Testing, testing: Point Load Test

In this month’s Testing, testing, we look at the Point Load Test; what it’s for and how it’s done.

What is it used for?

This test is used to test how well a release bond performs under loading.

How it’s done:

  1. A 150mm square of floorcovering is bonded to a plywood board, using a release adhesive, and four pressure points are applied to simulate table legs.
  2. The sample is kept under a 30kg weight for 7 days

What’s next?

After this period, the floorcovering is released from the plywood by hand.

The test assesses the effectiveness of the release bond across the whole area, by checking that the loading points haven’t caused the release bond to fail.