Oct 30, 2014

Knowing that the floor beneath you is safe is something most of us take for granted. A proposed new ASTM International standard will help people who have to think about, and test for, floor safety all the time.

The proposed new standard is ASTM WK47030, Practice for Evaluating Concrete Floor Systems to Receive Resilient Flooring.

The World Floor Covering Association and the Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association have endorsed the concept of concrete dryness testing and slab evaluation, as performed by third party agencies. Once ASTM WK47030 has been approved, it can be specified in construction documents or contacts as a way to require such third party testing.

ASTM WK47030 will cover the evaluation of a concrete slab system that is intended to be covered with resilient flooring. It features a review of concrete floor slab design and construction documents to ensure compatibility with specified floor covering and adhesive manufacturers’ requirements.

“The intent of this practice is to collect all pertinent data and expose conflict before a failure happens,” says ASTM member George Donnelly, George Donnelly Testing and Inspections. Donnelly further notes that, depending on when the review required by ASTM WK47030 is conducted, the results could affect design criteria before construction, eliminating conflicts that would cause problems later.

The review could also occur during construction, but after concrete placement. In this case, the review could expose potential issues, allowing design and construction professionals to make adjustments in the current work that will prevent floor system failures.

“The ultimate intent of WK47030 is that someone, regardless of where they’re at in design or construction, can have all pertinent data and documents in a comprehensive document that notes any and all discrepancies or conflicts between what the concrete contractor has been assigned to do versus the needs of a floor covering system,” says Donnelly.  

ASTM WK47030 is being developed by Subcommittee F06.40 on Practices, part of ASTM International Committee F06 on Resilient Floor Coverings. All interested parties are encouraged to join in the ongoing development of ASTM WK47030.

To purchase standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (tel +1.877.909.ASTM; sales@astm.org). ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-construction or follow us on Twitter @ASTMBuildings.

ASTM Committee F06 Next Meeting: Nov. 12-13, November Committee Week, New Orleans, La.
Technical Contact: George Donnelly, George Donnelly Testing and Inspections, Hot Springs, Ark., tel +1.501.915.0626; info@moisturetesting.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Stephen Mawn, tel +1.610.832.9726; smawn@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, tel +1.610.832.9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #9706