide profile information immediately appli-
3.2.8 n—numberofreadingpointsinTestSamplej(n ≥12).
j j
cable to the correction of the surface in way of the future traffic.
3.2.9 N —minimum number of 10-ft elevation difference
min
readings required per the test section.
6. Apparatus
3.2.10 q—arithmetic difference (in inches) between eleva-
i
6.1 Point Elevation Measurement Device:
tion differences d and d (i ≥ 2).
i i−1
6.1.1 Type IApparatus—If aType II apparatus (see6.1.2)is
3.2.11 r —number of readings of Variable xobtained from
not used for this test, then an apparatus capable of measuring
x
j
Sample j.
the elevations of a series of points spaced at regular 12-in.
intervalsalongastraightlineonthefloorsurfaceshallbeused.
3.2.12 s —standard deviation of Variable x in Sample j.
x
j
Examples of satisfactory Type I point elevation measurement
3.2.13 V —variance of Variable x in Sample j.
x
j
devices include, but are not limited to the following:
3.2.14 z—difference in elevation (in inches) between Read-
i
6.1.1.1 Leveled Straightedge, with gage (for example, tri-
ing Points P and P (i ≥ 10).
i i−10
square, dial indicator, etc.) to measure vertical distance from
the upper straightedge surface to floor.
4. Summary of Test Method
6.1.1.2 Leveled Straightedge, with graduated wedges or
shims to measure vertical distance from lower straightedge
4.1 Straight lines are marked at various locations on the
surface to floor.
floor surface. Point elevations are then measured at regular
12-in. intervals along each line. The elevation differences 6.1.1.3 Optical Level, with vernier or scaled target.
between all adjacent reading points are calculated, and a
6.1.1.4 Laser Level, with vernier or scaled target.
straight line approximation to the surface profile along each
6.1.1.5 Taut Level Wire, with gage to measure vertical
measurement line is produced and evaluated for consistency
distance from wire to floor.
with visual observation of the floor surface.
6.1.1.6 Floor Profilometer.
4.2 The arithmetic differences between all adjacent 12-in. 6.1.2 Type IIApparatus—If aType I apparatus (see6.1.1)is
elevation differences and the elevation differences between all not used for this test, then an apparatus capable of measuring
points separated 10 ft are then calculated. Estimates of each the elevations of a series of points spaced at regular 12-in.
test section’s floors F Flatness and F Levelness F-Numbers intervalsalongastraightlineonthefloorsurfaceshallbeused.
F L
are obtained through statistical analyses of these calculated Examples of satisfactory Type II point elevation measurement
profile values. Finally, the F-Numbers for each test section are devices include, but are not limited to the following:
combined to arrive at a composite set of F-Numbers for each
6.1.2.1 Inclinometer, having 12-in. contact point spacing.
test surface.
6.1.2.2 Longitudinal Differential Floor Profilometer, having
12-in. sensor wheel spacing.
5. Significance and Use
6.2 Ancillary Equipment:
5.1 This test method provides statistical (and graphical)
6.2.1 Measurement Tape, graduated in feet.
information concerning floor surface profiles.
6.2.2 Chalk Line (or other means for marking straight lines
5.2 Results of this test method are used primarily to: on the test surface).
E1155 − 96 (2008)
6.2.3 Data Recording Means—This procedure requires the collected within each test section shall be sufficient to yield (in
recordingofbothverbalandnumericinformation.Examplesof aggregate) not less than N individual measurements of z,
min i
satisfactory data recording means include, but are not limited where N is calculated as follows:
min
to the following:
N 5 2=A ~320# A# 1600! (1)
min
6.2.3.1 Manual Data Sheet.
6.2.3.2 Magnetic Tape Recorder, (voice or direct input).
5A/30 ~A.1600!
6.2.3.3 Paper Chart Recorder.
where:
6.2.3.4 Direct Computer Input.
A = test section area, ft .
NOTE3—Sincethebiasoftheresultsobtainedwiththistestmethodwill
vary directly with the accuracy of the particular measurement device
7.7 Construction Joints—Where construction joints are re-
employed, all project participants should agree on the exact test apparatus
quired to be measured, periodic measurements of the 24-in.
to be used prior to the application of this test method for contract
curvature q shall be taken, transverse to and centered on the
i
specification enforcement.
construction joint. At least one q measurement shall be taken
i
on each straight section of joint, with a maximum interval
7. Organization of Test Area
between measurement locations not to exceed 10 ft. These
7.1 TestSurface—Onanyonebuildinglevel,theentirefloor
measurement locations shall be recorded.
area of interest shall constitute the test surface.
7.1.1 When this test method is used to establish compliance NOTE 4—Since construction joints are a discontinuity in the floor
surface, measuring across them would introduce statistical anomalies into
ofrandomlytraffickedfloorsurfaceswithspecifiedF Flatness
F
this test method. Construction joints are therefore excluded from the
and F Levelnesstolerances,eachportionofthesurfacewhich
L
generationofF-Numberstatistics.However,sincetrafficwillnevertheless
has a unique specified set of tolerances must be treated as a
pass across many of the construction joints, a separate measurement and
separate surface.
analysis of the joints may be required in order to provide a quantitative
measureoftheroughnessofthejointsthemselves.Somejointsmaynever
7.2 Test Section—A test section shall consist of any subdi-
see traffic, for example, those along a wall. The particular joints required
vision of a test surface satisfying the following criteria:
to be analyzed may be specified in contract specifications, along with a
7.2.1 No test section shall measure less than 8 ft on a side,
maximum allowable value for q.
i
nor comprise an area less than 320 ft .
7.2.2 No portion of the test surface shall be associated with
8. Procedure
more than one test section.
8.1 Record the name and location of the subject building;
7.2.3 Whentestingaconcretefloor,notestsectionboundary
the installation date of the subject floor; the subject floor’s
shall cross any construction joint.
specified F and F values; the make, model, and serial number
f l
7.3 SampleMeasurementLine—Asamplemeasurementline
of the test apparatus to be used; the date of the test; and the
shall consist of any straight line on the test surface satisfying
name of the individual making the test.
the following criteria:
NOTE 5—When this test is used to evaluate the compliance of a new
7.3.1 No sample measurement line shall measure less than
concrete floor with contract flatness and levelness specifications, the
11 ft in length.
timeliness of the test vis-a-vis the date of the floor’s installation is of
7.3.2 No portion of any sample measurement line shall fall
critical importance. Since most concrete floors will change shape signifi-
within 2 ft of any slab boundary, construction joint, isolation cantly within a few days after installation, owing to inevitable shrinkage
and deflection, the American Concrete Institute (see ACI 117-90) now
joint, block-out, penetration, or other similar discontinuity.
requires that specified concrete floor tolerances be checked within 72 h
7.3.2.1 Exception—Shrinkage crack control joints formed
after floor installation in order to ensure that an accurate gage of the
either by partial depth sawcuts or by partial depth inserts shall
surface’s “as-built” shape is assessed.
be ignored.
8.2 Lay out the test surface.
7.3.2.2 Exception—Iftheareatobeexcludedfrommeasure-
8.2.1 Divide the entire test surface into test sections.Assign
ment exceeds 25% of the test section area, then the 2-ft
a different identification number to each test section, and
...
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