Every short code that appears in a floor specification, defined in one or two sentences with a working link to the issuing body. Use this as a sanity check before signing off a spec — if a clause cites a standard you cannot define from memory, look it up here before approving.
Surface Preparation
How rough the concrete must be before coating goes on.
- ICRI CSP 1–10 ICRI 310.2R-2013
- Concrete Surface Profile, a 1-to-10 scale of physical roughness produced on prepared concrete. CSP 1 is the smoothest (acid etched), CSP 9 is heavy scarification, CSP 10 (added 2013) is the heaviest profile for thick polymer overlays. Verified in the field by comparing to ICRI replica chips under raking light. Every major coating warranty references a minimum CSP — deliver less and the manufacturer's legal defense against a delamination claim is complete.
- SSPC-SP 13 / NACE No. 6 AMPP
- Industrial-coatings concrete surface preparation standard, referenced alongside ICRI 310.2R for protective coating applications. Defines surface cleanliness and profile requirements before high-build epoxy or PU industrial systems. Maintained by AMPP (formerly SSPC).
Resin Floor Classification
How resin floor systems are categorised by thickness and use.
- FeRFA Type 1–8 FeRFA UK
- The European reference taxonomy for resin floor systems, published by the UK Resin Flooring Association. Type 1 = floor sealer (≤ 150 μm). Type 2 = floor coating (150–300 μm). Type 3 = high-build floor coating (300–1000 μm). Type 4 = multi-layer flooring (≥ 2 mm). Type 5 = flowable / self-smoothing (≥ 2 mm). Type 6 = resin screed (4–6 mm). Type 7 = heavy-duty flowable / self-smoothing (≥ 4 mm). Type 8 = heavy-duty trowelled mortar (6–9 mm).
- EN 13813 binder classes CEN
- European master standard for floor screeds. Five binder family codes:
CT= cementitious.CA= calcium sulfate.MA= magnesite.SR= synthetic resin.AS= mastic asphalt. Suffixes carry mechanical class (e.g.CT-C25-F4= cementitious screed, compressive strength class 25 MPa, flexural class 4 MPa). Available via DIN Media.
Moisture and Adhesion Testing
The gating tests that determine whether a substrate is ready for coating.
- ASTM F2170 ASTM International
- In-situ relative-humidity probe test, measured at 40% slab depth, equilibrated for 72 hours before reading. The accepted moisture gate for most resin coating manufacturers. Acceptable values typically ≤ 75% RH; some PU-cement systems tolerate up to 85% RH. See ASTM F2170.
- ASTM F1869 (CCEMC) ASTM International
- Calcium chloride emission rate test — measures moisture vapour leaving the slab surface over 60–72 hours in grams per 1000 square feet per 24 hours. Common acceptance: ≤ 3 lbs / 1000 sq ft / 24 hr. Less reliable than F2170 in modern practice but still specified by older systems.
- ASTM D7234 / EN 1542 ASTM / CEN
- Pull-off adhesion test. A 50 mm dolly is bonded to the coating, then pulled with a calibrated tester (DeFelsko PosiTest AT is the field-standard instrument). Failure must be in the concrete or coating, not at the bond line, above a manufacturer-specified MPa value. Mandatory acceptance test under most warranties.
Slip Resistance
How wet-floor safety is measured.
- ANSI A326.3 (DCOF) TCNA / ANSI
- Dynamic Coefficient of Friction, measured with a BOT-3000E instrument with SBR slider on water-wetted floor. Acceptance for level wet barefoot or shod areas: DCOF ≥ 0.42. Used heavily in North American spec and increasingly in global manufacturer TDS.
- EN 16165 (PTV) CEN
- Pendulum Test Value, measured with a portable swinging-arm pendulum and a rubber slider on water-wetted floor. The European companion to DCOF. Acceptance for level wet barefoot or shod: PTV ≥ 36. Required on Israeli public projects via reference into ת״י 1923.
- R-Rating (DIN 51130) DIN
- German ramp-test classification for industrial floors with oil contamination: R9 (lowest slip resistance, ~6–10° ramp angle) to R13 (highest, > 35° ramp angle). R10 = office circulation. R11 = food prep. R12 = commercial kitchen, brewery. R13 = slaughterhouse, oily industrial.
- ת״י 1923 SII
- Israeli national standard for slip resistance of floor coverings. References EN 16165 PTV for wet barefoot and wet shod areas. Mandatory for any IL public-sector tender. Buy from SII.
Israeli National Standards
ת״י (Tav Yud) codes — Israeli standards referenced in IL specifications and public-sector tenders.
- ת״י 466 SII
- Israeli national standard for concrete works in buildings. Covers concrete strength classes, placement, curing, and structural concrete quality. Referenced from any IL slab specification.
- ת״י 1923 SII
- Slip resistance of floor coverings — see above.
- ת״י 5566 SII
- Israeli national standard for waterproofing of wet rooms in residential buildings. Referenced for bathroom, shower, and kitchen waterproofing membranes installed under tiled or microcement floor finishes.
- המפרט הבין־משרדי (Inter-Ministerial Spec) Gov.il
- The Hebrew "Blue Book" — binding finishes spec for government construction in Israel. Section 11 covers floor finishes; Sections 09 and 10 cover screeds and waterproofing. The reference document for any IL public-tender flooring scope.
Sports and Playground Floors
Poured-PU rubber floor classifications.
- EN 14904 CEN
- Indoor multi-sports floor classification. Defines Point-Elastic (P1–P3), Area-Elastic (A1–A4), and Combined-Elastic (C3–C7) classes by shock absorption and vertical deformation. P3 / A4 / C7 are the most cushioned. School and club gyms typically spec C-class; competitive halls spec A-class.
- EN 1177 CEN
- Playground surfacing impact attenuation. Defines Critical Fall Height (CFH) — the maximum drop height from which impact stays under g-max and HIC life-threatening thresholds. CFH is set by shock-pad thickness, not by top coat. Required on all EU public playground installations.
- ASTM F1292 ASTM International
- American playground impact attenuation. North American equivalent to EN 1177. Same Critical Fall Height concept, slightly different test geometry. Used in US-spec playground installations.
Health, Safety, and Air Quality
Worker and end-user safety codes that constrain floor installation.
- OSHA 29 CFR §1926.1153 US Dept. of Labor
- US construction silica exposure rule. Table 1 dictates HEPA vacuum + respirator combinations for grinding, shot-blasting, scarification, and saw-cutting concrete. Non-negotiable on US sites; cited as the industry benchmark even on IL sites without OSHA jurisdiction.
- LEED v4.1 / WELL Building Standard USGBC / IWBI
- Sustainability certifications. LEED v4.1 EQ Credit (Low-Emitting Materials) caps VOC content of wet-applied flooring adhesives and coatings to CDPH/EHLB Standard Method v1.2 or SCAQMD 1168 limits. WELL Air section x05 also references low-emitting flooring.
Concrete Construction
Slab-side documents that govern what the contractor pours before any floor finish goes on.
- ACI 302.1R American Concrete Institute
- Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction. The American reference for placing, finishing, and curing concrete floor slabs. Companion document ACI 360 covers slabs-on-ground. Available via concrete.org.
- EN 1504 (parts 1–10) CEN
- European concrete repair products and systems standard. Ten parts covering surface protection (1504-2), structural repair (1504-3), general principles (1504-9), and other repair scopes. Mandatory citation in any EU repair-mortar specification.
- EN 14629 / FerroGard CEN + Sika
- European test method for chloride content of hardened concrete and the corresponding migrating corrosion inhibitor product class. Critical for IL coastal projects where wind-borne chloride drives rebar corrosion through the slab.
Fire and Acoustic
Reaction-to-fire and sound-transmission ratings that often gate floor specification.
- EN 13501-1 CEN
- European fire reaction classification for construction products. Floor coverings classified A1fl (non-combustible) through Ffl (highest reaction). Public spaces commonly require Bfl-s1 minimum; escape routes Cfl-s1.
- ISO 717-2 (ΔLw) ISO
- Weighted reduction of impact sound from a floor covering, in decibels. Comfort PU floors with elastic membrane typically deliver ΔLw ~ 14–22 dB; standard resin floors deliver near zero. Cited in apartment-over-apartment IL specifications.
How to Use This Glossary
When a clause cites a standard you cannot define in one sentence, look it up here. If a contractor is unwilling to cite chapter and clause for the standards they claim to follow, that is the first warning sign. Specifications are written in the language of standards; vague claims of "industry best practice" without standard references are typically cover for unspecified work.
Related: Industry resources hub · ICRI CSP 1–10 deep dive · Substrate moisture testing.
