Slip Resistance

The Building Code, D1 requires a building to have adequate slip-resistant walking surfaces under all conditions of normal use. To ensure people can move safely into, within, and out of buildings, a minimum Slip Resistance Value and surface finish is specified based on the area of use. The main entrance of a building, corridors, doors, stairs, ramps, lifts, and wet areas have specific requirements.

A slip-resistant flooring is defined as having a surface that gets a Co-efficient of Friction (CoF) reading greater than 0.4 or a Slip Resistant Value (SRV) of 39 or greater. And if there is a slope, then the flooring must have grit or profiled studs. However, international standards talk to Ramp tests (R values), and as a general rule, an R10 will have an SRV greater than 39. But not always.

The other key point is the need for the flooring to maintain that SRV value over the expected life of the product. We call this sustainable slip. All Interface, Forbo and nora resilient products are rated based on slip resistance over the full warranty period.

Specialist safety vinyl’s such as the Forbo Step Collection have carborundum crystals engrained in the product (a bit like sandpaper), making them suitable for use in wet and ramped areas. Forbo Laguna Barefoot is a unique specialist bathroom flooring solution, strong enough to provide exceptional slip resistance in wet areas while not being too tough on bare feet.