What it’s used for:
The roller castor chair test is, primarily, used by floorcovering manufacturers to assess the durability of a floorcovering by simulating the conditions that it would be subjected to in real use.
This test is also used as a form of assessment at F. Ball. However, rather than assessing floorcoverings, we use this test to assess the performance of adhesives and smoothing underlayments used with both textile and resilient floorcoverings.
Why is it used?
The roller castor chair test helps us to identify any potential problems with our adhesives and smoothing underlayments before they go on to be used in the field.
By mimicking real life conditions of a person seated in a castor chair rolling back and forth and moving around, we can see how our products respond to the levels of stress usually experienced by a floorcovering and/or product over time when in use.
This test enables us to see how our products respond to highly accelerated fatiguing of the installation. Floor preparation products that can withstand this gruelling test usually demonstrate outstanding performance in the field.
How it works:
- Smoothing underlayment is applied to a piece of plywood and allowed to dry.
- A sample piece of floorcovering is then adhered to the plywood using the adhesive to be tested and allowed to dry for seven days.
- A machine, consisting of three castors rotating over a rotating platform, applies a maximum weight of 90kg to the floorcovering as the platform rotates for 25,000 revolutions, changing directions every 60 cycles.
- If, after 25,000 revolutions, the floorcovering shows no edge ravel or delamination and the floor preparation products are intact, they have passed the test.
To find out more about product testing, visit the F. Ball website.