This test method provides statistical (and graphical) information concerning floor surface profiles.

Results of this test method are used primarily to:

Establish compliance of randomly trafficked floor surfaces with specified F_F Flatness and F_L Levelness tolerances,

Evaluate the effect of different construction methods on resulting floor surface flatness and levelness, and

Investigate the curling and deflection of floor surfaces.

Results of this test method shall not be used to enforce contract flatness and levelness tolerances on those floor installations primarily intended to support the operation of fixed-path vehicle systems (for example, narrow aisle warehouse floors).

Note 2-When the traffic patterns across a floor are random, (as is generally the case) evaluation of the floor's F_F Flatness and F_L Levelness will necessarily involve a random sampling of the surface, since all of the infinite potential profiles to be seen by the traffic can not possibly be measured. In those instances when the traffic across a floor will be confined to specific paths, however, the requirement for random sampling is eliminated, since the floor can indeed be inspected exactly as it will be seen by all of the traffic. In these special cases, rather than inferring the condition of the traffic paths from a random sample, it is far more useful to measure each of the traffic paths directly using continuous recording floor profilometer configured to run exactly in the traffic wheel paths. Such direct simulation measurements eliminate the inherent uncertainties of statistical sampling and provide profile information immediately applicable to the correction of the surface in way of the future traffic.