Specifying the right safety flooring product can be difficult given the number of products on the market that do not provide adequate sustainable slip resistance in wet or dry applications despite their claims.
The right slip resistant flooring is one that is sustainable for its guaranteed life. However, misleading claims by several products on the market can lead to a lot of confusion for flooring specifiers, especially when selecting a product to perform in potentially wet conditions.
Polyflor safety flooring products are fully tested and fit for purpose with their formulation ensuring that safety particles continue to provide traction between foot and floor through the performance layer, assuming the floor has been maintained correctly.
Every stakeholder in the flooring industry has a duty of care to provide the correct type of flooring where true sustainable slip resistance is needed, ensuring that building visitors or residents have the required underfoot protection. Selected products should be fit for purpose for each project and correctly specified.
Key criteria for choosing a safety floor product:
A fit for purpose safety flooring product must feature safety particles in the performance layer. An emboss of gritted coating will only offer short term slip resistance, which will wear off and leave a smooth floor that is slippery in wet conditions.
The safety floor must meet the 50,000 cycles abrasion test requirements of EN 13845, proving that the performance of slip resistant particles is sustainable.
Safety floors must achieve a sustainable result of 36+ in the Pendulum Slip Test for slip resistance tested in wet conditions to AS 4586 Appendix A.
The safety floor must not be specified solely on R ratings as per AS 4586 Appendix D as these ratings do not demonstrate any longevity in terms of the floor coverings’ slip resistance and only apply to new surfaces.
