Standardization News

Continuous friction measurement equipment covered in WK34937 is used to determine skid resistance on airport runways, as well as highways.

Continuous friction measurement equipment used to determine skid resistance is the focus of a proposed new ASTM International standard. Interested parties are invited to participate in the development of WK34937, Guide for Evaluation, Calibration and Correlation of Continuous Friction Measurement Equipment (CFME). The proposed standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E17.21 on Field Methods for Measuring Tire Pavement Friction, part of ASTM International Committee E17 on Vehicle-Pavement Systems.

According to James C. Wambold, president, CDRM Inc., and a past chairman of E17, the purpose of the proposed standard, once it has been approved, will be to calibrate devices that are listed in E2340, Test Method for Measuring the Skid Resistance of Pavements and Other Trafficked Surfaces Using a Continuous Reading, Fixed-Slip Technique, or other appropriate standards such as E670, Test Method for Side Force Friction on Pave Surfaces Using the Mu Meter. These CFMEs are currently used primarily in airports but are seeing more use on highways than before. Information gathered from these tests is used to gather the necessary calibrated friction information for determining the skid resistance of both runways and highways.

Once approved, the proposed standard will be used by test tracks, airport personnel and friction measuring equipment manufacturers to calibrate CFME devices.

CONTACT Technical Information: James C. Wambold, CDRM Inc. • State College, Pa. • Phone: 814-238-7185 O ASTM Staff: Daniel Smith • Phone: 610-832-9727 O Upcoming Meeting: June 24-27 • June Committee Week • San Diego, Calif.