The ASTM C 1028-07 is NOT a valid test for measuring slip potential of flooring...
The ASTM C 1028-07 static coefficient of friction test is widely recognized to be inappropriate for assessing pedestrian safety. It can give "safe" ratings to very slippery materials. This weakness is recognized in writing by Ceramic Tile Institute of America, Tile Council of North America, and the University of Southern California Medical Center Biomechanics Department, as well as being known by forensic experts worldwide:
1. Ceramic Tile Institute of America (CTIOA.org)
in 2001 explained the weaknesses of the ASTM C 1028 method and endorsed the
pendulum as a primary standard, with the Tortus secondary. The
endorsement from ctioa.org states, "These portable tests are intended to
replace the horizontal pull-meter test, American Society for Testing
and Materials Method C 1028-96, that U.S. ceramic tile manufacturers
currently use for field testing of their products."
2. Eric Astrachan, Executive Director of Tile Council of North America, stated in his article "Updates to an American Method for Measuring Coefficient of Friction" that dynamic friction is important in assessing safety. Static coefficient of friction (measured by the ASTM C 1028) does not properly measure slip potential for flooring.
3. A published human traction study by the University of Southern California Medical Center proved that the static friction test (ASTM C 1028) had no relationship to human traction.
4. The Access Board of the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for establishing guidelines for accessibility to disabled persons. The Board is often quoted as having in 1991 recommended a minimum static coefficient of friction of 0.60 for level floors and 0.80 for ramps. In fact the Access Board states in a May 17, 2011 letter that they never recommended that, but had quoted the recommendation from a research project they funded. Further, the Access Board is not authorized to establish guidelines for public safety, they state. In 2004 they "rescinded the advisory material" and in May 2011 removed from their website "the technical assistance bulletin … that references the 1991 guidelines and its advisory note."
Eric Astrachan also stated in his article (above) that there are "common requests for tile with a static COF [using ASTM C 1028] of 0.6 or better (which) stems from a now outdated ADA Access Board document in which a 0.6 static COF recommendation was made. Commonly misunderstood, this document never set a requirement and has now been withdrawn. The United States Access Board subsequently published a document called "Bulletin #4: Ground and Floor Surfaces" that clears up much of the confusion about this issue and which has no [static] COF recommendation or requirement."
Other devices such as the American Slip Meter ASM 825A also assess static coefficient of friction and they are subject to the same risks and drawbacks as ASTM C 1028.