Slip Resistance Testing of Floor and Paving Surfaces
There is a duty of care upon flooring designers, manufacturers, distributors, installers, contractors, and on the architects who specify flooring products, to ensure that flooring surfaces are 'fit for purpose' and do not pose a safety risk.
One of the key components of safety is defining how slippery the floor is; this is known as its 'slip resistance'. In fact, The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 stipulate that floors must not be slippery so that they put people's safety at risk.
UKAS-accredited, Ceram is a leading provider of testing for slip resistance, offering both the Pendulum Test and the Ramp Test. Ceram offers a full on-site consultancy service regarding skid and slip issues. Testing of floors and surfaces in situ can identify a significant number of factors that can influence the skid slip performance of flooring materials. For example, cleaning regimes, maintenance, integrity of substrate, wearing or weathering of the flooring surface, presence of any sealants on the surface of the floor and trafficking pattern can all affect significantly the performance of flooring materials.
We have expertise in a range of materials, including:
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Granite
- Slate
- Marble
- Natural stone
- Clay pavers
- Concrete paving blocks and flags
- Cement
- Timber
- Resin finishes
- PVC and other flexible materials
- Glass
- Metals
- Plastics.
and can measure for slip resistance both in our laboratory and on site.
We provide slip resistance testing to:
- Manufacturers - working with them to improve their products
- Architects - to advise on the slip resistance of specified products
- Contractors - to ensure that products are fit for application prior to installation
- End users – to advise on remedial work, undertake risk assessments and slipping accident investigation
- Detergent manufacturers to ensure that their products do not affect the slip resistance of floors.
The choice of pendulum slip testing or ramp slip testing is dependent on the type of material used for the flooring, its surface profile and the environment in which the tile is being used.
External Slip and Skid Resistance
External public surfaces such as estate roads and driveways, footpaths, car parks, shopping complexes and retail parks should all provide a consistent level of slip resistance to prevent pedestrians from slipping and vehicles from skidding. Facilities managers, local authorities and building owners have an obligation to ensure surface resistances do not deteriorate with time due to weathering, polishing or inadequate cleaning regimes. Ceram provides testing services to manufacturers of external surfaces prior to installation, as well as site based services for the measurement of slip or skid resistance for a wide range of paving products. Trials to monitor the effects of various cleaning regimes or sealing compounds on slip and skid resistance, or other properties such as freeze thaw or high pressure jetting resistance can also be conducted.
Expert Witness
In instances where slips result in litigation, Ceram can provide an Expert Witness Service which draws upon an experienced team of internationally regarded professionals, with a specialist knowledge of flooring surfaces. All tests and inspections are conducted by trained and certified inspectors to the highest standards, with fully calibrated equipment, in accordance with HSE and UKSRG guidelines.
Case Studies:
Ceram Confirms Bonagrip’s Durability and Slip Resistance
White Light Interferometry investigations of floor treatments.
