Safe Home—— Safe Floor——-Safe Life
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Premankur Bhattacharya |
The force of static friction is responsible for keeping the feet in place. If a little force is applied to push an object horizontally, static friction is an equal and opposite force that keeps the object at rest. If a greater force is applied the static friction is increased to match the force. The object moves if the static friction force is maximum. The static friction coefficient (μ) between two solid surfaces is defined as the ratio of the tangential force (F) required to produce sliding divided by the normal force between the surfaces (N)μ = F /N For a horizontal surface the horizontal force (F) to move a solid resting on a flat surface F= μ x solid mass x g.
If a body rests on an incline plane the body is prevented from sliding down because of the frictional resistance. If the angle of the plane is increased there will be an angle at which the body begins to slide down the plane. This is the angle of repose and the tangent of this angle is the same as the coefficient of friction.
The above theory is closely related with our daily life …………
Our placed feet grip the floor and push backward, that causes the floor to push forward on your foot. This is termed «grippy» type of friction, where the surfaces are prevented from slipping across each other, a static frictional force.
This is the root cause of fatal accident that happens unfortunately on finished marble or granite floor. You’ve probably experienced having information that caused you observant to avoid accidents on marble floor that mostly happens in toilets. Slips generally take place either when the heel of the ‘front’ foot lands or as the sole of the ‘rear’ foot pushes off. Usually people fall almost exactly over the same location.
The accident happens on glossy, polished and shiny floor which is slippery. We use granite tiles in common places like public stairs, etc. Our reflex action makes us conscious while walking on this surface. You may feel even you amble in such places. That helps us in choosing the right flooring material.
Today’s most popular flooring materials are marble, ceramic tiles, Porcelain tiles of different types of attractive finishes and wooden floors. etc. as floors are a significant design refresher, as well as an investment that can increase the value of house.
Wooden floors can develop scrapes, scratches and dents over time and incur moisture damage. However most of the expensive shining flooring material is low-absorbent and non-absorbent because of the less porosities. That is closely related with the foot fall effect. The floor surface which is none or less absorbent by property is slippery and we know that coefficient is a measurement of the relative ability of various surfaces to resist the sliding or slipping of the selected material. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) currently recommends that the static coefficient of friction should be at least 0.5 for all walkway surfaces under both wet and dry conditions. ASTM C1028 gives, through the use of a force gauge (horizontal dynamometer) pull meter method, the static friction coefficient of the surface.
- Equal to or greater than .60 — excellent friction.
- Equal to or greater than .50 — adequate.
- Equal to or less than .40 — Caution necessary.
While choosing flooring material we should consider the frictional property of the product. There are various types of flooring materials are available in market. We should avoid slippery flooring for toilets and common places. There are anti-skid tiles which should be preferred for those areas. Manufacturers and sellers should suggest the right material for particular areas.
According to a report by World Health Organization falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide.
- Each year an estimated 646 000 individuals die from falls globally of which over 80% are in low- and middle-income countries.
- Adults older than 65 years of age suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.
- 3 million falls that are severe enough to require medical attention occur each year.
The above statistics shows the relevance of anti –skid floor.
Earlier we had no such technology to make a mirror finish floor. The marbles which was used in past, the walking surface was not polished. But, as the technology is advanced to meet the requirement of users, the surface technology is modified. But, today the advanced technology is focusing on the consciousness to choose the right material for safety.
The following flooring can be suggested for different locations in house.
1.Marble Flooring- This is good if not highly polished. Suitable for living room.
2. Vitrified Tiles- vitrified tiles are available in glossy, matte and anti-skid finishes.
3.Terrazzo Flooring- Good for home.
4.Quartz Flooring- Suitable for kitchen
5.Laminate Flooring-Suitable for bedroom, inexpensive.
6.Vinyl Tiles- Suitable for toilets.
7.IPS flooring stands for Indian patent stone flooring, it is a basic type of flooring which provides good wearing properties. It is generally used for all types of floors and mix of concrete used for IPS flooring specification is 1:1.5:3 (cement, sand and stone aggregates).This is inexpensive and adequate anti-skid property is achieved with proper maintenance. This can be grey or colored.
8.IPS Flooring with Nano Composite SYLOCON® which contains millions of Nano tubes that makes the surface antiskid, crack free and receives any colour.
9.Wooden Flooring- Expensive. Good for interior and dry zone.
10.Vacuum Dewatered flooring- Good for industrial heavy duty flooring.
There are immense scope to research on this subject to make the floor safe, attractive, ease of maintenance and durable. Safety is first priorit
To be continued……………..
For further information,
visit: www.aquacrete.co.in