Ford SH-0089 Modified Floor Mat Slip Test (Static Friction)

The “Ford SH-0089 Modified Mat Slip Test (Static Friction)” standard, developed by Ford Motor Company (Ford), includes an engineering test method used to evaluate the coefficient of static friction (COF) between a vehicle floor covering and a removable “insertion” mat. The purpose of this test is to determine how effectively a mat resists movement when subjected to forces similar to those produced by the driver's or passenger's feet during normal vehicle use.

This standard is often referenced alongside the “Ford SH-0103 Coefficient of Friction - Modified mat slip test (static friction)” standard as a method for determining the coefficient of friction for automotive floor mat systems.

The purpose of the Ford SH-0089 standard is to prevent loose or improperly secured floor mats from sliding on the vehicle floor, creating various safety hazards, including:

• Interfering with the gas, brake, or clutch pedals.
• Driver discomfort
• Premature wear of carpet materials
• Increased risk of accidents due to pedal blockage.

The Ford SH-0089 standard was developed to ensure that floor mat materials provide sufficient static friction to minimize unwanted movement before slipping begins.

Static friction is the force that prevents two surfaces from moving relative to each other. In the context of automotive floor mats:

• One surface is a vehicle carpet.
• The other is the underside of the removable mat.
• The higher the coefficient of static friction, the greater the resistance to sliding.

Unlike dynamic friction, which measures resistance during motion, static friction assesses the force required to initiate motion.

The Ford SH-0089 standard generally applies to the following:

• Driver mats
• Passenger mats
• Carpet-backed mats
• Rubber mats
• Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) mats
• Hybrid multi-layer mat systems
• Vehicle carpet materials
• Non-slip backing materials

This standard is primarily used in the following situations:

• new product development
• Material selection
• Supplier approval
• Production quality verification
• Design validation

The modified mat slide test measures the force required to initiate a slide between a mat and the vehicle carpet. The procedure generally involves:

• The mat should be placed on the specified vehicle carpet.
• A controlled normal load is applied to simulate the weight of the passenger's foot.
• The horizontal tensile force is increased gradually.
• Recording the force required to initiate the movement.
• Calculating the static friction coefficient from the measured values.

The resulting coefficient indicates the mat's resistance to slipping under static loading conditions.

Typical test equipment used in these tests includes:

• Static friction test setup
• Horizontal pull mechanism
• Force gauge or load cell
• Specified vehicle carpet underlayment
• Standardized loading weight
• Controlled environmental conditions
• Data collection system

Typical variables that are controlled during the test include:

• Normal load applied
• Pulling speed
• Pulling direction
• Surface condition
• Temperature
• Gender
• Carpet type
• Floor mat direction

Maintaining consistent conditions ensures repeatable and comparable results.

The Ford SH-0089 standard can primarily be used in the evaluation of the following materials:

• Puncture-hole carpets
• Shaggy carpets
• Molded carpets
• Rubber-backed mats
• PVC-backed mats
• Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) mats
• Textile mats
• Non-slip coatings
• Foam-backed materials

This test method determines whether the mat provides sufficient resistance to movement. Higher static friction generally indicates:

• Improved mat stability.
• Reduce slippage.
• Improved pedal clearance
• Better passenger confidence.
• Enhanced security

Lower friction may indicate that the following are needed:

• Improved support materials
• Different surface textures
• Additional holding devices
• Redesigned doormat

Ford engineers use the Ford SH-0089 standard in the following situations:

• Interior trim upgrade
• Mat design verification
• Supplier qualification
• Material comparison studies
• Vehicle safety assessments
• Production quality control checks

This method helps compare different support materials before making a selection for production.

In Ford documentation, Ford SH-0089 is listed alongside the Ford SH-0103 standard. This indicates that the methods are closely related or represent different revisions or applications of the same friction assessment methodology.

Although the Ford SH-0089 standard is a proprietary standard, similar static friction assessments are widely used in the following areas:

• Automotive original equipment manufacturers
• Flooring manufacturers
• Interior trim suppliers
• Rubber component manufacturers
• Carpet manufacturers
• Automotive accessory manufacturers
• Automotive testing laboratories

The Ford SH-0089 standard is important because it verifies that removable vehicle floor mats remain securely in place under normal operating conditions. Mat movement is not only a comfort issue, but can also pose a significant vehicle safety risk if the mat slides towards the pedals. This standard is considered important for the following reasons:

• Improves driver safety: The main purpose of this standard is to help prevent the mats from sliding forward and interfering with:
  • Using the gas pedal
  • Brake pedal movement
  • Clutch pedal movement (in vehicles with manual transmission)

A floor mat that obstructs pedal movement can reduce a driver's ability to control the vehicle and potentially lead to accidents.

• It evaluates static friction performance: This standard measures the coefficient of static friction, which represents the force required to initiate movement between the mat and the vehicle carpet. This allows engineers to determine:
  • Whether the mat has adequate grip.
  • The support material performs as intended.
  • Different carpet and mat combinations are compatible.
• Supports material selection: Vehicle manufacturers evaluate numerous support materials before selecting one for production. This standard provides objective data for comparison:
  • Rubber supports
  • Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) supports
  • PVC supports
  • Carpet-backed mats
  • Non-slip coatings
  • Textile structures

This helps engineers select materials that provide the best balance of grip, durability, weight, and cost.

• Improves product quality: Consistent testing ensures that every production batch of mats meets Ford's performance expectations. This standard helps identify production variations that could reduce friction and increase the likelihood of mat movement.
• Supports supplier competence: Ford sources its floor mats from multiple suppliers. This standard ensures consistent quality across different production sites by providing a common evaluation methodology that allows all suppliers to be assessed using the same performance criteria.

In conclusion, the Ford SH-0089 standard is a crucial internal engineering standard for evaluating the resistance of removable vehicle floor mats to slipping on automotive carpets. By measuring the coefficient of static friction under controlled conditions, the method helps ensure that the mats remain securely in place during normal vehicle use, contributing to vehicle safety, interior quality, and occupant comfort. The aim of this standard is clear: to provide a consistent and repeatable assessment of mat stability and to support the development of safer, more durable automotive interior systems.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its customers, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the Ford SH-0089 standard.