Slip Testing
Slip Testing Services
Safe Environments provide slip testing services to assess the risk of slipping on floors throughout a building. Ongoing slip testing provides transparent and accountable information to document compliance with relevant building codes and legislation. We conduct wet pendulum slip testing and dry floor friction slip testing to Australian Standard AS/NZS 4663 Slip resistance measurement of existing surfaces. It is important to note that inclining ramp slip testing including the , oil wet ramp slip testing method and wet barefoot ramp slip testing method cannot be tested onsite. Surfaces selected on ramp slip testing may prove to be hazardous if onsite slip testing is conducted. There is no correlation between wet pendulum slip testing and oil wet ramp slip testing.
The differences between R rating slip testing and wet pendulum slip testing is the interacting surfaces and the liquid medium within the system. It seems sensible that slip testing should be used to simulate the intended conditions for normal usage in terms of the contaminant likely to be present and the footwear intended to be worn. For example, the wet pendulum slip testing using water and a flat rubber slider is more appropriate for most public common areas, where the most likely contaminant is water and many people will be wearing shoes that may have a hard soling compound and a worn tread pattern.Oil wet ramp slip testing (R Classification), which uses safety boots with large volumetric tread pattern and high viscosity motor oil, seems to be of little relevance for normal conditions (that the general public will normally encounter). Additionally, ramp slip testing cannot be used in situ, thus can only be used to evaluate the selection of proposed floor surfaces. If there is a dispute regarding an installed surface or an incident occurs, only pendulum slip testing and dry FFT slip testing can confirm the onsite performance.
Slip testing employs a risk management approach and evaluating safety in terms of the likelihood and consequence of an incident to occur. As well as slip testing, other safety features should be considered and include awnings, airlocks and matting to reduce the extent and likelihood of contamination, visual aids (warning signage and contrasting stair nosings), administrative controls (cleaning regimes and maintenance), fall prevention aids (barricades and handrails) and consideration the environmental conditions (lighting and sloping surfaces) along with the footwear to be worn.
Onsite slip testing by Safe Environments can identify potential slip hazards and provide advice on suitable non slip, anti slip or non skid treatments. We recommend applying samples of non slip & anti slip or non skid treatments and then assess using the Australian slip testing methods. Any potential colour changes and the cleaning efficacy can also be evaluated so that a total cost benefit analysis can then be conducted following the Australian risk management principles of AS 4360.
For more information, please contact Safe Environments on 02 9624 2600 or email info@safeenvironments.com.au to discuss our slip testing services further.