ISO 4918 Caster Chair Test

ISO 4918

CASTeR CHAIR TEST FOR RESILIENT, TEXTILE, AND LAMINATE FLOOR COVERINGS

ISO 4918 Caster Chair Test

Caster Chair Test for Resilient, Textile, and Laminate Floor Coverings

ISO 4918 is used to determine the effects of a castor (caster) chair moving over a floor covering material such as textile, laminate, or resilient (vinyl) flooring. The machine simulates the load & motion of a person in an office chair rolling over a flooring assembly, allowing exposure to this common stress in an accelerated and controlled manner. Flooring assemblies are assessed for damage and change in appearance as it pertains to the specific type of material.

Which materials should to be tested in accordance with ISO 4918?

ISO 4918 is designed for use with textile flooring like carpet, resilient flooring, and laminate flooring. The methods of the test may be adapted for all kinds of flooring, including solid and engineered wood flooring.

How is ISO 4918 testing performed?

Specimens consist of a 29.5" (750mm) diameter circular flooring assembly. Joints or seams should be present on the path of the casters so they can be adequately assessed. The specimen is mounted on the turntable of the tester. An assembly of three casters under a total load of 198 lb (90 kg) is lowered onto the specimen. A vacuum nozzle is positioned over the specimen opposite the casters. The number of cycles varies depending on the material and characteristic being tested, but it can range from 750 to 25,000 cycles.

What data is included in an ISO 4918 report?

Visual analysis of the change to the specimen (type of damage, color change, etc.)
Width measurements of any separated joints
Height measurements of any raised portions

ISO 4918 test specimen preparation

Product can be provided by the customer in plank or tile form and Capital Testing will prepare the 29.5" diameter flooring assembly in-house.

What about the EN 425 Caster Chair Test Standard for Resilient and Laminate Flooring?

The EN 425 standard was withdrawn as an ISO test standard in 2021, meaning it is no longer maintained or updated. ISO 4918 has replaced EN 425 as the international standard for caster chair testing.

Is Capital Testing an accredited ISO 4918 laboratory?

Capital Testing and Certification Services is ISO/IEC 17025-accredited to conduct ISO 4918 testing. Click here for Capital Testing’s full ISO/IEC 17025 scope of accreditation. Contact experts@capitaltesting.org to discuss your testing needs, or to request a quote!