Author: Edmund Daley

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Introduction to the Pendulum Tester

Pendulum Feet

The British Pendulum Tester (also known as the Portable Skid Resistance Tester) is used to measure the slip and skid potential of pedestrian surfaces and roads. Originally designed to measure floor slipperiness in government buildings, the instrument was later adopted by the Transport Research Laboratory as a means of assessing road safety. The British Pendulum is now the recognised method of assessing slip resistance and is recommended for use by the UK Slip Resistance Group (UKSRG) and the Health & Safety Group (HSE). It is an essential tool for anyone wishing to minimize the risk of accidents on slippery roads and floor surfaces.

How does the British Pendulum Tester work?

It works by means of a swinging arm (pendulum). A specially designed rubber slider – with a defined hardness, resembling that of a barefoot pedestrian, a shoe sole or car tyre (depending on the test application) – is placed at one end. When released from a horizontal position, the pendulum head strikes the sample surface with a constant velocity, creating the same dynamic uplift characteristics of a slipping foot. The distance travelled by the pendulum after striking the surface is determined by the friction resistance. The Pendulum Test Value (PTV) can be read directly from a clearly engraved scale or, using our latest model, the Intelligent Pendulum, from a clear OLED digital display. The PTV is directly proportional to the coefficient of friction (by a factor of 100).

Our Intelligent Pendulum

As a scientific instrument, the need for accuracy is paramount. All our instruments are carefully calibrated on-site and, if required, sent to the British Standards Institute (BSI) for certification. This provides users with an absolute assurance of accuracy when testing. Detailed instructions manuals are supplied with each instrument, guiding users through the testing process. In addition, our latest model, the Intelligent Pendulum, displays helpful prompts reminding users of correct practice. Training in the use of the machine is also available.

Introduction to the Pendulum Tester

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Indoor Air Quality

Man with Gas Mask

Air quality is a significant concern for homes and businesses alike. The technological and material demands of modern life mean that more and more pollutants are being released into the atmosphere. Unknowingly we breathe in a host of noxious particulates and trace gases, many of which can adversely affect our health. Though shielded from vehicular and industrial emissions, indoor air fares no better in the air quality stakes. Much of what we breathe is recycled from the outside and then combined with indoor contaminants such as dust, mould, asbestos and vapour from cosmetics and cleaning products. Poor ventilation and faulty heating systems cause a build-up of undiluted air, thereby increasing the chance of exposure to harmful pollutants.

Air quality hazards

Although some are at greater risk than others (those who work in the manufacturing, construction or cleaning industries to name a few), no one is completely safe from the hazards of indoor air. Seemingly unaccountable instances of ill health (headaches, dizziness, nausea, poor concentration, allergic reactions etc.) are not uncommon in the workplace and may in fact be related to indoor air quality. Tobacco smoke, perfume and other VOCs from new furnishings and electrics combine with ozone to produce unpleasant smells, skin irritation and even breathing difficulties. Although symptoms vary from person to person, both in type and severity, they are grouped together under the term Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). SBS is a wide-ranging yet poorly understood phenomenon with major implications not only for individual health but also productivity and wellbeing in the workplace. Characterized by a series of subjective health complaints, and therefore undiagnosable in strict medical terms, SBS has, by some, been seen as a product of (post)modern health-and-safety hysteria (‘a diversity of ill health effects, mostly minor and associated with a building, for which [there is] no specific cause’). And yet it is precisely this lack of specificity that makes it such an interesting, research-worthy phenomenon. Michelle Murphy, author of Sick Building Syndrome and the Problem of Uncertainty, conjectures that certain ‘power regimes’ (here she cites chemical corporations, tobacco companies, manufacturers and even some government organisations) are in fact capable of manipulating air sampling data in such a way that befits their anti-regulation agenda. Whether this is true or just another conspiracy theory exceeds the scope of this post, but it certainly makes for interesting debate!

SBS management strategy

Whilst the problem of uncertainty grows, it seems wholly appropriate that some sort of SBS management strategy be implemented, particularly in areas where issues of productivity are at stake. Of course, the fact that no two buildings are exactly alike makes this exceedingly difficult, as there can be no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. It is therefore imperative that high-risk indoor spaces be individually assessed to investigate further the causes of SBS. Air sampling seems like a sensible place to start.

Indoor Air Quality

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Marketing the Weather

Plane

Imagine being able to use the weather to predict the future. This may sound like the plot of a bad science-fiction film, but this is exactly what retailers and other businesses are doing. The result? The ability to target the right consumer at the right time, increase sales and make millions of pounds’ worth of savings.

The retail industry has only recently started to use meteorological data to make informed decisions based on the connection between consumer spending patterns and the weather. The astounding thing about this is not that businesses are using this data but that it has taken them so long. This is particularly surprising when you consider the obvious relationship between the two. The British Retail Consortium has identified the weather to be the second most important factor to influence public spending. Although retailers have been slow on the uptake, those that have been analysing and using meteorological data have ended up saving millions.

These organisations mainly use the meteorological information available to them to decide what products to sell and how much of it they should stock. Arguably, retailers have been doing this for years. We can after all see that in the summer supermarkets stock more disposable barbeques and sun screen. The data which companies have now started to analyse, however, goes much further than this and looks beyond the more obvious relationships between spending and weather. Tesco, for example, use historic sales and weather data to identify the less obvious but equally valuable consumer trends. From their research they have, found that a 4°C rise in temperature will result in a 42% increase in burger sales. Similarly, a hot day on the weekend would result in a decrease in the sale of green vegetables. It is this ability to predict their stock requirements with such accuracy which has led to Tesco reducing the amount of stock they waste. This has led to savings of £100 million through good supply chain management in 2013.

The value of meteorological data to retail business goes much further than stock management. Meteorological savvy businesses are now using weather patterns to specifically target consumers through real-time advertising. For example, Dapper, a Yahoo owned advertising firm, have used weather predictions to display ads that match the weather in particular regions. If there is a rain storm in a particular area, a user browsing the web might see an advert for a pair of rain boots from their nearest shoe store. On the other hand, someone browsing in sunnier weather may be shown flip-flops. In a world where we are exposed to massive amounts of information, better consumer targeting is becoming increasingly important. Using the weather to provide more relevant marketing messages, in real-time, is a great way to help cut through the white noise.

That the retail sector is now better using meteorological information to its advantage is exciting. However, there is still a lot more work required to understand the true scale of potential benefits to business. Nonetheless, at a time where an in-depth understanding of consumer behaviour means the difference between success and failure, it is clear that the demand for accurate meteorological data is one which is here to stay.