A variety of specifications are used to control the surface regularity of free movement traffic areas of floors in other countries but there is no common method of specifying and measuring flatness. The Concrete Society specification is considered easier to understand and simpler to apply than any of the alternative approaches.
In the USA, the F-number system has been the specification most widely used since the early 1980s. More recently, the 'Wave Index' system has been developed as an alternative to the F-number system.
In Europe, a number of national standards have been employed. These include two German DIN standards (DIN 15185, DIN 18202), and standards in the Netherlands and Sweden.
There is a lack of consistency between these various standards, and the approach developed in the United Kingdom is considered to provide the most effective and flexible to meet client needs.