Slips and Slides – How Slippery Is That Floor?

One of the biggest sources of accidents in both the home and in public places is from trips and slips – an area of health and safety which holds major risks for specifiers and installers who do not recognise the need to both assess and insist on slip resistance test results from their suppliers. Furthermore the ongoing maintenance of the floor has an effect as to how the surface slip resistance performs on installed floors.

With this in mind, some oak flooring manufacturers have now developed a range of solid wood and engineered wood products geared towards the demands of regional public safety officers and the comfort of the public. Providing Satra certified results as to how these hardwood floors perform against the industry standards is a great improvement on the previously outdated requirements for costly and time consuming post installed finishing.

So why is this so important and what does it mean? 

In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive estimate that there are a least 35,000 injuries each year from slips in the work place – so considering many un-reported incidents in homes and public places; the hidden figure and the risk is vast.

There are combinations of factors which contribute to the slipperiness of floors – many of which can be measured and minimised. Is the surface texture too smooth? Is the finish of the floor too shiny? Are the cleaning materials suited to removing grease without destroying the floor? 

Through specialised preparation and finishing reputable antique oak flooring suppliers can offer clear data as to the projected performance of the floor. The Health and Safety Laboratory, in conjunction with the UK Slip Resistance Group and the British Standards Institution have devised a test process which can accurately assess the slipperiness of wood flooring materials – using portable scientific test equipment, which is commercially available.

This formula is now the basis of standard information – being used by local authorities to both improve performance and as a measurement scale in HSE cases.

The methodology can be used in both laboratory based tests and on installed floors using two principle instruments:-

- A pendulum system which measures the friction/resistance that can define the level of slipperiness.

- A surface roughness meter which can read the textural differences that relate to rough or flat surfaces.

The pendulum – is often used to measure the skid resistance of roads but it was originally created to simulate a slipping foot. The action is designed to re-create a swinging imitation heel which sweeps over the test floor in a standard manner. The slipperiness of the floor has a direct effect on how the pendulum moves and can be measured as the Slip Resistance Value. This test is considered to be reliable and accurate – hence it is now being adopted by HSE to assess floors in situ.

The measurement scale is known as PTV ( Pendulum Test Values ) and the levels are as follows:-

0 – 24 represents High Slip Potential

25 – 35 indicates Moderate Slip Potential

36+ suggests Low Slip Potential

The Roughness Meter – is more commonly used on floors post installation to assess the surface roughness of materials – it is often used to test the affects of change such as wear – or – contamination to a floor such as water or grease. The meter can read the peaks and troughs in a micro structure that forms a surface. 

It can be used in conjunction with the pendulum tests and results expressed on a similar scale:-

Below 10 microns represents High Slip Potential

10 – 20 microns suggests Moderate Slip Potential

+ 20 microns indicates Low Slip Potential.

As this instrument is also used with contaminants it can be used to help specifiers predict if the end use is going to dangerously affect the properties of the floor.

These tests must be carried out by qualified personnel with regulated methods and controlled conditions, there are a few accredited test houses that are approved to certify products and results.

One such test house is Satra who process the test work enabling them to guarantee the slip resistance levels of approved suppliers range of pre-finished solid and engineered hardwood floor boards. Satra certified suppliers can prove suppliers products can perform to the stringent slip resistant standards for public areas.

So you’ll have peace of mind about –  Just how slippery is that floor?