An Overview of Slip Resistance Test Methods 

The term slip resistance testing may sound unfamiliar to many of you. However, this is something that is extremely critical for contractors, architects, cleaning companies, and building managers. The risk associated with walking on slippery floors is known to all of us. Slip resistance test allows property owners and managers to implement preventive measures so that the risk of accidents while walking on the floors is minimised. This test is also essential for industrial facilities, restaurants kitchens, and other areas where oils and other lubricants can be found.  

Most countries around the world have clear laws with regards to who is liable for a slip related accident. If any such accident takes place on your premises, in order to avoid costly litigation, it is important for you to prove due diligence. Conducting a slip resistance test helps ascertain compliance with the safety requirements and take proper measures if the floors fail the test.  If the floors within a premise remain untested, it may result in heavy penalty in case of a slip-related accident.  

In Australia, the testing methods for assessment of frictional properties of floor surfaces have been outlined by the AS/NZS 4586 standard. This standard lists down four testing methods for the evaluation of characteristics of surface materials in wet or dry conditions.  

Here is a brief overview of these four testing methodologies.  

Wet Pendulum Slip Resistance Test: This test is conducted using a portable pendulum device that has a weighted foot with a test slider. The slider swings down and is made to slide across a surface that has been wetted with water. The results of this test are expressed as British Pendulum Number (BPN), with high BPN value corresponding to low risk of slipping on a wet surface.  

Dry Floor Friction Slip Resistance Test: A battery operated machine commonly known as dry FFT is used for this test. The testing methodology involves moving a 9 mm diameter test slider across surfaces at a constant speed of 1meter per minute. The force opposing this motion is measured by the FFT, and is expressed as Coefficient of Friction (CoF). A mean value of greater than or equal to 0.40 is considered to be low risk for slipping on dry floor surface.  

Wet Barefoot Ramp Slip Resistance Test: This test requires a panel of test surface constructed on a large ramp on which an individual can walk. Two test persons walk bare foot on the test surface after wetting their feet for a period of around 10 minutes, while remaining attached to a safety harness. The platform angle is increased until the test walker slips or feels like slipping, and this angle is referred to as the limit of safe walking.  

Oil Wet Ramp Slip Resistance Test:  This method is similar to the wet barefoot ramp test in some ways. However, it uses motor oil on the test surface instead of water. Also, rather than walking barefoot, testing persons wear safety boots while walking. Following the methodology of wet barefoot ramp test, three calibration boards are used to walk on, which help standardise the walkers by providing a correction factor.   

If you want to find out more about sleep resistance testing of floors, please contact our experts at Coating Management Solutions.