What's the best way to test slip resistance?
These are the most common and reliable methods of testing slip resistance. At Altro we combine all of them to get the most accurate proof of just how safe our flooring is.
The TRRL Pendulum Test (BS7976)
The 'pendulum' is a swinging, dummy heel that sweeps over a set area of flooring in a controlled manner to simulate slipping on a wet floor. The slipperiness of the flooring has a direct and measurable effect on the pendulum value. Flooring that achieves a wet result of ≥36 on the Pendulum Test has a low slip potential.
All Altro safety flooring for shod areas exceeds the ≥36 rating, indicating the lowest potential for a slip.
In most cases both TRRL Pendulum Coefficient of Friction (CoF) and Surface Microroughness readings are needed to give an accurate indicator of floor surface slipperiness.
Surface Microroughness Meter
The total surface roughness of flooring materials is measured using a microroughness meter, which measures in Rz microroughness values (microns). It traces a needle over different areas of the flooring, taking peak to valley measurements to calculate surface microroughness. A surface roughness of 20 microns or above implies a low slip risk.
The Ramp Test (DIN 51130)
The Ramp Test is widely used, and its 'R' values are quoted by most flooring companies. R9-R13 values are based on angle measurements of a motor oil-covered ramp that an operator walks on. The angle at which the operator slips forms the R value, but because the most common contaminant on floors is water, using oil doesn't give a true representation of what happens in real life situations. We quote R values for our products because some of our customers are used to working with them. But we believe the values don't always provide clarity of slip potential and that the categories of values are too broad.
Why the Ramp Test can be confusing…R9 Is Not Fine!
It's often assumed that the scale of R values starts at R1 and ends at R13 – R1 being a measure of the greatest slipperiness. So an R9 value is often thought to indicate a surface that provides good slip resistance and some manufacturers don't try to dispel this misunderstanding. The truth is that R values start at R9, and it indicates the least slip resistance. R values don't tell you the whole story. Only where you see R10 AND a corresponding TRRL ≥36 together , like on Altro sample cards, can you be sure of the slip resistance of the product.
SATRA Pedatron Test Machine STM 528
The SATRA Pedatron Test measures the effect of one million steps over a confined area of flooring, using a shoe with standard sole. It's used to measure flooring surface wear. Accurate wear patterns are produced by studying and replicating different walking gaits, incorporating straight and turning steps.
At Altro, we invest in this test as yet another accurate way to measure sustained slip resistance.
Health and Safety Executive Slip Assessment Tool (SAT)
You can download free software at www.hse.gov.uk/slips which helps you carry out a risk assessment with a surface microroughness meter, so you can get a slip risk classification for a floor.
European Tests
These two tests are:
- EN 13893 – a pull sled test where the requirements are a coefficient of friction of >0.30
- EN 13845 Annex C – a ramp test similar to DIN 51130 and DIN 51097 using water and soap as the contaminant
EN 13845 – what the results tell us
This test measures slip resistance by counting particles over a given area on an ex-factory flooring sample. If it passes, the flooring can then be classed as either Enhanced Slip Resistance Footwear (ESf) or Enhanced Slip Resistance Barefoot (ESb).The number of cycles reached indicates what building use classification is achieved. After 50,000 cycles the flooring is suitable for the top classification of 34/43, which is very heavy commercial and very heavy industrial respectively. All Altro safety flooring passes the 50,000 cycle test classification.
Test results combine the ESf or ESb with the number of cycles indicating the level of sustained slip resistance. We recommend that whenever this information isn't provided, you should ask a manufacturer for the specific number of cycles that the flooring has passed as an indicator of that product's level of sustained slip resistance.
Manufacturers like Altro have to pass these standards to claim that their flooring is slip-resistant and can be sold in European countries.