This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D2394 − 17

Standard Test Methods for

Simulated Service Testing of Wood and Wood-Based Finish
Flooring1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2394; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for measuring the E72 Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels
performance of finish flooring under the following service for Building Construction
loadings and conditions:
3. Significance and Use
Section
Loading Tests 3.1 The test methods presented herein are intended to
Concentrated Loading 7
Floor Surface Indentation from Small Area Loads 12
provide both a factual and comparative means of appraising the
Falling-Ball Indentation 18 suitability of finish flooring. The procedures developed simu-
Rolling Load 23 late some conditions of use that may require either mainte-
Mechanical Tests
Abrasion Resistance 28
nance beyond that considered normal or replacement of the
Coefficient of Friction 33 floor surface material.
Moisture Tests
Surface Wetting 38 3.2 It is important for some of the evaluations that the
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded substrate to be used beneath the finish flooring be duplicated
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical because the type and degree of support will have a direct
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only influence on the value obtained from test. For example, in some
and are not considered standard. present-day construction, low-density materials are used for
sound-deadening immediately below the finish flooring. The
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the way this substrate distributes loading and absorbs energy will
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the have an influence on evaluations such as those in rolling and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- concentrated loads.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.3 The test methods presented herein may be used to
compare different finish floorings as to their resistance to
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor- severe and ordinary service loads and also may serve as the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- means to set specification limits. The properties obtained by
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the these test methods are needed in addition to such basic material
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- properties as stiffness, strength, hardness, and dimensional
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical stability.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.4 All tests may not be required for any specific investiga-
2. Referenced Documents tion. There may be an interrelation between two tests, and
when it has been demonstrated what the interrelation is, a
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
complete evaluation is only required as a final stage of a study.
D1037 Test Methods for Evaluating Properties of Wood-
In each instance, therefore, it is necessary to determine which
evaluations shall be made to fulfill the objectives.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on
Wood and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.01 on Fundamental 4. Test Specimens
Test Methods and Properties.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2017. Published August 2017. Originally 4.1 The number of specimens to be chosen for test and the
approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D2394 – 05 (2011). method of their selection depend on the variability of the finish
DOI: 10.1520/D2394-17.
2
flooring material and on the purpose of the particular tests
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
under consideration, so no general rule can be given to cover
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on all instances. It is recommended that, whenever possible,
the ASTM website. sufficient replications be made to establish reliable mean

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 D2394 − 17
values. Even for the most simple evaluation, a replication of
three tests for each property is recommended.
5. Control of Moisture Content and Temperature
5.1 Wood and wood-based materials are hygroscopic. The
moisture content at time of test will influence values obtained
from tests. Therefore, material for test shall be conditioned to
essentially constant weight at a condition of 65 6 5 % relative
humidity and a temperature of 68 6 6 °F (20 6 3 °C) (Note 1
and Note 2). If there is any departure from this recommended
condition, it shall be so stated in the report. No tests shall be
made on any material when it is not essentially stable in NOTE 1—One inch equals 25.4 mm.
moisture content. FIG. 1 Layout of Specimens for Concentrated Load Test
NOTE 1—In following the recommendation that the temperature be
controlled to 68 6 6 °F (20 6 3 °C) it should be understood that it is
desirable to maintain the temperature as nearly constant as possible at 9.1.1 Steel Disk Loading Tool—The steel disk loading tool
some temperature within this range. shall be 1 in. (25 mm) in diameter with the circumference of
NOTE 2—Requirements for temperature and relative humidity vary for the end rounded to a radius of 0.05 in. (1.3 mm). The loading
different materials and different conditions of use. The condition above tool shall be provided with a collar to engage the movable tip
meets the standard condition for wood and wood-based materials, and for
finish flooring represents the near-maximum seasonal condition for most
of the micrometer dial for measuring deformation under load,
locations. The amount of damage from the various loadings is usually and shall be fabricated with a means of fastening it to the platen
greater at higher moisture contents than at lower ones. of the testing machine or loading device.
9.1.2 Deformation Gage—The deformation gage shall con-
6. Report
sist of a dial micrometer mounted on the three-point supported
6.1 The data recorded shall include, in addition to the actual bridge. The dial micrometer shall be of the kind with divisions
test results and data required specifically from each test, a of 0.001 in. (0.025 mm). The bridge shall be of sufficient length
complete description of the material, sampling procedure, and so that the distance between the single-point support and a line
record of any special treatment or conditioning of the flooring between the pair of point supports is at least 12 in. (305 mm).
material. Any special details concerning the material under test The bridge support shall have a slot in the center of its span of
that may have a bearing on the results shall also be recorded. sufficient opening to clear the loading tool to permit placing the
micrometer directly adjacent to the disk loading tool with the
CONCENTRATED LOADING
stem end in contact with the collar.
7. Scope 9.1.3 Loading Device—A testing machine with a platen area
7.1 Specimens shall be subjected to the concentrated load- sufficiently large to accommodate the 18-in. (457-mm) square
ing test to obtain a measure of the resistance of the finish or other suitable loading device convenient for loading and
flooring to heavy loads produced by such articles of furniture measuring the amount of loading to 1000 lb (or 4.45 kN) at the
as chests and pianos. This test procedure uses the same prescribed rate shall be provided.
equipment and is essentially the same as the one described in 9.1.4 An indentation measuring tool, as required for the
Test Methods E72. falling-ball indentation test (see 20.1.4) shall be provided for
determining the residual indentation from the loading to
8. Test Specimen 1000 lb (4.45 kN) 1 h after removal of load.
8.1 The size of the test specimen will depend on the size of
10. Procedure
components making up the finish flooring, but shall be at least
18 in. (457 mm) square. When the finish flooring is prefabri- 10.1 Loading Points—Load points 1 and 2, for both square
cated in parquet or tile form, the specimen shall consist of at or rectangular parquet or tile form finish flooring, are illus-
least four such tiles attached to an underlayment, subfloor, or trated in Fig. 1. Load point 1 for the tile form of flooring is near
other substrate, using the same construction and technique as the corner, so that deformation under load at a corner can be
will be used in the finished construction. When the flooring is determined. Load point 2 is provided to obtain an index of
manufactured in strip form, the flooring shall be laid in courses resistance to concentrated load at a point where the finish
over the subfloor and substrate so that end joints occur in the flooring can distribute the load because of its inherent stiffness.
same manner as in actual construction. At least two such end Load point 2 shall be at the approximate center of the tile area,
joints shall occur near midwidth in the center one-half of the and when using a 12-in. (305-mm) deformation bridge, the
specimen. Fig. 1 shows the orientation for typical specimens bridge can be placed along the diagonal. Load point 1 for strip
using square and strip configurations of flooring. flooring is to simulate the loading condition possible when the
concentrated load comes at or near an end joint. Load point 2
9. Apparatus simulates the condition that exists when loading is on a
9.1 The apparatus shall be assembled as shown in Fig. 2 and continuous strip of flooring but there is a joint in the adjacent
shall conform in the requirements for component parts as course of flooring. When strip flooring is less than 2 in.
described in 9.1.1 – 9.1.4. (51 mm) wide, the point of load 2 shall be centered on the strip.

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 D2394 − 17

FIG. 2 Assembly for Concentrated Loading Test of Finish Flooring

For other configurations of finish flooring, load point 1 shall FLOOR SURFACE INDENTATION
correspond to the one producing maximum deformation under FROM SMALL AREA LOADS
load and point 2 the more average condition. In each instance,
the 1-in. (25-mm) diameter loading disk shall be centered over 12. Scope
the dimensioned point. 12.1 Specimens shall be subjected to the “indentation dam-
10.2 Loading—Apply the load continuously at a uniform age from small area load test” to obtain a measure of the
rate of movement of the loading tool of 0.10 in. (2.5 mm)/min resistance to sharp-edged small area loadings, such as stiletto
(Note 3). Make at least ten simultaneous measurements of load heeled shoes, protruding nail heads on other shoes, and
and deformation between zero load and 1000 lb (4.45 kN) indentation damage from small, hard objects on the surface
(Note 4). After the load of 1000 lb (4.45 kN) has been applied, either being stepped on or indented into the floor from rolling
it shall be removed immediately so that residual deformation loads. In some of these “point” loadings, unit stresses are
can be determined. Record any observed behavior of either the almost infinite. Some damage to the surface usually occurs.
finish flooring or the substrate during test. The purpose of this evaluation is to compare by observing the
damage from this kind of loading, new finish flooring systems
NOTE 3—The testing machine speed used shall not vary by more than with those of established service performance, or two or more
650 % from that specified for a given test. The testing machine speed
shall mean the free-running, or no load, crosshead speed for testing
floorings to determine which may have better service possi-
machines of the mechanical-drive type and the loaded crosshead speed for bilities. Results obtained are qualitative rather than quantita-
testing machines of the hydraulic-loading type. tive.
NOTE 4—For some evaluations of finish flooring where possible use is
in commercial buildings, concentrated load evaluations may be desirable 13. Test Specimen
for loads greater than 1000 lb (4.45 kN). When this is so, the material shall
be loaded first as specified and then, after residual deformation has been 13.1 The test specimen shall be a composite of the various
obtained, reloaded to the higher maximum load or failure. floorings being evaluated. When the number of materials being
evaluated exceeds the number that can be fabricated in a single
10.3 Residual Deformation—One hour after the load has
specimen, the different materials shall be distributed so that a
been removed, measure the depth of residual indentation to the
representative number are included in each sample. Fig. 3
nearest 0.01 in. (0.25 mm), using the falling-ball indentation
shows the specimen in position for test and the apparatus used
measuring tool described in 20.1.4.
for imposing the concentrated loads on the specimen. Speci-
11. Report mens shall be approximately 9 in. (229 mm) wide and of any
convenient length, so that the number of finish floorings being
11.1 The report shall include typical load-deformation evaluated can be accommodated. Specimens shall be fabricated
curves for load points 1 and 2. Each deformation value for with the same substrate and in the same manner as is to be used
1000 lb (4.45 kN) loading, and residual after loading was in the application of the finished floor. When strip floorings are
removed, shall be presented. Any observations of behavior of being evaluated, two sets of specimens shall be fabricated; one
either finish flooring or substrate or failures shall also be with the long dimension of the pieces of flooring parallel to,
reported. and one with the long direction of the flooring across the
NOTE 5—Photographs showing the nature of residual indentation after direction of movement of the studded roller. Cleats shall be
loading are beneficial. provided to prevent sliding of the specimens.