A Woman Can Damage Hardwood Faster Than an Elephant!
Wood hardness testing methods are used to measure wood hardness in pounds of force. Many different species of wood that are of many different hardness levels are used in the manufacturing of hardwood floors. Wood hardness testing comes a bit late when a new hardwood floor is installed and it becomes indented by high heel shoes a pebble, furniture legs or other method.
The Physics Handbook ask the question, “What exerts more pressure-per-square inch when walking a 100 lb woman in high heels or a 6,000 lb elephant in bare feet? [At the moment when only the heel rests on the ground.] (Stiletto heels have an area of about 1/16 of a square inch. Elephants, unlike humans, walk with two feet on the ground at a time. Each foot is about 40 square inches. Thus, the woman “wins” by far more than 1,500 psi versus 75 psi.)”
Wood Hardness Testing – Janka and Brinell Wood Hardness Tester Methods
In the flooring industry both Janka wood hardness testing and Brinell wood hardness testing are used to measure the amount of indentation into the wood using force.
Janka Wood Harness Testing
The Janka hardness test method measures the amount of force required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to one-half of its diameter in wood. It is known as one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. As an example, natural bamboo has a hardness rating of 1320 while carbonized bamboo has a hardness rating of 1180. White oak has a harness rating of 1360 while red oak has a hardness rating of 1290. As can be seen by this example, natural bamboo is harder than the oak species but once it has
Brinell Wood Hardness Testing
The Brinell hardness test method measures the effect of pressing a small steel ball (with a diameter of 10mm) similar to high-heels or furniture legs, into the flooring with 220.5 lbs (100KN) of fixed force. More than 50 impressions are made on several samples of the wood. The diameter and depth f the indentations are carefully measured to determine the hardness. Some state that this testing method is the most relevant and realistic method to determine surface hardness of wood floors.
Wood Hardness Testing Tables for Wood Used in Flooring
Janka Hardness Testing Table
The chart below list the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring. Hardness-Generally defined as resistance to indentation using a modified Janka hardness test, measured by the load required to embed a 11.28mm (0.444 inch) ball to one-half its diameter. The higher the number the harder the wood. While this is one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations, it should be used as a guideline and not the only consideration when comparing various species of wood flooring. Factors such as construction and finish should also play important functions in the maintenance and durability of a wood floor.
*Hardness is in lbs. per square inch Janka hardness test. The higher the number the harder the wood. Hardness values are averages and will vary within a species.
Brinell Hardness Testing Table
This test measures the effect of pressing a small steel ball (with a diameter of 10mm) similar to high-heels or furniture legs, into the flooring with 220.5 lbs (100KN) of fixed force. More than 50 impressions are made on several samples of the wood. The diameter and depth of the indentations are carefully measured to determine the hardness. Some state that this testing method is the most relevant and realistic method to determine surface hardness of wood floors. Following is an example of these findings.
Important Points
- Wood Hardness in Floors: Wood hardness is measured in pounds of force to understand how resistant a wood species is to dents and wear, which is crucial for selecting durable flooring.
- High Heel Damage to Hardwood Floors: High heels exert significantly more pressure per square inch than elephants, making them capable of damaging hardwood floors more easily.
- Janka and Brinell Hardness Tests: Two common methods, Janka and Brinell, are used in the flooring industry to measure how much force it takes to indent wood, indicating its durability.
- Janka Hardness Test: This test measures the force needed to embed a steel ball halfway into wood, serving as a key indicator of a wood’s ability to withstand dents.
- Brinell Hardness Test: This method presses a steel ball into wood under a fixed force to evaluate surface hardness, simulating real-world pressure from furniture or heels.
