Coefficient of Friction – COF Copy

• A measurement that indicates how slippery a floor is under dry conditions
• Horizontal force ÷ by Vertical force = COF
• If it takes 6 pounds of force to move a 10 pound object then the COF

Measurements

Whether you use a simple slip meter or the most advanced tribometer available, the COF readings range from 0.1 to 1.0. higher the reading, the higher the traction on a surface, and the lower the reading, the higher the chance of a slip and fall incident. Be aware, however, that a very high COF can cause people to stumble or trip on the surface. For optimum hazard control, most standards recommend a COF between 0.5 and 0.8.

Knowing the COF of each surface in your facility can help you prioritize cleaning, refinishing and resurfacing efforts. Measurements can also show if a surface is becoming more slippery or less slippery as the result of efforts to increase its COF. In many cases, changing cleaning procedures or floor finishes might be all that is needed to improve the COF and reduce slip and fall injuries.

Static Coefficient of Friction – the force required to initiate relative motion between an object and a surface it is resting on

Dynamic Coefficient of Friction – the force required to keep a sliding object in motion once sliding has begun