Rationale

Proposed change to the definition of absorption within ASTM F3191 Standard Practice for Field Determination of Substrate Water Absorption (Porosity) for Substrates to Receive Resilient Flooring Current F3191 definition: absorption, n—the process by which a liquid is drawn into and tends to fill permeable pores in a porous solid body. Proposed F3191 definition: absorption, n—the process by which a liquid is drawn into and tends to fill permeable or semi-permeable pores in a porous solid substrate. Rationale: The current definition of absorption within F3191 is taken directly from Terminology C125, Standard Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates. This ballot item seeks to: 1. better align the definition of absorption within F3191 to its usage within the flooring industry, 2. evidence a direct linkage of the definition of absorption to the substrate, and 3. provide a definition that is more encompassing of some manufacturers’ literature that state “…permeable or semi-permeable…” as opposed to only “…permeable…”. Within F141, substrate, is defined as: “the underlying support surface upon which the flooring is installed” (so not just concrete but any substrate). In short, the proposed definition simply: • adds “…or semi-permeable…”, • and changes “…solid body” to “…solid substrate”. An affirmative vote supports adopting the proposed definition.