PREMIUM Rubber-Topper for Pigs

DLG-Approved: "Abrasion, Slip resistance, Acid resistance"

Download print version

Test report 7603

The approval

A test mark “DLG APPROVED for individual criteria“ is awarded for agricultural products which have success­fully fulfilled a scope-reduced usability testing conducted by DLG according to independent and recognised evaluation criteria. The test is intended to highlight particular innovations and key criteria of the test object. The test may contain criteria from the DLG test scope for overall tests, or focus on other value-determining characteristics and properties of the test subject. The minimum requirements, test conditions and procedures as well as the evaluation bases of the test results will be specified in consultation with an expert group of DLG. They corres­pond to the recognised rules of technology, as well as scientific and agricultural knowledge and requirements. The successful testing is concluded with the publication of a test report, as well as the awarding of the test mark which is valid for five years from the date of awarding. 

The test was based on the DLG Testing Framework for elastic flooring for pigs, as of February 2023 and DIN 3763:2022-08 (Elastic floorings for cattle and dairy cows walking and rest surfaces – requirements and testing). Other criteria were not tested. 

Assessment in brief

The PREMIUM Rubber-Topper elastic flooring is suitable for use in pig resting areas. It was tested for durability and comfort in the DLG-APPROVED for individual criteria. The requirements of the DLG testing program for elastic flooring systems for pigs (as of February 2023) were fulfiled.

Table 1: Overview of results

DLG Quality profilEvaluation
Abrasion■■■■■ *
Resistance to feed acid mixture■■■ **
Resistance to uric acid■■■ **
Resistance to sulfurous acid■■ **
Resistance to ammonia■■■ **
Resistance to barn disinfectans■■■ **
Resistance to peracetic acid■■■ **
Slip resistance■■ ***

DLG Evaluation range:
* ■■■  or better = meets, exceeds or significantly exceeds the established DLG standards,
■■= or better = meets, exceeds or significantly exceeds the established DLG standards,
= failed
**  Single criteria slip resistance:  ■■= passed,  = failed
*** Single criteria acid resistance ■■■ = resistant ,  ■■  = limited resistant,   = failed

The product

Description and technical data

The elastic flooring is suitable for use in pig resting areas.

  • Elastic rubber surface (17 mm thick, textured with 1.3 mm-high studs and installed) for PP Copo plastic grating (rigid component, manufactured using injection molding)
  • Total thickness: 64.5 mm
  • Shore A: approx. 64

The method

Abrasion test

In a standardised abrasion test with 10,000 cycles the top cover was grinded with an emery cloth (granulation 280) and a grinding pressure of 250 N. The friction element was cooled continuous with water to prevent an influence of the generated heat during the abrasion test. The size of the grinded area was 61,5 cm².

Acid resistance

A permanent dipping test in accordance to DIN 7861 was carried out. Test samples (size 30 mm x 30 mm) were completely dipped into different test liquids for 24 hours and 28 days (room temperature 20° Celsius).  In the 28 days test the liquids were changed weekly. After the 28 days the samples were washed with distillate water and dried for 24 hours. Before and after the dipping the weight, the dimensions and the shore hardness (shore A) of the test samples were measured.  Additional visual evaluation was done for alterations like colour changing, swelling, destruction or crystallisation. All samples were evaluated in comparison to the standard water.

Slip resistance

The measurements were carried out with the ComfortControl test rig of the DLG test centre. A polyamide plastic foot loaded with 10 kg, designed to simulate a pig‘s hoof (40 mm in diameter, contact area approximately 20 cm²), was dragged across the test mat at a speed of 20 mm/s.

Figure 2: Abrasion test
Figure 3: Slip resistant measurement

Detailed account of the test results

Abrasion test

The abrasion depth after 10,000 cycles amounted to 1,5 mm, this corresponds to approximately 2.3 % of the rubber thickness. Of the ground surface 0.9 grams were rubbed off. The abrasion depth and the slight grit implicate a good wear resistance of the mat.

Slip Resistance

The slide pulling tests showed a good slip resistance on the dry or wet rubber mat surface in new condition. The measured friction coefficients (μ) in this test – ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 – are significantly higher than the minimum value of μ = 0.25 (DLG test program).

Acid resistance

The slide pulling tests showed a good slip resistance on the dry or wet rubber mat surface in new condition. The measured friction coefficients (μ) in this test – ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 – are significantly higher than the minimum value of μ = 0.25 (DLG test program).

Figure 4: Test sample after acid resistance test

Table 2: Test liquids and results – acid resistance
 

Test liquidConcentrationResult 
after 24 hours 
residence time
Result 
after 28 days 
residence time
Evaluation
Feed acid mixture    
 concentrate, pH 2no changingno changingresistant
Excrement acids    
Uric acidsaturated urea solution (0,4 %)no changingno changingresistant
Sulfurous acid5-6 % SO2no changingcolor change, 
whitish film
limited 
resistant
Ammonia solution32 % solutionno changingno changingresistant
Disinfection liquid    
Barn disinfectants2 %-solution of a product with 
formic acid and glyoxyl acid 
no changingno changingresistant
Peracetic acidundilutedno changingno changingresistant

Summary

The tested flooring for pigs fulfiled the requirements of the DLG testing framework with regard to the criteria examined.

Manufacturer and examination process

Testing agency
DLG TestService GmbH, Gross-Umstadt location, Germany
The tests are conducted on behalf of DLG e.V.

DLG test framework
DLG Testing Framework for elastic flooring for pigs (current as of 08/2022)

Department
Agriculture

Division head
Dr. Michael Eise

Test engineer(s)
Alena Scholz *
*    Author


Applicant

PREMIUMFLOOR GmbH
Marienstraße 15
56269 Marienhausen, Germany

Contact
Phone 02689 972211
t.frisch@premium-flooring.de 
https://www.premium-flooring.de