BS EN 1815:2016

BSI Standards Publication

Resilient and laminate floor

coverings — Assessment of
static electrical propensity
BS EN 1815:2016 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 1815:2016. It
supersedes BS EN 1815:1998 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee PRI/60, Resilient and Laminate Floor Coverings.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.
© The British Standards Institution 2016.
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2016
ISBN 978 0 580 86707 1
ICS 59.080.60; 97.150
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 September 2016.
Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication
Date Text affected
 BS EN 1815:2016

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 1815

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM September 2016

ICS 59.080.60; 97.150 Supersedes EN 1815:1997

English Version

Resilient and laminate floor coverings - Assessment of

static electrical propensity
Revêtements de sol résilients et stratifiés - Évaluation à Elastische und Laminat-Bodenbeläge - Beurteilung des
la propension à l'accumulation de charges elektrostatischen Verhaltens
électrostatiques

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 8 July 2016.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1815:2016 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

Contents Page

European foreword....................................................................................................................................................... 3
1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2 Normative References ................................................................................................................................... 4
3 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 4
4 Principle ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Apparatus........................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.1 Substructure for resilient floor coverings ............................................................................................. 4
5.2 Substructure for laminate floor coverings............................................................................................. 4
5.2.1 Laminate floor coverings without attached sound absorbing material ...................................... 4
5.2.2 Laminate floor coverings with attached sound absorbing material............................................. 4
5.3 Test sandals ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.4 Means of cleaning the sandals .................................................................................................................... 6
5.5 lonizing source ................................................................................................................................................. 6
5.6 Body voltage measuring system ................................................................................................................ 6
5.7 Thermometer and hygrometer .................................................................................................................. 7
6 Conditioning...................................................................................................................................................... 7
7 Test procedure ................................................................................................................................................. 7
7.1 Cleaning of test sandals................................................................................................................................. 7
7.2 Method A: test procedure in laboratory conditions ........................................................................... 8
7.2.1 Preparation ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
7.2.2 Discharging........................................................................................................................................................ 8
7.2.3 Walking test ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
7.3 Method B: test procedure in situ................................................................................................................ 8
8 Calculation and expression of results ...................................................................................................... 8
9 Test report ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
10 Precision .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Annex A (informative) Precision of the method ............................................................................................ 11

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 BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

European foreword

This document (EN 1815:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 134 “Resilient,
textile and laminate floor coverings”, the secretariat of which is held by NBN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2017, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by March 2017.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 1815:1997.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

3
BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

1 Scope
This standard specifies a method for determining the body voltage generated when a person wearing
standardized footwear walks on a resilient or laminate floor covering. The test method can be used
under laboratory conditions as well as in situ.

2 Normative References
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 61340-4-1, Electrostatics - Part 4-1: Standard test methods for specific applications - Electrical
resistance of floor coverings and installed floors

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
static electrical propensity
tendency for charge to be generated by a person walking on the floor covering

3.2
earthed
connected to a reference earth (part of the Earth considered as conductive, the electric potential of
which is conventionally taken as zero)

4 Principle
A floor covering is evaluated for static electrical propensity by means of a walking test with an operator
using a pair of standard sandals, walking over the floor covering situated over a earthed metal base
plate (resilient floor coverings) or over a PE-foam/PE-foil situated over a grounded metal base plate
(laminate floor coverings).

5 Apparatus
5.1 Substructure for resilient floor coverings

A earthed metal base plate shall be used, e.g. a stainless steel plate of approximately (100 × 200) cm and
1 mm thick.
5.2 Substructure for laminate floor coverings
5.2.1 Laminate floor coverings without attached sound absorbing material

A PE foam sheet of approximately (220 × 120) cm and (3 ± 0,5) mm thick, with a vertical
resistance ≥ 1013 Ω (measured at 500 V DC according to EN 61340-4-1) shall be used. This PE foam
sheet is laid on a earthed metal base plate, as specified in 5.1.
5.2.2 Laminate floor coverings with attached sound absorbing material

A water vapour barrier PE foil of approximately (220 × 120) cm and (0,2 ± 0,1) mm thick is laid on a
earthed metal base plate, as specified in 5.1.

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 BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

NOTE The product Trittex 3 mm made by Selit GmbH is an example of a suitable PE-foam product available
commercially. This information is given for the convenience of users of this European standard and does not
constitute an endorsement by CEN of this product. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead
to the same results.

5.3 Test sandals

The test sandals (see Figure 1) shall be reserved exclusively for use in this test method. The test sandals
shall be open sandals of European size 42 without heels and with straps mounted to fit various foot
sizes. A rubber sole material shall be used. The resistance between the metal plate and the person
standing on it wearing the sandals with the soles shall be (108 to 109) Ω.
NOTE 1 For guidance on the possible effect of the operator’s clothing and other factors on test results, see
informative Annex A.

NOTE 2 The test sandals made by Fetronic GmbH, Ursulaweg 91, 40764 Langenfeld, Germany are an example
of a suitable product available commercially. This information is given for the convenience of users of this
European standard and does not constitute an endorsement by CEN of this product. Equivalent products may be
used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.

Dimensions in mm

Key
1 straps
2 hollow rivets
3 sock lining
4 insole, e.g. leather
5 adhesive
6 outsole of specified material

Figure 1 — Test sandals

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BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

5.4 Means of cleaning the sandals

The following means of cleaning shall be used:

— abrasive paper, P280;

— scoured cotton cloth, free from finish or detergent;

— denatured ethanol or isopropanol.

5.5 lonizing source

An ionizing source shall be used for discharging the test piece and the PE foam.
5.6 Body voltage measuring system

The body voltage measuring system (see Figure 2) consists of a DC static voltmeter, an autographic
recorder and a hand electrode (see Figure 3) and shall meet the following requirements:
— input resistance of voltmeter and hand electrode system: ≥ 1013 Ω ;

— input capacitance of hand electrode: ≤ 20 pF;

— response time: ≤ 0,25 s;

— capable of measurements between (−20 to + 20) kV.

Key
1 hand electrode
2 hand electrode capacitance (C1 = 10 pF)
3 divider capacitance (C2)
4 static voltmeter and recorder

Figure 2 — Measuring system

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 BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

Dimensions in mm

Key
1 cable core
2 metal tubing
3 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sleeve
4 BNC plug
5 co-axial cable
6 polyethylene bung

Figure 3 — Typical hand electrode

5.7 Thermometer and hygrometer

Thermometer and hygrometer, with an accuracy of ± 3 %; e.g. a calibrated wet and dry bulb
thermometer (psychrometer) with a scale reading to 0,1 °C.

6 Conditioning
Condition the test piece, the PE-foam, the PE-foil (5.2) and the sandals (5.3) at a temperature of
(23 ± 2) °C and relative humidity of (25 ± 2) % for a minimum of 7 days, and maintain these conditions
during testing.
When the test is carried out in situ, the ambient temperature and relative humidity shall be recorded.

7 Test procedure
7.1 Cleaning of test sandals

Before each test series and after each individual test, clean the soles with cotton cloth and ethanol or
isopropanol. To roughen the surface, use the abrasive paper and clean again with a clean piece of cloth
and ethanol or isopropanol.
Wait at least 5 min and make sure that the soles are completely dry before testing.

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BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

7.2 Method A: test procedure in laboratory conditions

7.2.1 Preparation

Place the required earthed metal plate, PE-foil/PE-foam (for laminate floor covering) on the floor in the
conditioned test room (see Clause 5).
7.2.2 Discharging

Discharge the PE-foam, when used, and the test piece before each individual test, by moving the ionizing
source once over a distance of approximately 20 mm over the PE-foam and the test piece to eliminate
any residual static charge.
7.2.3 Walking test

Place the sandals on the test piece. Step into the sandals and fasten them. Take the hand electrode,
already connected with the static measuring device, and earth the person in order to start from zero
voltage.
With the hand electrode in the hand, walk on the test piece with regular paces at a rate of two steps per
second, forwards and backwards but always with the body facing the same direction. Avoid scuffing or
pivoting.
At each step, lift the sandals approximately between 50 mm and 80 mm above the test piece. Lift and
lower the sandal sole in a plane parallel to the test piece. Cover as much of the test piece as possible and
continue walking until the peak voltage ceases to rise, but for not more than 60 s. Take off the sandals
while still on the test piece.
Perform the test three times.
7.3 Method B: test procedure in situ

Record the ambient temperature and relative humidity, and the condition of the floor covering and, if
relevant, any treatment prior to testing (e.g. cleaning, washing etc.).
Place the sandals on the area of floor covering to be tested and perform the test as in 7.2.3.

8 Calculation and expression of results

The “walking” test will give a voltage diagram as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5. Determine from the
recorder diagram the average of the five highest valleys (Figure 4: T1 – T5) or the lowest peaks
(Figure 5: T1-T5) and express the results in kilovolts, to the nearest 0,1 kV by using the absolute value
of the calculated average.
Calculate the average of the three test results to the nearest 0,1 kV.

8
 BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

Key
x time, in s
y voltage, in kV
T1–T5 five highest valleys
P1–P5 five highest peaks (highest measured voltage values)

NOTE The voltage peaks in the diagram are mainly a result of a lower capacitance of the person performing
the test when lifting one of his feet from the test piece. The voltage peak will therefore depend on the distance
between the lifted foot and the floor surface.

Figure 4 — Typical voltage diagram with positive charging of the person

Key
x time, in s
y voltage, in kV
T1 – T5 five lowest peaks
P1 – P5 five lowest valleys (highest measured absolute voltage values)

NOTE The voltage peaks in the diagram are mainly a result of a lower capacitance of the person performing
the test when lifting one of his feet from the test piece. The voltage peak will therefore depend on the distance
between the lifted foot and the floor surface.

Figure 5 — Typical voltage diagram with negative charging of the person

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BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

9 Test report
The test report shall contain the following information:
a) a reference to this standard and the method used, i.e. EN 1815, method A or B;

b) a complete identification of the product tested, including colour and manufacturer’s reference
number. If a complete identification is not possible for an in situ test, the location of the floor shall
be stated;

c) the method of sampling and previous history;

d) the test conditions

e) the material of the sandal sole and the flooring underlay;

f) the individual results and the average of the three tests to the nearest 0,1 kV;

g) any deviation from this standard which may have affected the results.

10 Precision
The test results of static electrical charge generated by a person walking on a floor are affected by the
inhomogeneity of the floor covering and can very much depend on the relative humidity. Factors which
may affect repeatability and reproducibility are described in informative Annex A.

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 BS EN 1815:2016
EN 1815:2016 (E)

Annex A
(informative)

Precision of the method

The determination of the body voltage generated when walking on a floor presents many problems and
may be affected by many factors. Relative humidity, clothing, sole material, the floor coverings, mode of
walking and, not least, the capacitance of a person, may affect the generation of body voltage. Hence the
generated body voltage in practice may be different from the laboratory result. Even the voltage at
which a person experiences a discharge is different from person to person. It has been found that most
persons feel a discharge effect when charged to 3 kV and higher.
The walking test was found to be the most practical test method to simulate the effect of charging under
standardized testing conditions. Under different conditions in situ, the results will differ from the
laboratory results.
Although the precision of this method has been questioned, the method has been used for more than 20
years. During this time it has provided good service in identifying critical floor coverings, giving an
approximate result capable of evaluating the ability of floor coverings to create unacceptable static
electrical charging.

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