ASTM E1155-96

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 1155 – 96 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Determining F Floor Flatness and F Floor Levelness
F L
Numbers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1155; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope between all 12-in. reading points separated by 24 in. The
curvature value is the difference between successive elevation
1.1 This test method covers a quantitative method of mea-
differences. The mean and standard deviation of all the
suring floor surface profiles to obtain estimates of the floor’s
curvature values for a given test section are then converted
characteristic F Flatness and F Levelness Face Floor Profile
F L
according to the equations in this test method to get the
Numbers (F-Numbers) using the inch-pound system of units.
dimensionless F Flatness Number.
F
NOTE 1—A complete metric companion to Test Method E 1155 has
3.1.3 floor profilometer—a Type I device (see 6.1.1) that
been developed, Test Method E 1155M; therefore, no metric equivalents
produces a continuous record of the elevation of a single point
are shown in this test method.
moving along a line on the floor’s surface.
1.2 The text of this test method references notes and
3.1.4 horizontal—level, normal to the direction of gravity.
footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and
3.1.5 inclinometer—a Type II device (see 6.1.2) that mea-
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be
sures the angle between horizontal and the line joining the two
considered as requirements of this test method.
points of contact with the floor’s surface.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.6 level—Horizontal, normal to the direction of gravity.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.6.1 Discussion—For the purposes of this test method,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
levelness will be measured by collecting elevation differences
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
at points spaced 10 ft apart and that will be described by the F
L
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Levelness number (dimensionless).
3.1.7 longitudinal differential floor profilometer, n—a Type
2. Referenced Documents
II device (see 6.1.2) that produces a continuous record of the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
elevation difference between two points moving along a line on
E 1155M Test Method for Determining F Floor Flatness
F
the floor’s surface, which two points remain separated by a
and F Floor Levelness Numbers [Metric]
L
fixed distance.
2.2 ACI Standard:
3.1.8 sample measurement line—a sample measurement
ACI 117-90 Standard Specifications for Tolerances for Con-
line shall consist of any straight line on the test surface along
crete Construction and Materials
which measurements are taken, with the limitations listed in
7.3.
3. Terminology
3.1.9 sign convention—where up is the positive direction;
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
down is the negative direction. Consequently, the higher the
3.1.1 elevation—height, altitude, vertical location in space.
reading point, the more positive its h value, and the lower the
i
Elevation measurements are always made parallel to the
reading point, the more negative its h value. Similarly, the
i
direction of gravity.
elevation difference from a low point to a high point (that is, an
3.1.2 flat—even, plane, homoloidal, free of undulation.
uphill difference) is positive, while the elevation difference
3.1.2.1 Discussion—For the purposes of this test method,
from a high point to a low point (that is, a downhill difference)
flatness will be measured by calculating curvature value, q,
is negative.
3.1.10 test section—a test section consists of any subdivi-
sion of the test surface with the limitations listed in 7.2.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-6 on
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21
3.1.11 test surface—on any one building level, the entire
on Serviceability.
floor area of interest constitutes the test surface, with the
Current edition approved March 10, 1996. Published May 1996. Originally
limitations listed in 7.1.
published as E 1155 – 87. Last previous edition E 1155 – 87.
3.1.12 vertical—parallel to the direction of gravity.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11.
Available from American Concrete Institute, P.O. Box 19150, Detroit, MI
3.2 Symbols:
48219-0150.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1155
3.2.1 A —area of Test Section i. confined to specific paths, however, the requirement for random sampling
i
is eliminated, since the floor can indeed be inspected exactly as it will be
3.2.2 d —difference in elevation (in inches) between read-
i
seen by all of the traffic. In these special cases, rather than inferring the
ing points P and P (i $ 1).
i i−1
condition of the traffic paths from a random sample, it is far more useful
3.2.3 F —Face F Flatness Number (dimensionless).
f F
to measure each of the traffic paths directly using continuous recording
3.2.4 F —composite F Flatness Number for Test Section i.
f F floor profilometer configured to run exactly in the traffic wheel paths. Such
i
3.2.5 F —Face F Levelness Number (dimensionless).
direct simulation measurements eliminate the inherent uncertainties of
l L
3.2.6 F —composite F Levelness Number for Test Section statistical sampling and provide profile information immediately appli-
l L
i
cable to the correction of the surface in way of the future traffic.
i.
3.2.7 h —elevation (in inches) of Reading Point P (i $ 0).
i i
6. Apparatus
3.2.8 n —number of reading points in Test Sample j (n $
j j
6.1 Point Elevation Measurement Device:
12).
6.1.1 Type I Apparatus—If a Type II apparatus (see 6.1.2) is
3.2.9 N —minimum number of 10-ft elevation difference
min
not used for this test, then an apparatus capable of measuring
readings required per the test section.
the elevations of a series of points spaced at regular 12-in.
3.2.10 q —arithmetic difference (in inches) between eleva-
i
intervals along a straight line on the floor surface shall be used.
tion differences d and d (i $ 2).
i i−1
Examples of satisfactory Type I point elevation measurement
3.2.11 r —number of readings of Variable xobtained from
x
j
devices include, but are not limited to the following:
Sample j.
6.1.1.1 Leveled Straightedge, with gage (for example, tri-
3.2.12 s —standard deviation of Variable x in Sample j.
x
j
square, dial indicator, etc.) to measure vertical distance from
3.2.13 V —variance of Variable x in Sample j.
x
j
the upper straightedge surface to floor.
3.2.14 z —difference in elevation (in inches) between Read-
i
6.1.1.2 Leveled Straightedge, with graduated wedges or
ing Points P and P (i $ 10).
i i−10
shims to measure vertical distance from lower straightedge
4. Summary of Test Method
surface to floor.
6.1.1.3 Optical Level, with vernier or scaled target.
4.1 Straight lines are marked at various locations on the
floor surface. Point elevations are then measured at regular 6.1.1.4 Laser Level, with vernier or scaled target.
6.1.1.5 Taut Level Wire, with gage to measure vertical
12-in. intervals along each line. The elevation differences
between all adjacent reading points are calculated, and a distance from wire to floor.
6.1.1.6 Floor Profilometer.
straight line approximation to the surface profile along each
measurement line is produced and evaluated for consistency 6.1.2 Type II Apparatus—If a Type I apparatus (see 6.1.1) is
not used for this test, then an apparatus capable of measuring
with visual observation of the floor surface.
4.2 The arithmetic differences between all adjacent 12-in. the elevations of a series of points spaced at regular 12-in.
intervals along a straight line on the floor surface shall be used.
elevation differences and the elevation differences between all
Examples of satisfactory Type II point elevation measurement
points separated 10 ft are then calculated. Estimates of each
devices include, but are not limited to the following:
test section’s floors F Flatness and F Levelness F-Numbers
F L
6.1.2.1 Inclinometer, having 12-in. contact point spacing.
are obtained through statistical analyses of these calculated
6.1.2.2 Longitudinal Differential Floor Profilometer, having
profile values. Finally, the F-Numbers for each test section are
12-in. sensor wheel spacing.
combined to arrive at a composite set of F-Numbers for each
6.2 Ancillary Equipment:
test surface.
6.2.1 Measurement Tape, graduated in feet.
5. Significance and Use
6.2.2 Chalk Line (or other means for marking straight lines
on the test surface).
5.1 This test method provides statistical (and graphical)
information concerning floor surface profiles. 6.2.3 Data Recording Means—This procedure requires the
recording of both verbal and numeric information. Examples of
5.2 Results of this test method are used primarily to:
5.2.1 Establish compliance of randomly trafficked floor satisfactory data recording means include, but are not limited
to the following:
surfaces with specified F Flatness and F Levelness toler-
F L
ances, 6.2.3.1 Manual Data Sheet.
6.2.3.2 Magnetic Tape Recorder, (voice or direct input).
5.2.2 Evaluate the effect of different construction methods
on resulting floor surface flatness and levelness, and 6.2.3.3 Paper Chart Recorder.
5.2.3 Investigate the curling and deflection of floor surfaces. 6.2.3.4 Direct Computer Input.
5.3 Results of this test method shall not be used to enforce
NOTE 3—Since the bias of the results obtained with this test method
contract flatness and levelness tolerances on those floor instal-
will vary directly with the accuracy of the particular measurement device
lations primarily intended to support the operation of fixed-
employed, all project participants should agree on the exact test apparatus
path vehicle systems (for example, narrow aisle warehouse to be used prior to the application of this test method for contract
specification enforcement.
floors).
NOTE 2—When the traffic patterns across a floor are random, (as is
7. Organization of Test Area
generally the case) evaluation of the floor’s F Flatness and F Levelness
F L
7.1 Test Surface—On any one building level, the entire floor
will necessarily involve a random sampling of the surface, since all of the
area of interest shall constitute the test surface.
infinite potential profiles to be seen by the traffic can not possibly be
measured. In those instances when the traffic across a floor will be 7.1.1 When this test method is used to establish compliance
E 1155
pass across many of the construction joints, a separate measurement and
of randomly trafficked floor surfaces with specified F Flatness
F
analysis of the joints may be required in order to provide a quantitative
and F Levelness tolerances, each portion of the surface which
L
measure of the roughness of the joints themselves. Some joints may never
has a unique specified set of tolerances must be treated as a
see traffic, for example, those along a wall. The particular joints required
separate surface.
to be analyzed may be specified in contract specifications, along with a
7.2 Test Section—A test section shall consist of any subdi-
maximum allowable value for q .
i
vision of a test surface satisfying the following criteria:
8. Procedure
7.2.1 No test section shall measure less than 8 ft on a side,
nor comprise an area less than 320 ft .
8.1 Record the name and location of the subject building;
7.2.2 No portion of the test surface shall be associated with
the installation date of the subject floor; the subject floor’s
more than one test section.
specified F and F values; the make, model, and serial number
f l
7.2.3 When testing a concrete floor, no test section boundary of the test apparatus to be used; the date of the test; and the
shall cross any construction joint.
name of the individual making the test.
7.3 Sample Measurement Line—A sample measurement
NOTE 5—When this test is used to evaluate the compliance of a new
line shall consist of any straight line on the test surface
concrete floor with contract flatness and levelness specifications, the
satisfying the following criteria:
timeliness of the test vis-a-vis the date of the floor’s installation is of
7.3.1 No sample measurement line shall measure less than critical importance. Since most concrete floors will change shape signifi-
cantly within a few days after installation, owing to inevitable shrinkage
11 ft in length.
and deflection, the American Concrete Institute (see ACI 117-90) now
7.3.2 No portion of any sample measurement line shall fall
requires that specified concrete floor tolerances be checked within 72 h
within 2 ft of any slab boundary, construction joint, isolation
after floor installation in order to ensure that an accurate gage of the
joint, block-out, penetration, or other similar discontinuity.
surface’s “as-built” shape is assessed.
7.3.2.1 Exception—Shrinkage crack control joints formed
8.2 Lay out the test surface.
either by partial depth sawcuts or by partial depth inserts shall
8.2.1 Divide the entire test surface into test sections. Assign
be ignored.
a different identification number to each test section, and
7.3.2.2 Exception—If the area to be excluded from mea-
record the locations of all test section boundaries.
surement exceeds 25 % of the test section area, then the 2-ft
8.2.2 Within the restrictions described in 7.3, 7.6, and 8.2.3,
boundary exclusion shall not apply.
determine the number and location of all sample measurement
7.3.3 Measurement lines may not be placed parallel to each
lines to be used in each test section. Assign a different
other closer than 4 ft.
identification number to each sample measurement line, and
7.4 Type I Test Sample (Measured With Type I
record the locations of all sample measurement line starting
Apparatus)—A Type I test sample shall consist of not less than
and stopping points. Mark or otherwise physically delineate
twelve sequential point elevation measurements made at regu-
each sample measurement line on the test surface.
lar 12-in. intervals along a single sample measurement line.
8.2.3 The sample measurement lines within each test sec-
7.5 Type II Test Sample (Measured With Type II
tion shall be arranged so as to blind the test results (to the
Apparatus)—A Type II test sample s
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