CERAM Helps Halt the Slip Ups

Slip ups happen all the time - in fact in 2006 injuries caused by slipping and tripping accounted for 36% of the total number of injuries in the UK. The impact on businesses is significant as, in 23% of cases, those slips result in over three days away from work recovering. Slips and trips can also be the cause of other accidents including scalding and falls from height, according to HSE figures.

CERAM is a recognised independent authority in the field of floor tiles and paver performance evaluation and has significant experience in carrying out slip testing on a wide range of flooring surfaces. CERAM carries out both laboratory based and on site slip resistance testing.

In the laboratory, CERAM can carry out two sets of tests, the choice of which is dependent on the circumstances for which the floor covering is being used. The first test is the BS7976 Pendulum test, designed to simulate the action of a slipping foot. The second is the ramp test which is split into DIN51130 – Shod and the DIN51097 Barefoot. CERAM is also able to carry out all of the tests needed to comply with the BS standard for tiles (BSENISO10545) and can test to BSEN13845: 2005 for resilient floor coverings.

On site, CERAM carries out the slip resistance test method favoured by the HSE which uses the pendulum apparatus to BS7976. This can be carried out both in the dry and with contaminants such as water, oil and dirt, and can be carried out on any hard floor covering including pavers, tiles and resilient flooring. On-site surface roughness measurement can also be carried out using the Surtonic Duo, again the favoured meter of the HSE.

Slip resistance can also be affected by the degree of bonding between floor tiles and the underlying substrate and the Schmidt Hammer testing undertaken by CERAM can test this without the need to remove the tiles.

As well as being able to carry out laboratory and on site evaluation, CERAM also offers an on-site consultancy service which examines the integrity of installations and is able to provide recommendations for remedial actions where an installation has been found to be sub-standard.

For more information, please contact Emma Tang on +44 (0)1782 764428; emma.tang@ceram.com

[April 2007]