What's This Report For? Part 3: Floor Flatness and Stressing Reports-The Floor Flatness Report-What the designer needs to know (PDF)

The Floor Flatness Report-What the designer needs to know (PDF)

Pdf Summary

The article "The Floor Flatness Report" by Mark A. Cheek, published in Concrete International, discusses the challenges in defining and measuring floor flatness and levelness in concrete construction. Traditionally, the flatness quality of floors has been specified using the gap under a straightedge, although this method lacks a standardized procedure for measurement and compliance assessment, potentially leading to disputes. <br /><br />Cheek highlights the development and adoption of the F-number system to address these inadequacies. This system specifies floor flatness (FF) and levelness (FL) numbers, which indicate how smooth and level a floor is. FF values relate to the surface’s bumpiness and are derived from elevation differences over short distances, while FL numbers reflect the overall levelness based on 10-foot increments. Both measures are essential for various applications, impacting aspects such as safety in warehouses and the height at which goods can be safely stacked.<br /><br />The article emphasizes the importance of specifying appropriate FF and FL values relative to the specific application and ensuring tests are conducted promptly (within 72 hours post-finish), allowing contractors to adjust methods if necessary. Measurement is carried out using a device like a Dipstick floor profiler, which provides data for determining if the floor meets the specified FF and FL numbers according to ASTM E1155 standards.<br /><br />Further, the document explains that not meeting local minimum values (typically 60% of overall values) may necessitate remediation, adding cost and effort. Such remediation might include grinding or resurfacing. The significance of clear project specifications and the methodical review of floor profile data is underscored to prevent unnecessary remediation and ensure quality control, emphasizing proper documentation in test reports. <br /><br />The article advises that corrections to mistakes should be based on a comprehensive examination of data across test sections, rather than single sampling lines, which could lead to misrepresentations of floor quality.

Keywords

floor flatness

levelness

F-number system

concrete construction

FF and FL values

ASTM E1155

Dipstick floor profiler

remediation

quality control

test reports