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SynC · Editorial revision

Entrance Flooring and Walk-Off Systems

Revision9
EditedOct 12, 2026
StatusCurrent
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Current revision. This is editorial revision 9, the current text of this standard. Read it on the standard's page.

SynC Standards Team — Specifier (Platform Standards) ✓ OfficialDiscloses employment SynC (SynC Platform Team)
Datasheet constraints: every range, checkbox and listbox field now states its direction

1 Scope

NOTE This standard governs the materials, configuration, and installation of permanently installed entrance flooring and walk-off systems provided at building entrances to capture moisture, soil, grit, sand, and snowmelt from foot and rolling traffic before it is carried onto the interior finish floor. (1.1)
NOTE Soil and water that are not captured at the door are ground into the lobby and corridor flooring, dull and abrade it, raise cleaning frequency and cost, and create a slip hazard on hard floors wherever a wet shoe steps from the entrance onto polished stone, tile, or resilient flooring. (1.3)
NOTE The quantity of soil and moisture a building tracks in is set by the length and arrangement of the walk-off at its entrances more than by any other single decision, which is why the walk-off is designed under this standard rather than left to a loose rug placed after occupancy. (1.4)
NOTE A walk-off is a sequence of zones in series: an exterior scraper zone outside the door that removes mud, grit, sand, and snow; a threshold scraper-wiper zone at the door or in the vestibule that removes the remaining coarse soil and begins taking up moisture; and an interior wiper zone that dries the shoe and holds the last fine soil and moisture below its walking surface. (1.5)
NOTE A wiper textile installed with no scraper ahead of it is overwhelmed by grit and mud and saturates within hours of a storm, and a scraper grille with no wiper behind it leaves the shoe wet and passes water onto the lobby floor, so the zones are designed together rather than one at a time. (1.6)
NOTE The following are governed elsewhere and are outside this standard: (1.7)
  • carpet outside the interior wiper zone, governed by CarpetCarpetResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/carpet
  • resilient, ceramic tile, and natural stone flooring beyond the transition at the entrance frame, governed by Resilient FlooringResilient FlooringResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/resilient-flooring, Ceramic TileCeramic TileResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/ceramic-tile, and Natural Stone TileNatural Stone TileResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/natural-stone-tile
  • forming, reinforcing, and finishing of the slab recess, governed by Cast In Place ConcreteCast-in-Place ConcreteResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/cast-in-place-concrete
  • the entrance doors, thresholds, sidelights, and framing, governed by Automatic Entrance DoorsAutomatic Entrance DoorsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/automatic-entrance-doors and Aluminum Entrances And StorefrontsAluminum Entrances and StorefrontsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/aluminum-entrances-and-storefronts
  • loose rugs and temporary mats that are not part of a permanent system
  • exterior pedestrian paving, trench drains, and area drains
  • roof and balcony pedestal pavers
1.8 Entrance flooring shall be provided at each entrance indicated on the finish plans.
1.9 Each entrance shall be provided with the walk-off zones selected in the datasheet, arranged in series across the primary direction of travel with no untreated gap between zones.
1.10 All work under this standard shall comply with the accessibility provisions of ICC A117.1 and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design at every entrance on an accessible route.
1.11 The system manufacturer's written installation instructions define the conditions under which the product warranty holds, and the Contractor shall follow them in addition to this standard.

2 Referenced Standards

2.1 Materials, testing, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
2.2 Where the contract documents, a referenced standard, or the manufacturer's written instructions conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Architect of Record directs otherwise in writing.
Standard Title
ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design U.S. Department of Justice accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act
IBC International Building Code
ANSI A326.3 Test Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard Surface Flooring Materials
ASTM E648 Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
NFPA 253 Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
ASTM E662 Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials
NFPA 258 Research Test Method for Determining Smoke Generation of Solid Materials
ASTM D2859 Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials
16 CFR 1630 Standard for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs (DOC FF 1-70)
ASTM B221 Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
ASTM B209 Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
ASTM A276 Stainless Steel Bars and Shapes
ASTM A240 Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip for Pressure Vessels and for General Applications
ASTM B455 Copper-Zinc-Lead Alloy (Leaded-Brass) Extruded Shapes
ASTM A123 Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products
AAMA 611 Voluntary Specification for Anodized Architectural Aluminum
AAMA 2604 Voluntary Specification, Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for High Performance Organic Coatings on Aluminum Extrusions and Panels
AAMA 2605 Voluntary Specification, Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for Superior Performing Organic Coatings on Aluminum Extrusions and Panels
CRI 104 Standard for Installation of Commercial Carpet
CRI Green Label Plus Carpet and Rug Institute Indoor Air Quality Testing Program
CDPH Standard Method v1.2 Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers
NOTE A permanently installed entryway system not less than 10 ft long in the primary direction of travel at each regularly used exterior entrance is the length the LEED rating system recognizes for its entryway credit, and projects pursuing that credit carry the 10 ft figure into the walk-off length selected under this standard. (2.3)

3 Submittals

3.1 Action Submittals

3.1.1 The Contractor shall submit the following for the Architect of Record's review before fabrication and before the slab recess is formed wherever the system is recessed:
  • product data for each entrance flooring system, identifying the system type, the rail and frame material and finish, the grille construction, the tread insert types and colors, the rolling load rating, and the overall thickness
  • shop drawings showing each grille and mat in plan with overall dimensions, section layout, and field-cut layout, the frame profile and corner construction, the recess depth and drainage where recessed, the elevation of the finished tread surface relative to each adjacent finish floor, and the direction of the rails relative to the primary direction of travel
  • samples of each tread insert type and color, of each rail and frame finish, and of each walk-off textile
  • accessibility documentation stating the largest opening in the walking surface, the orientation of elongated openings, and the change in level at the frame perimeter and at each transition
  • a slip resistance test report giving the dynamic coefficient of friction of each hard tread surface tested to ANSI A326.3 for the product use category that applies to its zone
  • a flammability test report for each walk-off textile giving the 16 CFR 1630 result and, where a critical radiant flux class applies, the ASTM E648 critical radiant flux and class
  • a low-emitting certification for each walk-off textile and its adhesive where the datasheet requires one
  • maintenance instructions describing the cleaning method and frequency for each system, the procedure for lifting or rolling the grille to clean the recess and any drain beneath it, and the procedure for replacing tread inserts
Action Submittals Requiredcheckbox
☑ Product data for each system
☑ Shop drawings
☑ Samples of inserts, finishes, and textiles
☑ Accessibility documentation
☑ Slip resistance test report
☑ Flammability test report for textiles
☐ Low-emitting certification for textiles
☑ Maintenance instructions
3.1.2 Where a system is recessed, the shop drawings and the recess depth coordination shall be reviewed and returned before the slab in which the recess is formed is placed.
NOTE A recessed grille depends on a recess formed by another trade before the grille is ordered, so a shop drawing reviewed after the slab is placed can only report a recess error, not prevent one. (3.1.3)

3.2 Closeout Submittals

3.2.1 The Contractor shall submit the following before the entrance flooring is accepted:
  • manufacturer warranty documentation for each system, executed in the Owner's name
  • record shop drawings of the installed systems, including the recess depths and frame elevations actually achieved
  • a signed receipt from the Owner for the spare parts delivered
Closeout Submittals Requiredcheckbox
☑ Manufacturer warranty documentation
☑ Record shop drawings
☑ Spare parts receipt

4 Quality Assurance

4.1 Installer Qualifications

4.1.1 Entrance flooring shall be installed by an installer who has installed systems of the same type, and for recessed systems has set frames flush to a finished floor over a formed recess, for not less than the period indicated in the datasheet.
Installer Experience with Entrance Flooring Systemsrange
years
123510
4.1.2 Whether the installer shall be authorized by the system manufacturer shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Installer Authorization by the System Manufacturerradio
○ Required
○ Not required
NOTE Some manufacturers condition the structural warranty on installation by an installer they have authorized, and where the selected system carries that condition an unauthorized installer forfeits the warranty regardless of the workmanship. (4.1.3)
NOTE The relationship between the tread surface and the adjacent finish floor is the most frequent installation failure in this work: a frame set high is a trip edge and an accessible-route violation, and a frame set low ponds water and collects grit at the perimeter. (4.1.4)

4.2 Mock-Up

4.2.1 Whether a mock-up is required shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Entrance Flooring Mock-Upradio
○ Required
● Not required
4.2.2 Where a mock-up is required, the Contractor shall install one complete entrance, including the frame, the transition to each adjacent finish floor, and the specified tread inserts, at a location the Architect of Record directs, to establish the accepted standard for flushness, transition detailing, rail direction, and insert appearance.
4.2.3 An accepted mock-up may remain as part of the work and shall remain available for comparison until the entrance flooring is accepted.

4.3 Recess Coordination Before Slab Placement

4.3.1 Before the slab is placed, the Contractor shall coordinate the location, plan dimensions, depth, and drainage of every recess that will receive a recessed grille or mat with the frame manufacturer's required recess depth and clearances and with Cast In Place ConcreteCast-in-Place ConcreteResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/cast-in-place-concrete.
4.3.2 The recess depth shall match the frame and grille thickness plus the setting bed the manufacturer requires, so that the finished tread surface is flush with the adjacent finish floor within the change-in-level limit stated under Accessibility.
NOTE A recess formed to the wrong depth or without required drainage is the most expensive error in this work, because it is fixed in concrete before the grille is ordered and is corrected only by grinding, building up, or breaking out the slab. (4.3.3)

5 Exposure and Service Conditions

5.1 The exposure of each entrance, whether outside the weather line, beneath a canopy or overhang, or inside a vestibule or lobby, shall be as indicated on the floor plans and building elevations.
NOTE A zone outside the weather line receives rain, wind-driven moisture, and, where the climate produces them, snow and ice, so its materials, its drainage, and its tread surface serve a surface that stays wet for extended periods; a zone inside a vestibule receives only what foot traffic carries in. (5.2)
5.3 Where Site Ambient Temperature MinimumSite Ambient Temperature MinimumParameterEach project supplies its own value.site-ambient-temperature-minimum is below 32°F, a recess outside the weather line or beneath a canopy shall drain.
5.4 Where Site Ambient Temperature MinimumSite Ambient Temperature MinimumParameterEach project supplies its own value.site-ambient-temperature-minimum is below 32°F, the connector, hinge, and anchor hardware in a recess outside the weather line or beneath a canopy shall be stainless steel.
NOTE Meltwater that refreezes beneath a grille heaves the inserts, locks a roll-up grille into its recess, and spalls the recess edge, and it does so every winter until the recess drains. (5.5)
5.6 Where de-icing salt is applied to the exterior paving, aluminum rails and frames in the zones the salt reaches shall be anodized or coated.
5.7 Where de-icing salt is applied to the exterior paving, the maintenance instructions shall include the removal of salt residue from the recess.
NOTE The heaviest rolling load crossing each entrance sets the grille rating, and an entrance that serves deliveries, hospital gurneys, or a valet drive receives a load that a pedestrian-rated grille was never designed to carry. (5.8)

6 Walk-Off Zones

6.1 Exterior Scraper Zone

NOTE The exterior scraper zone is the length of walk-off outside the weather line, ahead of the entrance door, and its job is to remove mud, grit, sand, and snow with a coarse, open surface that lets what it removes fall below the walking plane. (6.1.1)
6.1.2 The system provided in the exterior scraper zone shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Exterior Scraper Zone Systemselect
Recessed rail grille
Surface-mounted rail grille with beveled frame
Recessed link or modular mat
Surface-mounted mat with beveled edge
Walk-off carpet tile
Not provided
Per drawings — the finish plans
NOTE An exterior scraper zone is omitted where the entrance opens directly from a sidewalk with no depth available ahead of the door, or where the exterior paving is itself a scraping surface; where the entrance is set back under a canopy or approached across a plaza, the depth is available and the exterior zone removes the heaviest soil before it reaches the door. (6.1.3)

6.2 Threshold Scraper-Wiper Zone

NOTE The threshold scraper-wiper zone is the walk-off at the door line and through the vestibule, and it removes the remaining coarse soil while beginning to take up moisture. (6.2.1)
6.2.2 The system provided in the threshold scraper-wiper zone shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Threshold Scraper-Wiper Zone Systemselect
Recessed rail grille
Surface-mounted rail grille with beveled frame
Recessed link or modular mat
Surface-mounted mat with beveled edge
Walk-off carpet tile
Walk-off broadloom carpet
Not provided
Per drawings — the finish plans
NOTE A recessed rail grille at the threshold puts the open spaces between rails directly under the first steps inside the door, so the soil that falls through leaves the traffic path instead of being carried across the lobby; a surface-mounted grille does the same where no recess can be formed, at the cost of a raised edge that must be beveled. (6.2.3)
NOTE A vestibule long enough to hold the whole threshold zone lets the grille sit between the two sets of doors, where it is protected from direct weather and where the recess is inside the building envelope. (6.2.4)

6.3 Interior Wiper Zone

NOTE The interior wiper zone is the walk-off inside the last door, and its job is to dry the shoe and hold the fine soil and moisture the scraper zones did not remove. (6.3.1)
6.3.2 The system provided in the interior wiper zone shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Interior Wiper Zone Systemselect
Walk-off carpet tile
Walk-off broadloom carpet
Recessed rail grille
Surface-mounted rail grille with beveled frame
Recessed link or modular mat
Not provided
Per drawings — the finish plans
NOTE A textile wiper holds moisture in its fiber and releases it by evaporation and by extraction cleaning, so it dries the shoe over a longer walk than a rail grille does; a rail grille with carpet inserts wipes over the insert width only, so it serves the wiper function where the recess already exists and the Owner prefers one system type at the entrance. (6.3.3)
NOTE An interior wiper zone is omitted where the interior floor immediately inside the door is itself a walk-off textile or where the entrance serves a space in which no wiper is wanted, and the full scraping and wiping load then falls on the zones ahead of it. (6.3.4)

6.4 Walk-Off Length

6.4.1 The minimum total walk-off length, measured across all zones in the primary direction of travel, shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Total Walk-Off Length at Each Entrancerange
ft
3610121520253040
Per drawings — the finish plans
6.4.2 The plan extents of each walk-off zone at each entrance shall be as indicated on the finish plans.
NOTE Published walk-off guidance from the carpet and cleaning industries places effective capture at 12 to 15 ft of total walk-off for an office entrance and at 20 to 25 ft where traffic is heavy or where the interior floor must stay clean under a wet shoe, as in a grocery store, a healthcare facility, or a school; the difference between the two is the number of steps needed to dry a shoe, not a preference. (6.4.3)
NOTE A 3 ft mat at the door captures a fraction of the soil and moisture that a full-length walk-off does and saturates within hours of a storm, after which it releases moisture to every shoe that crosses it instead of removing any. (6.4.4)
6.4.5 Each grille and mat shall span the full clear width of the entrance opening, jamb to jamb or wall to wall, so that traffic cannot bypass the walk-off on either side.
NOTE A walk-off narrower than the opening leaves a strip of bare floor that traffic uses in wet weather precisely because it is dry, and that strip re-soils the interior floor as if no walk-off existed. (6.4.6)

7 Rail Grilles

7.1 Rail Construction

7.1.1 Where a rail grille is selected for any zone, its construction shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Rail Grille Constructionselect
Rigid lift-out sections
Hinged sections
Roll-up with flexible connectors
NOTE A roll-up grille is the construction that makes frequent cleaning of the recess practical where the recess collects heavy grit and water or where a drain beneath the grille must be reached; a lift-out or hinged grille serves where the recess collects little and where the sections are small enough to lift without equipment. (7.1.3)
7.1.4 The rail material shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Rail Materialselect
Extruded aluminum
Stainless steel
Architectural bronze
7.1.5 Aluminum rails shall be extruded to ASTM B221 in an alloy and temper the manufacturer publishes for floor grille service at the selected rolling load rating.
7.1.6 Stainless steel rails shall be Type 304 or Type 316 to ASTM A276 or ASTM A240, with Type 316 used where the rails are exposed to de-icing salt.
7.1.7 Architectural bronze rails shall be extruded to ASTM B455.
7.1.8 Rails shall be spaced so that the openings between them satisfy the opening limit stated under Accessibility, and the rail spacing shall not be widened in the field.
7.1.9 Connectors, hinges, and cables shall be of a material that does not corrode in the exposure of the recess, and shall be stainless steel wherever the exposure clause of this standard requires it.

7.2 Tread Inserts

NOTE The tread insert is the walking surface carried by the rails, and the insert type sets whether the rail scrapes, wipes, or both. (7.2.1)
NOTE An abrasive grit strip gives the most aggressive scraping and the highest wet slip resistance and wears shoes and cleaning equipment accordingly; a serrated aluminum tread scrapes with no insert to wear out and is the loudest surface underfoot; a rubber insert stays slip-resistant when wet and tolerates freezing; a ribbed vinyl insert is quiet and easy to clean and serves where the surface stays inside the weather line; a carpet or fiber insert takes up moisture and holds fine soil; a brush insert flicks packed snow and mud from a shoe tread where the exposure produces them. (7.2.2)
7.2.3 The tread inserts permitted in the exterior scraper zone grille shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Tread Inserts in the Exterior Scraper Zone Grillecheckbox
Any of:
☐ Abrasive grit strip
☐ Serrated aluminum tread
☐ Rubber
☐ Ribbed vinyl
☐ Carpet or fiber
☐ Brush
7.2.4 The tread inserts permitted in the threshold scraper-wiper zone grille shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Tread Inserts in the Threshold Scraper-Wiper Zone Grillecheckbox
Any of:
☐ Abrasive grit strip
☐ Serrated aluminum tread
☐ Rubber
☐ Ribbed vinyl
☐ Carpet or fiber
☐ Brush
7.2.5 The tread inserts permitted in the interior wiper zone grille shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Tread Inserts in the Interior Wiper Zone Grillecheckbox
Any of:
☐ Carpet or fiber
☐ Ribbed vinyl
☐ Rubber
☐ Abrasive grit strip
☐ Serrated aluminum tread
☐ Brush
7.2.6 Where more than one insert type is permitted in a zone, the inserts may be combined across the rails of one grille, and the layout of insert types within each grille shall be shown on the shop drawings.
NOTE Combining inserts within one grille, with scraping inserts at the leading rails grading to wiping inserts at the trailing rails, lets a single recess scrape first and wipe last where the entrance has room for only one grille. (7.2.7)
7.2.8 Every insert shall be field-replaceable without removing the grille from its frame or disturbing adjacent inserts.
7.2.9 Insert colors shall be selected by the Architect of Record from the manufacturer's full range for the insert type.

7.3 Frame

7.3.1 The frame material shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Frame Materialselect
Extruded aluminum
Stainless steel
Architectural bronze
Galvanized steel
7.3.2 Aluminum frames shall be extruded to ASTM B221 or formed from sheet to ASTM B209.
7.3.3 Stainless steel frames shall be Type 304 or Type 316 to ASTM A240 or ASTM A276.
7.3.4 Architectural bronze frames shall be extruded to ASTM B455.
7.3.5 Galvanized steel frames shall be hot-dip galvanized after fabrication to ASTM A123.
7.3.6 The frame setting method shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Frame Setting Methodselect
Cast into the slab
Set in a grout bed in a formed recess
Anchored to the hardened slab
Adhesive set on the finished floor
NOTE A frame cast into the slab is fixed at the correct elevation before the slab exists and cannot be adjusted afterward, so it depends on the concrete trade holding it; a frame set in a grout bed in a formed recess is shimmed to the finished floor after the slab is placed and tolerates a recess formed slightly deep; a frame anchored to the hardened slab suits a renovation where the recess already exists; an adhesive-set frame is the surface-mounted case. (7.3.7)
7.3.8 The exposed finish of aluminum rails and frames shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Exposed Aluminum Finishselect
Mill finish
Clear anodized
Color anodized
Powder coated
Fluoropolymer coated
Manufacturer's standard (by default)
7.3.9 Where the datasheet leaves the finish to the manufacturer, the manufacturer shall state the finish furnished in the product data submittal.
7.3.10 Anodized finishes shall comply with AAMA 611, and organic coatings shall comply with AAMA 2604 or AAMA 2605.
7.3.11 Frames shall be furnished with mitered or welded corners and shall be straight and true within the manufacturer's published tolerance over their full length.
7.3.12 A surface-mounted frame shall have a beveled edge on every side exposed to traffic, sloped not steeper than 1:2, so that the raised grille does not create a change in level beyond the limit stated under Accessibility.

7.4 Recess Depth

7.4.1 The finished recess depth for recessed rail grilles and recessed mats shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Recess Depth for Recessed Systemsrange
in.
0.250.3750.50.6250.750.812511.251.51.7522.534
Per drawings — the entrance floor recess details
NOTE Rail grilles are manufactured in shallow profiles on the order of 3/8 in. to 1/2 in., in standard profiles on the order of 5/8 in. to 13/16 in., and in deep-pit profiles from about 1-3/4 in. to 4 in.; a shallow profile fits a topping slab or a renovation with little depth to give, a standard profile carries the common rolling loads over a slab recess, and a deep pit gives room for a drain and a sediment sump beneath a grille that collects heavy water and grit. (7.4.2)
7.4.3 The recess locations and plan dimensions shall be as indicated on the entrance floor recess details.
7.4.4 The recess depth, the frame, the setting bed, and the grille thickness shall be reconciled on the shop drawings and verified in the field before the frame is set.

7.5 Recess Drainage

7.5.1 The drainage provision beneath each recessed system shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Recess Drainageradio
○ Undrained recess
○ Recess sloped to a weep at the frame
○ Recess with a floor drain connection
Per drawings — the entrance floor recess details
NOTE An undrained recess serves inside a vestibule or lobby where the only water that reaches it is what foot traffic carries in and evaporation keeps up with it; a recess sloped to a weep at the frame carries away the water a covered or lightly exposed entrance collects without a piped connection; a recess with a floor drain connection is what a recess needs where it stands in direct weather, receives snowmelt, or is cleaned by wash-down, because those conditions deliver water faster than a weep or evaporation removes it. (7.5.2)
7.5.3 Where a floor drain connection is selected, the drain and its piping shall be as indicated on the plumbing drawings.
7.5.4 A drained recess shall be sloped to its weep or drain at not less than 1/8 in. per ft so that captured water does not stand beneath the grille.
NOTE Water that stands beneath a grille stagnates, wicks back up into the inserts, freezes where the climate allows it, and carries the grit that settles with it into the drain when the recess is finally cleaned. (7.5.5)

7.6 Rolling Load Rating

7.6.1 Each rail grille shall be rated by its manufacturer for a rolling load per wheel not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
Rolling Load Rating of Rail Grillesrange
lb per wheel
2503003505007501000150020003000
Per drawings — the finish plans and schedules
NOTE Standard-duty grilles are rated on the order of 300 lb per wheel, which carries foot traffic, hand carts, strollers, and wheelchairs; heavy-duty grilles are rated on the order of 350 to 500 lb per wheel for loaded carts, hospital gurneys, and pallet jacks; and grilles rated at 1,000 lb per wheel and above carry institutional equipment and occasional vehicle traffic at a loading entrance or valet drive. (7.6.2)
NOTE A grille that is under-rated for the load that crosses it deflects between its supports, loosens its inserts, and ravels its rails at the leading edge, and the damage appears at the entrance the building uses most. (7.6.3)
7.6.4 Where the entrance receives vehicle traffic, the grille shall be rated by its manufacturer for the wheel load and the tire contact area of the vehicle, and the rail spacing and support arrangement shall be those the manufacturer publishes for that rating.

8 Recessed and Surface-Mounted Mats

8.2 A recessed mat shall be sized to fill its recess with the manufacturer's published clearance at the frame and shall lie flat without ripples.
8.3 A recessed mat shall be set in a frame of the material selected for rail grille frames under this standard.
8.4 A surface-mounted mat shall have a beveled edge on every side exposed to traffic, sloped not steeper than 1:2, and shall be secured to the floor so that it does not creep or curl under traffic.

9 Walk-Off Textiles

9.1 Textile Fiber

9.1.1 The face fiber of walk-off carpet tile and broadloom shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Walk-Off Textile Face Fiberselect
Solution-dyed nylon
Solution-dyed polypropylene
Polyester
Nylon and polypropylene blend
Coir
NOTE Solution-dyed nylon resists crushing under the concentrated traffic of an entrance and recovers its pile after extraction cleaning; solution-dyed polypropylene absorbs almost no water into the fiber itself, so it dries faster and resists staining from de-icing salt, at the cost of lower crush recovery; coir scrapes rather than wipes and sheds fiber as it wears. (9.1.2)
9.1.3 Walk-off textiles shall be of a construction the manufacturer markets for entrance service, with a backing that does not absorb water and that is dimensionally stable when wet.
9.1.4 The walk-off textile and its installation shall comply with CarpetCarpetResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/carpet for every requirement that standard states and this standard does not.

9.2 Flammability

9.2.1 Every walk-off textile shall pass the surface flammability test of 16 CFR 1630, which is technically equivalent to ASTM D2859.
9.2.2 The critical radiant flux class required of each walk-off textile shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Critical Radiant Flux Class of Walk-Off Textilesselect
Class I
Class II
Pill test only
Derived — the floor finish flammability class IBC Chapter 8 requires under Adopted Building CodeAdopted Building CodeParameterEach project supplies its own value.adopted-building-code for the occupancy group and for the location of the textile, whether within an exit enclosure, exit passageway, or corridor or within a room (by default)
NOTE Class I is a critical radiant flux of not less than 0.45 W/cm² and Class II of not less than 0.22 W/cm², both measured to ASTM E648, which is technically equivalent to NFPA 253. (9.2.3)
NOTE The class follows from the code and the location rather than from a preference: a textile within an exit enclosure, exit passageway, or corridor carries the class the code assigns to that location for the occupancy group, and a textile within a vestibule that the code treats as a room carries the pill test alone unless the Owner's program adds a class. (9.2.4)
9.2.5 The smoke density limit applied to walk-off textiles shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Smoke Density Limit for Walk-Off Textilesradio
○ Limit required
● Not required
9.2.6 Where a smoke density limit is required, the specific optical density of the textile shall not exceed 450 in the flaming mode when tested to ASTM E662, which is technically equivalent to NFPA 258.
NOTE Aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, vinyl, and rubber components are not textiles and are not subject to the textile flammability tests. (9.2.7)

9.3 Low-Emitting Certification

9.3.1 The low-emitting certification required of each walk-off textile and its adhesive shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Low-Emitting Certification for Walk-Off Textilesselect
Not required
CRI Green Label Plus
FloorScore
Third-party certification to CDPH Standard Method v1.2
9.3.2 Where a certification is selected, the certification shall be current at the time of submittal and shall cover the specific product and adhesive furnished.

10 Accessibility

10.1 Openings in the Walking Surface

10.1.2 Where openings are elongated, the long dimension of each opening shall be perpendicular to the dominant direction of travel.
10.1.3 The rails of a rail grille shall run perpendicular to the primary direction of travel.
10.1.4 Where an entrance has no dominant direction of travel, openings shall be limited to 1/2 in. in both dimensions.
NOTE The 1/2 in. limit keeps a cane tip, a narrow heel, and a small caster from dropping into or catching in the opening, and the perpendicular orientation of a rail grille serves scraping and accessibility with the same geometry, because every step then crosses the open spaces between rails. (10.1.5)

10.2 Changes in Level

10.2.1 The change in level between the tread surface and the adjacent finish floor shall be controlled at every edge of the system on an accessible route.
10.2.2 A change in level of not more than 1/4 in. is permitted without treatment.
10.2.3 A change in level greater than 1/4 in. and not greater than 1/2 in. shall be beveled with a slope not steeper than 1:2.
10.2.4 A change in level greater than 1/2 in. is not permitted at any edge of the system and shall be eliminated by correcting the recess depth, the setting bed, or the frame, or by a beveled or ramped frame edge on a surface-mounted system.
10.2.5 A rail grille shall be set so that it does not rock, shift, or deflect underfoot, and inserts shall be secured so that they do not lift or curl.

10.3 Slip Resistance

10.3.1 The walking surface of each zone shall be firm, stable, and slip-resistant.
10.3.2 The dynamic coefficient of friction of each hard tread surface, measured to ANSI A326.3 for the product use category that applies to its zone, shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
Wet Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard Tread Surfacesrange
DCOF
0.420.450.50.550.60.650.7
Derived — the ANSI A326.3 product use category matching the zone's exposure, Exterior Wet for a zone outside the weather line and Interior Wet or Interior Wet Plus for a zone inside it (by default)
NOTE ANSI A326.3 assigns a minimum wet dynamic coefficient of friction to each product use category, with 0.42 for Interior Wet, 0.50 for Interior Wet Plus, and 0.55 for Exterior Wet, so the value for a zone follows from where the zone sits relative to the weather line rather than from a preference; the range floor of 0.42 is the lowest wet category the test method defines. (10.3.3)
NOTE The wet dynamic coefficient of friction is a comparative measure of the tread and does not by itself keep a person from slipping; the most slippery point at an entrance is the hard floor immediately beyond a shoe the walk-off failed to dry, so walk-off length is the primary slip control and the tread coefficient is the secondary one. (10.3.4)

11 Installation

11.1 Recess Verification and Frame Setting

11.1.1 The Contractor shall verify each recess for depth, level, squareness, and drainage before setting the frame, and shall report a recess outside the manufacturer's tolerance to the Architect of Record before proceeding.
11.1.2 The recess shall be clean, sound, and free of debris and standing water at the time the frame is set.
11.1.3 Where a drain or weep is provided beneath the grille, it shall be confirmed clear and the recess slope confirmed to reach it before the frame is set.
11.1.4 The frame shall be set level and square, and anchored or bedded so that the top of the frame establishes a finished tread surface flush with the adjacent finish floor within the change-in-level limit stated under Accessibility.
11.1.5 A frame set in a grout bed shall be shimmed and braced so that it does not shift before the bed has set.
11.1.6 A frame cast into the slab shall be braced to its elevation and protected from displacement during concrete placement, and its elevation shall be verified after the concrete has set.

11.2 Grille and Insert Placement

11.2.1 Each grille shall be field-cut and fitted so that it lies flat, fully supported by the frame, with the manufacturer's clearance at the frame perimeter.
11.2.2 Section joints in a grille built of sections shall be located out of the most concentrated traffic path where the entrance geometry permits.
11.2.3 Tread inserts shall be installed in the rails shown on the approved shop drawings, fully seated and secured so that they do not lift, curl, or migrate.
11.2.4 Roll-up and hinged grilles shall lie flat in the recess without ripples or raised connectors.

11.3 Walk-Off Textile Installation

11.3.1 Walk-off carpet tile and broadloom shall be installed in accordance with CRI 104 and with CarpetCarpetResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/carpet, including subfloor preparation and moisture acceptance.
11.3.2 The walk-off textile shall be secured so that it does not shift, ripple, or curl under foot and rolling traffic.
11.3.3 The finished surface of the walk-off textile shall meet the grille frame and each adjacent finish floor within the change-in-level limit stated under Accessibility, with a beveled transition where the limit requires one.

11.4 Transitions and Sealing

11.4.1 The transition from the frame to each adjacent finish floor shall be detailed so that the finish floor elevations reconcile at the frame, in coordination with Resilient FlooringResilient FlooringResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/resilient-flooring, Ceramic TileCeramic TileResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/ceramic-tile, Natural Stone TileNatural Stone TileResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/natural-stone-tile, and CarpetCarpetResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/carpet as the adjacent finish requires.
11.4.2 The joint between a frame outside the weather line and the adjacent paving or slab shall be sealed with a sealant in accordance with Joint SealantsJoint SealantsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/joint-sealants so that water does not enter the recess around the frame.
11.4.3 The frame at the door line shall be coordinated with the threshold and door bottom in accordance with Automatic Entrance DoorsAutomatic Entrance DoorsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/automatic-entrance-doors and Aluminum Entrances And StorefrontsAluminum Entrances and StorefrontsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/aluminum-entrances-and-storefronts so that the door clears the grille through its full swing or slide and the threshold and frame meet without a gap.

12 Cleaning and Maintenance

NOTE Entrance flooring performs only while it is maintained: a grille whose recess is full of compacted grit, or a wiper textile that is saturated and never extracted, has stopped capturing soil and is redistributing it. (12.1)
12.2 The Contractor shall clean each installed system and its recess at substantial completion so that the Owner receives every recess empty and every drain and weep clear.
12.3 The maintenance instructions delivered under the action submittals shall describe the routine cleaning method and frequency for each system, the procedure for lifting, folding, or rolling the grille to vacuum and wash the recess and clear any drain beneath it, and the method for extracting or replacing saturated wiper inserts and textiles.
12.4 Worn, torn, or permanently soiled tread inserts shall be replaced rather than left in service, because a worn insert no longer scrapes or wipes and a torn insert is a trip edge.

13 Delivery, Storage, and Handling

13.1 Grilles, mats, frames, and inserts shall be delivered in the manufacturer's packaging with the system, zone, and entrance identified on each package.
13.2 Materials shall be stored indoors, off the floor, flat, and protected from moisture, construction dust, and traffic until installation.
13.3 Walk-off textiles shall be stored in the conditions and for the acclimation period the manufacturer publishes before installation.
13.4 Frames shall be handled so that they are not bent or twisted, and a frame that has been bent shall be replaced rather than straightened.

14 Warranty

14.1 The manufacturer shall warrant the rail and frame structure of each rail grille and mat system against defects in materials and workmanship for the period indicated in the datasheet, measured from the date of substantial completion.
Manufacturer Warranty Period for the Rail and Frame Structurerange
years
123510152025
14.2 A limited lifetime warranty on the rail and frame structure satisfies any period selected in the datasheet.
14.3 The manufacturer shall warrant tread inserts and walk-off textiles against defects in materials and workmanship, excluding wear, for the period indicated in the datasheet, measured from the date of substantial completion.
Manufacturer Warranty Period for Tread Inserts and Walk-Off Textilesrange
years
1235
NOTE Manufacturers commonly carry a long-term or limited lifetime warranty on the rail and frame structure while treating inserts as wearing items on a shorter term, which is why the two periods are selected separately. (14.4)
14.5 The Contractor shall warrant the installation, including recess and drainage coordination, frame setting and flushness, grille fit, insert securement, and transitions to adjacent finishes, against defective workmanship for the period indicated in the datasheet, measured from the date of substantial completion.
Installation Workmanship Warranty Periodrange
years
1235
Default: Not less than 1 years
14.6 Where the contract documents state a longer warranty period than the datasheet, the longer period shall govern.
14.7 A failure arising from a recess formed to the wrong depth or without required drainage, from a rolling load exceeding the rating selected in the datasheet, or from maintenance contrary to the manufacturer's instructions is excluded from the manufacturer's warranty, and the party responsible for the excluded condition shall bear the cost of the correction.

15 Spare Parts

15.1 The Contractor shall deliver the spare parts indicated in the datasheet to the Owner before the entrance flooring is accepted, and shall obtain a signed receipt for them.
Spare Parts to Be Furnishedcheckbox
☐ Tread insert strips of each type and color
☐ Walk-off carpet tiles of each type and color
☐ Grille connector and hinge hardware
☐ Frame anchors and shims
15.2 The quantity of spare tread inserts and walk-off textile, as a percentage of the installed insert length or textile area of each type and color, shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Spare Insert and Textile Quantityrange
%
23510
15.3 Spare parts shall be from the same production run as the installed material where color matching depends on it, and shall be delivered in the manufacturer's packaging labeled with the system, the insert or textile type, and the color.