Industry Leadership in Action: FloorSciences' Walter Bell Appointed to IACET Standards Development Committee

We are proud to announce that Walter Bell, Principal Forensic Technical Flooring Consultant at FloorSciences™, has been formally appointed to serve as a member of the International Accreditors for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) Standards Development Committee (SDC).

 

In accordance with the latest IACET Policies and Procedures, Walter joins an elite group of 24 professionals from six countries dedicated to the revision and maintenance of the American National Standards Institute ANSI/IACET-1 Continuing Education and Training Standard.

 

At FloorSciences, we believe that technical expertise should go hand-in-hand with a commitment to industry-wide excellence. Walter’s appointment to this ANSI-accredited standard-setting body ensures that FloorSciences remains at the forefront of quality, both in our forensic work and in our contributions to professional development.

FloorSciences™ specializes in analyzing and investigating commercial and industrial flooring failures to provide expert evaluations nationwide. We take pride in maintaining a national reputation for a high level of professional excellence and objectivity to provide reliable data and solutions. Our commitment to quality and thoroughness ensures our clients receive reliable and actionable information.

 

We leverage cutting-edge technology, scientific methodologies, and industry best practices to assess flooring conditions and identify underlying issues. Our advanced testing provides reliable data to support unbiased, informed, scientific conclusions and opinions to deliver comprehensive science-based reports.

 

FloorSciences™ takes commercial and industrial technical floor consulting to the next level with advanced technical capabilities that includes a wide range of analytical testing and evaluation services available from very few flooring inspection firms.

 

As we continue to expand our services, we remain committed to innovation and excellence. Our ongoing research efforts and involvement with standards development organizations (SDOs) ensure that we stay at the forefront of the industry. We are equipped to tackle the most complex flooring challenges. 

 

In addition to our investigative services, we also offer quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) testing and evaluations for proactive measures to prevent future issues.

 

Partner with us for unparalleled expertise.

When a high-performance floor coating suffers a catastrophic failure in an active manufacturing facility, the financial consequences of operational downtime can be staggering. 

This 20X micro-photographic cross-section isolates a critical diagnostic checkpoint: the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the urethane cement mortar layer and the structural concrete slab substrate.

Advanced In-Field Technological Capabilities

At FloorSciences, we believe that accurate data is the foundation of every forensic conclusion. While many others rely on manual tools, low-tech instruments, and assumed variables, we have invested in an array of automated instrumentation, research- and laboratory-grade metrology instruments, and other advanced technologies to provide our clients with a level of data precision that is unmatched in the flooring industry. This commitment to engineering-grade technology ensures that we deliver superior, empirical data that stands up to the most rigorous technical and engineering scrutiny.

 

🔸 Concrete Slab Subsurface Scanning & Slab Thickness Measurement

Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used to non-destructively locate post-tensioning cables, rebar and other reinforcement, conduit, and other concrete embeddings; and to accurately measure slab thickness for precise ASTM F2170 concrete moisture testing depths. This eliminates the "assumed" thickness errors common in the industry, providing empirical data for F2170 moisture testing. (ASTM D6432)

 

🔸 Tensile Strength Analysis of Coatings, Underlayments, and Concrete Slabs

Using Swiss-made Proceq digitally-controlled electromechanical tensile testing instrument, we are able to determine the tensile bond strength of terrazzo, coatings, underlayments, and toppings bonded to concrete; and the near-surface tensile strength of concrete slabs. The automated feedback-controlled loading rate motor eliminates operator-induced variables, providing engineering-grade accuracy. (ASTM C1583, D7234)

 

​🔸 Flooring Materials Hardness Testing

Laboratory-grade hardness verification using world-leading Bareiss HPE III German-engineered precision digital durometers for Shore A and Shore D readings. These instruments represent the highest-tier, friction-free durometers in existence. Featuring a patented leveling sleeve, these instruments ensure 90° measurement relative to the surface; this eliminates the data inaccuracies caused by the slight angular deviations (as little as 1°) inherent in manual, non-shrouded durometers used elsewhere in the industry. These unique features provides us with repeatability that standard field-grade units cannot achieve. (ASTM D2240)

 

​🔸 Floor Tile & Plank Precision Measurements

Specialized dimensional analysis using Japanese-made Mitutoyo digital calipers in sizes up to 60-inches. These advanced metrology instruments allow for the in-field measurement of flooring products with a degree of accuracy and scale unique to FloorSciences in the flooring industry. 

 

Our principal is leading the effort for the development of a new ASTM standard for this level of accurate measurements as the Task Group Chair and Technical Contact for the Work Item. (ASTM WK94994 New Practice for Dimensional Measurement In-Field of Resilient Floor Tiles and Planks using Precision Measuring Instruments)

 

​🔸 Vertical Surface Deviation Precision Measurements

Using USA-made Starrett precision indicators and manufacturer-modified gauge bridge-stands, measurements of bubbling, cupping, curling, doming, lifting, lippage, peaking, and vertical offsets can be performed to a high accuracy. While the industry often relies on subjective visual assessments, these instruments have been modified by the manufacturers to our specific requirements, allowing for height-differential analysis that standard field tools cannot replicate. 

 

Our principal consultant, Walter Bell, is leading the developing the formal standard for this advanced methodology as the ASTM Task Group Chair and Technical Contact for this Work Item. (ASTM WK96853 New Practice for Measurement of Vertical Surface Deviations of Resilient Flooring using Precision Measuring Instruments)

 

​🔸 Professional Forensic Image Documentation

High-resolution visual evidence captured using professional Nikon imaging equipment with professional optics. This ensures that site conditions, even macro defects, are documented with the photographic clarity required for comprehensive forensic analysis and expert testimony. 

 

Our firm's principal, Walter Bell, is leading the ASTM Forensic Sciences subcommittee on Digital and Multimedia Evidence Task Group for forensic imaging equipment requirements. (WK98793 New Specification for Hardware Requirements in Forensic Digital Imaging Acquisition)

 

🔸 Non-Destructive Ultrasonic Coating Thickness Measurement

Precision electronic ultrasonic gauging used to accurately measure the dry film thickness (DFT) of polymer coatings on concrete without damaging the finished surface. (ASTM 6132)

 

For many commercial and industrial coatings, dry film thickness is critical to the performance of the coating system.

 

🔸 Electronic Subfloor Flatness Measurement

High-accuracy analysis using electronic altimeters, German-engineered Stabila electronic levels, and high-accuracy laser levels. 

 

Our firm's principal, Walter Bell, leads Task Group for the development of a new ASTM standard for the measurement of subfloor flatness using these types of instruments. (ASTM WK95008 New Practice for Measurement of Subfloor Flatness to Receive Resilient Flooring)

 

🔸 Advanced Moisture Diagnostics

Comprehensive moisture analysis utilizing industry-leading Vaisala, Delmhorst, Protimeter, and Tramex diagnostic meters to identify and quantify in-slab and ambient moisture conditions. (ASTM F710, F2170, F2659)

 

Using ground penetrating radar (GPR), we are able to determine slab thickness at each ASTM F2170 test location for the correct depth of 40% of a slab-on-ground or pan, or 20% of an elevated slab drying from both sides. Using GPR is unique to FloorSciences in the flooring industry.

 

🔸 Concrete Surface pH Quantitative Digital Analysis

Electronic pH meters calibrated daily using NIST-traceable buffer solutions providing accurate on-site analysis of concrete slab surface pH levels. While most testing agents rely on qualitative pH paper, which the USGS deems unacceptable due to highly subjective interpretation, we only use electronic pH meters, as we have for decades, to ensure forensic accuracy. (ASTM F3441)

 

A new ASTM standard is under development lead by our firm's principal, Walter Bell, for testing using meters. (ASTM WK96852 New Practice for Measurement of Concrete Slab Surface pH using Electronic Meters)

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) concrete subsurface scanning is used for locating rebar and other embeddings in the slab and determining slab thickness.

Analytical Testing & Forensic Services

 

Some of our professional services are listed below, please inquire about flooring and concrete related testing and evaluation services not listed. A sampling of ASTM  standards utilized are listed for selected testing and evaluation services. We also use standards from ACI, AMPP, ANSI, ICRI, and others.

Cementitious overlays, toppings, underlayments, & repair materials

• Delamination surveys
• Quality assurance & quality control (QA/QC) testing & inspections
• Tensile bond strength testing to concrete slabs (ASTM C1583)

 

Claims, arbitration, mediation, & litigation support

• Consulting
• Expert witness
• Reports well documented & detailed​

 

Concrete coatings

• Dry film thickness (DFT) ultrasonic nondestructive measurements (ASTM D6132)
• Hardness testing of the surface: Shore D (ASTM D2240)
• Quality assurance & quality control (QA/QC) testing & inspections
• Tensile bond strength testing to cementitious substrates (ASTM D7234)
• Testing & analysis

 

Concrete cores

• Contamination analysis
• Drilling & extraction
• Laboratory testing & analysis
• Water vapor retarder and vapor barrier inspections for presence under slabs (ASTM E1745, ASTM E1993)

 

Concrete slabs

• Delamination surveys
• Evaluations & consulting
• Moisture testing (ASTM F1869, ASTM F2170, ASTM F2659)
• Moisture mitigation system testing & analysis (ASTM F3010)
• Subsurface scanning utilizing nondestructive ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate post-tensioning (PT) cables, rebar, conduit, & more (CSDA-BP-007 )
• Surface pH testing (ASTM F3441)
• Surface porosity testing (ASTM F3191)
• Sweating slab evaluations
• Thickness measurements utilizing nondestructive ground penetrating radar (GPR) subsurface scanning

 

Educational seminars

• Preventing Floor Failures & others

 

Environmental remote monitoring

• Ambient relative humidity (RH), temperature, & CO2 remote monitoring​

 

Flooring systems & components

• Construction materials testing (CMT) of flooring products
• Inspections & evaluations
• Forensic failure investigations & analysis
• Hardness testing of the surface: Shore A & Shore D (ASTM D2240)
• Quality assurance & quality control (QA/QC) testing & inspections
• Performance evaluations
• Punch list inspections
• Site condition surveys as relates to flooring systems
• Sub-floor evaluations (ASTM F710, ASTM F2419, ASTM F2678, ASTM F2873)​
• Terrazzo tensile bond strength
• Tile & plank precision measurements (for specification conformance) using high-tech electronic dimensional metrology instruments

 

Forensic Imaging & Photography

• Architectural
• Construction
• Forensic documentation

 

Laboratory Testing & Analysis

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX)
• Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
• Gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy (GC-MS)
• Microscopy, 2D & 3D
• Petrographic analysis
• Profilometry
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
• Thermomechanical analysis (TMA)
• X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis
• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis
• X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
• and more

Consultancy

Our forensic consultancy services offer expert guidance on flooring projects and legal disputes. We assist clients in navigating complex flooring challenges with tailored solutions. Our team is composed of highly skilled professionals dedicated to providing thorough inspections and analyses. We ensure the highest standards in forensic flooring investigations.