The Surface Friction Tester (SFT) - Your Partner in Road Safety & Efficiency!

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The Surface Friction Tester (SFT) - Your Partner in Road Safety & Efficiency!

Our Surface Friction Tester (SFT) has been a cornerstone in measuring roadway friction properties for over 45 years. To help understand how this advanced equipment can benefit your projects, we have compiled answers to some frequently asked questions!

Check them out below:

What is the Surface Friction Tester (SFT)? The Surface Friction Tester (SFT) is a custom-fabricated trailer and tow vehicle designed to measure roadway friction properties. It supports both network-level and project-level pavement friction testing, identifying safety issues and allowing proactive management.

 

How long has the SFT been in use? The SFT has been providing critical information on roadway friction properties for over 45 years, helping to enhance road safety since 1975.

 

Why is pavement friction testing important? According to the FHWA, roadway departures are a leading cause of fatal crashes, with insufficient pavement friction being a major factor. The SFT helps identify current or potential safety problems, allowing for timely remediation through safety and pavement management programs.

 

What standards does the SFT meet? The SFT meets ASTM E274 and AASHTO standards, ensuring the highest level of accuracy and quality in pavement friction measurement.

 

What makes the SFT maintenance-free? The SFT uses coil-over shocks instead of air-adjustable shocks, incorporating check valves before the electric valve to optimize water usage and reduce refill stops, making it hassle-free to maintain.

 

What innovative design features does the SFT have? The SFT features proprietary racing-style aluminum brake calipers for enhanced performance, a proximity switch for Dynamic Friction Tester (DMI) facilitating field fixes, and top-down access to the trailer suspension system for streamlined maintenance.

 

How does the SFT enhance efficiency? The SFT offers a rapid-fire mode option for closer spacing between tests, reducing water usage and speeding up the testing process.

 

Is the SFT user-friendly? Yes, the SFT is designed for ease of use, ensuring a user-friendly experience for operators and making the testing process more streamlined and time-efficient.

 

Can the SFT measure pavement macrotexture and roadway geometry? Yes, the SFT offers optional HD imaging, pavement macrotexture, and roadway geometry options to provide comprehensive surface friction data.

 

For more than four decades, our Surface Friction Tester has been a trusted tool for improving road safety through accurate and reliable friction measurement.

 

Contact us to learn more about how the SFT can help your safety and pavement management programs!