Janka Wood Floor Hardness Scale

To learn the basic hardness of different common woods used in flooring check the chart below.

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. 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 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. Janka hardness ratings of wood species.

Although this janka hardness test is one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations it should be used only as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. The scale used in the table is pounds force. This test is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood specie to withstand denting and wear. The janka test is a measure of the hardness of wood.

Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. The industry standard for hardness the hardness of a wood is rated on an industry wide standard known as the janka test. The janka hardness test was conducted by measuring the amount of force necessary to embed a 444 inch steel ball into side of the wood up to one half of its diameter to determine its hardness rating which is then recorded on the janka hardness scale. 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 test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball into the wood by half its diameter. The janka hardness scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another. It is also a good indicator of how hard a. 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.

There may be variations of more or less than 20 on the scale since this is a scientific test. A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring. It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood.