Testing measures the frictional resistance between a surface and a standardized test foot, producing a coefficient value. Testing may be conducted dry, wet, or with contaminants, using various devices and standards.
Reference thresholds derive from industry standards and building codes.
Alternative Names:
Slip Resistance Testing, COF Testing
Why it Matters?
Admissibility challenges focus on whether testing conditions replicated the incident, since results vary substantially with the device used, the surface condition at testing versus at the fall, footwear, and contaminant. Testing conducted months later on a cleaned and possibly refinished surface establishes little about conditions at the time. The threshold values themselves are also contested, since the commonly cited standard was developed for a different purpose than litigation.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What undermines coefficient of friction testing?
Are the threshold values settled?
