Surface Measuring Instruments
Instruments for Measuring Floor Surfaces - Are you getting what you paid for? And is it compliant to NZ slippage standards?
Light meters or distinction of image (DOI) meters are tools that tell one side of the story, but they have limitations. A light meter can tell you how much light a floor reflects, but it can’t tell you why that light is being reflected.
Likewise, A DOI meter can tell you how sharply an image is reflected in the floor. But again, it can’t tell you if the floor is actually polished to an actual specification.
These meters are not reading the refined texture of a concrete floor, but the surface of the clear-coat epoxy or topical sealer placed over a floor. A Glossy Sealer can be put over a surface in order to reach DOI numbers but still wont indicate whether the surface of the substrate itself has been refined as specified.
Ra Meter- Roughness Average Meter
Put Simply, The Ra Meter takes the guesswork out of Polished Concrete!!
An Ra meter provides a scientific measurement of a concrete floors (surface) texture, determining its smoothness to the micro-inch or micrometre.
By using these measurements, you’ll have an accurate understanding of a concrete floors roughness at each stage of the polishing process and by referencing the ST-115 Surface Textures Chart, know will how to proceed to obtain the agreed result.
This allows quantifiable, repeatable results in accordance with the American Concrete Refinement Standard ST-115.
Main Benefits of an Ra Meter:
- Simple to use.
- Eliminates the need to go back steps to remove missed scratching.
- Confirms the correct surface has been achieved for each stage of polishing.
- Allows the polishing process to be completed more efficiently with conclusive standards achieved.
- Used in conjunction with Absolute Floor Solutions System & American ST-115 Standard.
Slip Meter (Tribometer)
A Slip Meter provides a simple method of testing a floors static Co-Efficiency for compliance against slip hazards. A slip meter whilst can be used in wet or dry conditions, it is often used to confirm a finished floor surface is slip resistant when it's wet.
NZ's slip compliance value is defined as having a surface that gets a Co-efficient of Friction (CoF) reading greater than 0.4 or a Slip resistant value (SRV) of 39 or greater.
Seals and Stain Guards are available to protect a finished concrete surface. Their effect on the surface for slippage, gloss, UV stability, durability and wearability need to be considered