Anti-Slip Tests

Slips, trips, and falls are among the leading causes of injury in workplaces, public spaces, and homes. Slip resistance tests, also known as floor friction tests, measure how well a surface resists slipping, especially when wet or soiled. These tests help manufacturers, building owners, and safety professionals ensure that flooring meets safety standards and reduces the risk of accidents.

Anti-Slip Tests

Floor coverings must provide adequate grip in real-world conditions such as water, oil, grease, or soap. Dry slip resistance does not predict wet performance; many smooth surfaces are safe when dry but dangerous when wet. Reliable testing identifies risks before installation or evaluates existing floors after incidents. Various standards recommend minimum values for classifying surfaces as having a low slip risk.

Anti-slip products are designed to prevent or be resistant to slipping. These types of products help guide people safely and prevent missteps, falls, and other injuries. The purpose of anti-slip testing is to ensure safety on floor surfaces.

Common anti-slip testing methods include:

Pendulum test (dynamic friction coefficient): This test is the most widely used and researched method worldwide and is approved in numerous countries. The test simulates the impact of the heel of a foot against a surface. A portable device swings a rubber-footed arm over a test surface moistened with water or other contaminants. The oscillation distance measures the friction and gives a pendulum test value. The standards referenced in these tests are as follows:
The standard “ASTM E303 Standard method for measuring surface friction properties using a pendulum tester” describes a test method for measuring surface friction properties using a pendulum shear resistance tester.
The standard “EN 16165 Determination of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces - Evaluation methods” describes the test methods used to determine the slip resistance of surfaces used by pedestrians. This standard can also be used for measurements in areas where people may walk in high-traffic zones.
The standard “AS 4586 Sliding resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials” describes methods for testing new surface materials before installation. These methods cover both wet and dry conditions using laboratory equipment in controlled environments.

According to these standards, the pendulum test value (PTV) is evaluated as follows:

PTV maximum 25: High potential for drift.
PTV between 25-35: Medium risk.
PTV minimum 36: Low slip potential (recommended for flat wet areas).
Higher values (e.g., PTV of at least 50) are required for ramps or high-risk areas.

The advantages of these tests are that they are portable for on-site testing, reliable for continuous shear strength assessment, and supported by decades of research that correlates results with actual shear.

Sloping surface test: These tests classify flooring according to the angle at which a person slides down an inclined ramp. A test operator walks on a surface that has been oiled (for shoes) or soaped (for bare feet) as the ramp slopes upwards, and the test continues until a slip occurs. The critical angle determines the grade of the flooring. The standards referenced in these tests are:
The standard “DIN 51130 Testing of floor coverings - Determination of slip resistance - Work areas and activity areas with slip hazards - Walking method - Slope test” describes a performance test method for determining and classifying the slip resistance of floor coverings used in workplaces and work areas with a risk of slipping. This standard also includes a method for measuring the volume of displacement voids in floor coverings with profiled surfaces. This standard provides R ratings (R9 lowest, R13 highest) for floor coverings with profiled surfaces (footed, oiled surface).
The “DIN 51097 Testing of floor coverings - Determination of slip resistance properties - Areas where barefoot walking is possible on wet surfaces - Walking method - Slope test” standard (sloping surface test) is used to measure slip resistance. It is the critical angle at which two testers, wearing standard footwear or walking barefoot, reach the safe walking limit on a sloping plane consisting of the tested surface and a contaminant. The slip angle determines the coefficient of friction. This standard provides AC (barefoot) ratings.

According to these standards, the general assessments are as follows:

R9: Minimum slip resistance (e.g., for dry indoor environments).
R10-R11: Common for public wet areas.
R12-R13: High traction for industrial or inclined surfaces.

However, these tests are only conducted in a laboratory setting (not on-site), using specific footwear/contaminants, and without evaluating long-term wear.

There are other methods used in anti-slip tests. For example, the "ANSI A326.3 American National Standard Test Method for Measuring the Coefficient of Dynamic Friction of Hard Surface Flooring Materials" describes a test method used to measure the coefficient of dynamic friction of hard surface flooring materials. This method can be used in a laboratory or in the field.

However, this standard is not intended to address all potential safety concerns regarding its use. It is the responsibility of the standard's user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations before use.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide anti-slip testing services to businesses.