Effects of Bathing Surface Drainage Contouring on Tribometer Friction Testing

The manufacture and inspection of porcelain-enameled bathing surface friction in the United States has relied on tribometry since 1979; in modernizing the standards for testing bathing surface friction, tribometry is an obvious candidate. However, although bathing surface standards allow a range of bathing surface contours and curvatures (e.g., concavity) for facilitating drainage, it is currently unknown whether tribometer measurements may be sensitive to these features. This preliminary study sought to determine the influence of bathing surface concavity on tribometer measurements. Four different tribometer models were used to assess the available friction of a porcelain-enameled bathing surface under wet conditions and five different radii of concavity. The results indicate that varying concavities may affect the available friction measurements differently for different tribometer models. Based on our preliminary findings, we recommend a more robust study be undertaken.