Where does your business stand under the new disability law?   Where's the best chance of getting a hands-on resolution of the ADA requirements of accommodating disabilities with adequate horizontal friction conditions?  The United States Government does not endorse products, manufacturers, or private corporations.  Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein because they were considered by the author as essential to the object of the report.  All interpretations should be reviewed by competent legal counsel.    

"SLIPPERY FLOORS NOW A CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION"

Mobility impaired individuals need not be a slip/fall victim to file a complaint with the Department of Justice through the Coordination Review Section, Civil Rights Division, P.O. Box 66118, Washington, D.C. 20035-6118, if they suspect that any one of the one million businesses and other places that provide goods and services to the public, possess or maintain slippery "accessible routes".  Any one may represent the disabled people for filing and when site inspection "coefficient of friction" teams from the Justice Department deem the surface in violation, when "feasible" measures could have been taken, a fine of up to $50,000.00 can be imposed for the first violation and $100,000.00 for each violation thereafter.  Certainly enough reasons to now take the matter seriously, especially since the same protection will be entitled to the qualified handicapped employees after July 26, 1992.  DISABLED RIGHTS ACTION COMMITTEES radically seek out violators and 43,000,000 people are officially classified as disabled!  Add 1,600,000 sufferers each year that are permanently disabled from slip/fall injuries (National Safety Council statistics) 80% of which occurred as a direct result of man-made omissions (OSHA findings) and you have created a very resentful, vocal group of victims that are no longer silent sufferers.  It is predictable that this group will deal with deadly conditions before inconvenient ones with the rights granted them through the ADA.  They are provided a hotline number for enforcement information which is (202) 514-0301. (Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

BEGINNING FRICTION CONDITION NOT ENOUGH

Continue to friction condition or fail the `due diligence' test.  Suspected conspirators (before the accident) can be identified (including the janitor or chemical company) through officially recognized testing guidelines performed through the Justice Department *.  We must redefine what we mean by clean!  Reason;  "stable surface" as defined and recognized by the Justice Department under guidelines interpreted by the United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is, "a surface that remains unchanged by contaminants or applied force, so that when the contaminant or force is removed, the surface returns to its original condition."  In simpler words, clean must also be safe.  No more `slop-mop' or shiny "film" cleanings for labor saving or aesthetic reasons.  The shiny look is also unlawful if waxes or seals do not pass the new coefficient of friction requirements.  Few pass, especially when cleaned with a no rinse slippery gelatin, alcohol based labor-saving cleanser (widely used on vinyl floors).  Besides businesses, Federal , State, Municipal and all other non-profit organizations must comply.  Today, municipalities require certification that adequate slip resistance is maintained under ADA guidelines (building codes).

CLEANING ONLY, FAILS THE TEST

A majority of the hard mineral horizontal surfaces maintained today, as walking surfaces, fail the current federal accessibility standards.  The Americans with Disabilities Act, requires that, "floors and grounds will be stable, firm and slip resistant".  Again, this means all the feasible time, not just once a week or if tested once a year!  The slip resistant standard (July 26, 1991) of .60 coefficient of friction was upgraded to a .70 through advisory guidelines published October 1991, wet or dry.  Most existing tiled or cement surfaces were designed to pass a .50 (COF) test, wet or dry before chemical cleaning.  To meet the new standard could require tearing out the old floor and replacing it only with new solid surfaces; covering surfaces with laborious expensive mats which are never "firm" and seldom "stable" as interpreted by the USATBCB, are not acceptable.  Firm Surface; "A surface that resists deformation by either indentations or particles moving on the surface".  By definition therefore, mats are non-compliant.  Replaced, more abrasive solid surfaces that pass the .70 (COF) requirement, resist conventional cleaning procedures, thus the "stable surface" requirement is difficult.  Tile Manufacturers often recommend that only water be used for cleaning, a desperate, inadequate and biologically dangerous practice, especially in rest rooms, (also a violation of Local Health Codes).  Cleaning chemicals are grossly inadequate and not chemically engineered to meet the newly defined safety standard, "Clean must mean returned to safe."  A constant friction conditioner is necessary.

There is one qualified chemical invention that improves existing friction and maintains as a constant traction treatment, see report, Risk/Benefits of pHluorus^®.  While cleaning, it resists all contaminants (including biological) and "retrofits" for daily floor friction to an upgrade of .70 (COF) constant or better condition.  Under Patent Process, and unlike cleaners, this microbiofrenic chemical agent physically dissolves surfaces to an invisible micro-etch condition, reconstructing the surface with retreated designs, while conditioning silicate and calcium, (tile or cement) harder, stronger and totally resistant to "biological" contaminants, a primary cause of slipperiness.  pHluorus^® chemically reconstructs an entirely new surface generation through a beneficial process called "fluorination".  A unique scientifically proven condition, fluorination resists "contaminants", mineral or biological, the primary objective of the "stable" requirement.  A feasibly compliant clean for Marble, granite, composite stone, waxed, sealed, cement, ceramic and porcelain surfaces (that's most of them).  The best solution for waxed or sealed surfaces because of its self-stripping "Halogenic" nature. 

* UNPARALLELED SLIP RESISTANCE

On ceramic tile or porcelain (restaurants, restrooms, showers, tubs, etc.) an average of .87 (wet as well as dry) (COF) or better can be recovered daily as verified through independently certified tests.  Other commonly used cleaners registered a disappointing .49 (COF).  Tests can be certified on your surfaces as required by Federal, State and Municipal entities from guidelines recommended by the United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board report "Slip Resistant Surfaces Advisory Guidelines" (October 1991), through the use of the NBS-Brungraber Tester (Mark I, for dry and Mark II for wet).  Contact Dr. Robert J. Brungraber, 409 South 21 Street, Lewisburg, PA  17837  (717) 524-0852.  Dr. Brungraber is personally aware of our process and is an acknowledged "official" expert witness, that can certify (COF) on your behalf.

USER-FRIENDLY `FEASIBLE' TECHNOLOGY

Cost competitive with conventional compounds, except water, it is simply poured on, brushed in and rinsed off with water.  It simply replaces existing daily cleanser.  No unreasonable exposure hazards exist as established through a report titled "Risk/Benefits of Phluorus^®".   Your own maintenance people can be guided with confidence through simple directions, or through local inexpensive janitorial services for initial `deglazing' while periodic cleaning is upgraded to labor saving `state-of-the-art' techniques, only possible through the extremely efficient chemically engineered compound.  Even illiterate or retarded cleaning personnel cannot fail through this fool-proof system.  pHluorus usage is monitored through a computerized reorder system that guarantees compliance.  Correct dilution level monitoring allows our reordering staff the opportunity to isolate and correct incorrect cleaning techniques.

SPECIAL TAX INCENTIVES

As a friction conditioner, replacing non-entitled cleaner alternatives, pHluorus^® qualifies for a 50% direct tax credit yearly (up to $10,000.00) for most small business operations (under IRS Publication 334, pp. 110-111, form 8826 or 3800).  For large businesses, under Uniform Capitalization Rule Cost of Removal, IRS Code 1245, sub.A-sub2-sub.C, for a one year amortization of $15,000.00, yearly.  Our CPA will confirm this interpretation.  pHluorus^®, as a "friction conditioner", renders applied surfaces stable.  The Patent Applied for key component combination qualifies as a physical remodeling process in the same context as "widening" (widening the surface) a door or constructing a ramp (creating microscopic peaks & valleys), since retrofitting (restoring) is necessary daily, as interpreted under the "stable" ADA horizontal friction requirement.  pHluorus^® qualifies as a special adaptation, not legally mandated where the old .50 (COF) was the guideline.

FEDERAL LAW SATISFIED FOR THE "LIFETIME" OF THE FLOOR!

Your existing tile or cement need not be replaced or covered since, as a very "feasible" correction, "pHluorination" becomes a condition immediately present upon the first application.  The pHluorinated compliant (COF) condition is guaranteed, for the lifetime of the surface, so long as the product is used as directed (an affidavit supplied).  If you already have a .70 (COF) surface, it is still important that you use the pHluorus^® friction conditioner.  pHluorus^® is certainly the "feasible one" under Federal guidelines, (practical too) therefore complying with the ADA requirements.  Others?  Well be sure you qualify them under guidelines described in the article entitled, "Safety Underfoot, or Floor Borne Danger".  Ask yourself; why didn't my chemical supplier inform me about the right safety solution, with special tax breaks that could pay for up to half my yearly floor cleaning chemical costs.  Their answers may surprise you!   The right answer is that the product is only available through authorized Distributors of pHluorus, Inc., Draper, Utah, 1-800-845-SLIP.

Footnote:  Enclosed, Safety Underfoot or Floor Borne Danger Article and

Risk/Benefits of phluorus Report.

 ^{© Copyright 1992 pHluorus, Inc. Draper, Utah}