Friction Testing Services:

According the Federal Aviation Administration (Advisory Circular No. 150/5320-12c), “visual evaluations of pavement friction are not reliable.” As such, the FAA has issued recommendations that airports undertake regularly scheduled friction testing.

Mobile computerized and stationary equipment is used to accurately record pavement skid resistance in wet and dry conditions.

Over time, the skid-resistance of runway pavement deteriorates due to weathering, usage, aging and contaminants. The most persistent contaminant problem is deposits of rubber from tires of landing jet aircraft. Heavy rubber deposits can completely cover the pavement surface texture causing loss of aircraft braking capability and directional control, particularly when runways are wet. It is for this reason that friction testing be undertaken on a regular basis.

Outflow Meter Readings:

ASTM E2380-05 compliant to measure pavement’s capability (macrotexture) to dissipate water, as concerned with potential skidding and hydroplaning. The Outflow Meter gives readings in seconds for the outflow dissipation of a known quantity of water. It is suggested that readings between 3 and 10 seconds are satisfactory for an asphalt pavement surface.

Retroreflectivity of Airport Markings:

Readings are taken to ensure night time visibility of pavement markings meets industry standards. Retroreflectivity is the scientific term used to describe the ability of a surface to return light back to its source. Portable retroreflectometers measure retroreflectivity, when determining the quality and remaining life of both existing and newly applied pavement markings. It can answer how reflective is reflective enough, without examiner bias and with a documented record of the date.

• ASTM E1710 and EN 1436 compliant
• Measures Retroreflectivity of pavement markings
• Stores 10,000 points of data
• Microprocessor controlled calibration
• Internal printer and GPS
• Window software with Mapping

Test equipment is lightweight, wheel mounted and designed for quick and easy measurement in the field. At the push of a button, the tester captures an individual data point, global position and timestamp simultaneously. Press another button for hardcopy output on the spot. The tester can export data via RS-232 communications into any traffic inventory system or standard computer; data transfer is simple with data logging software. Mapping software also allows the user to plot all data on a clickable and printable map to quickly identify problem areas that need attention. Moreover, microprocessor-controlled calibration ensures the utmost in data accuracy.