Janka Wood Floor Hardness Scale

The type of construction and finish also play an important role in the durability and ease of maintenance of any wood floor.

Janka wood floor hardness scale.

Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. The scale used in the table is pounds force. The janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood.

It is also a good indicator of how hard a. The janka test is a measure of the hardness of wood. There may be variations of more or less than 20 on the scale since this is a scientific test. The scale was invented in 1906 by gabriel janka an austrian wood researcher and standardized in 1927 by the american society for testing and materials depending on the room where the flooring will be installed a certain level of hardness may make it a more desirable choice.

The janka test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball into the wood by half its diameter. The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11 28 millimeters 0 444 inches into the wood to a depth of half the ball s diameter. The janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0 444 steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. The janka hardness test from the austrian born emigrant gabriel janka 1864 1932 measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.

Janka hardness ratings of wood species. This test is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood specie to withstand denting and wear. The janka hardness scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another. The janka test was developed as a variation of the brinell hardness test.

It is important to remember that the testing process used in the janka scale is an impact test not a test of scratching scuffing or any other wear and tear that flooring experiences. To learn the basic hardness of different common woods used in flooring check the chart below. A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring.