Janka Wood Floor Hardness Scale

The janka test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball into the wood by half its diameter.

Janka wood floor hardness scale.

Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring. The type of construction and finish also play an important role in the durability and ease of maintenance of any wood floor. The janka test is a measure of the hardness of wood.

It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. The industry standard for hardness the hardness of a wood is rated on an industry wide standard known as the janka test. This test is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood specie to withstand denting and wear. The janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species.

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. 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 janka hardness scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another. 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. Janka hardness ratings of wood species. 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. The janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0 444 steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter.

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. The scale used in the table is pounds force.