What is a Slip Resistance Test and Why It’s Essential

All Pro-Tek™ flooring ranges undergo a slip resistance test which is carried out at an independent laboratory to standard EN13893. But what is a slip resistance test and why do you need it?

What is a slip resistance test?

A slip resistance test is important to ensure safety against, and to prevent, slips and falls. The friction and grip of the flooring surface is measured which will determine how likely it would be to slip or fall when walking on it.

What is standard EN13893?

This European standard outlines the steps and methods required to carry out a test to determine the slip resistance of flooring products. It measures it on an incline in both wet and dry conditions.

We recommend referring to the official standard document or consult with an expert if you require more details.

Why do we use it?

Safety is of the utmost importance to us. We know that it is equally important to all our customers, whether they are flooring fitters, architects, builders or DIYers. 

We want to know that our products have been tested to a high safety standard and put through rigorous checks. Plus, we also want you to be confident that we manufacture and sell only the highest quality flooring.

As our flooring is 100% waterproof it is ideal for use in areas where spillages can happen. This makes it essential to ensure the slip resistance is excellent.

How is the test performed?

Surfaces can provide very different results when wet to when dry so the slip test is carried out in both conditions.

A sample of the flooring is attached to an inclined plane apparatus which can be adjusted to mimic different slopes.

• First the flooring is cleaned to ensure any contaminants are removed. It is then dried.
• Typically, dry testing is carried out once the cleaning is complete and after the product has been placed on an adjustable ramp.
• Once ready, a sled or slider is moved up the flooring at a controlled speed. This is attached to a load cell and measures the amount of force used to move the sled across the surface of the flooring.
• To find the coefficient of friction (COF), the horizontal force (how much force is required to move the sled) is divided by the vertical load applied to the sled.
• Next, water is added to the surface and the same test is carried out.
• Both results are recorded.

What do the results look like?

Coefficient of Friction (COF) values are obtained from the testing of both wet and dry conditions. They are used to calculate the slip resistance ratio (SRR) with the following formula:

SSR = COFwet / COFdry.

The higher the SSR result, the better the slip resistance is on the flooring.

An indication of a low risk of slipping is any value greater than 0.36.  A higher slip risk is anything less than 0.19.

You can find all the Pro-Tek™ slip resistance results on our website. Every one of our luxury click vinyl products has its own result. This is because the surface layer and texture differs between the different floors.