Are you one of those people who have heard about slip resistance analysis, but you know very little about it? Most of the people just have the idea that this is a testing process that’s done to check how slippery a floor actually is. But, do you really know how important it is, or what are the testing procedures? In basic terms, slip testing is the scientific process that’s involved in the testing of coefficient of friction a.k.a. the resistance to slippage. This testing is carried out on the floor of various places/environments, and can be either done in the lab or on site.

But, is it really necessary to engage in slip resistance analysis? Many other building and institution owners ask this question to themselves; and in the light of strict budgets and many other priorities, this can often seem to be unimportant. The truth however is completely the contrary. The most common and major types of accidents that can occur in public places, roads and office environments are slippages due to slippery floors. And let us tell you, these accidents can cause a lot more than just bumps and bruises. That’s precisely why you shouldn’t take this process for granted, and give utmost importance to slip resistance testing. Stone Initiatives is one such company that has a great experience in slip resistance, and makes sure that accidents never happen, at least not due to slippages. They carry out different methods and tests so as to keep this ‘slippery’ potential hazard out of pedestrian surfaces.

Different types of tests that check for slip resistance

All over the world, there may be millions of people who hurt themselves in slip and trip accidents every year. Slips and trips may be caused due to a number of factors like improper floor coverings, slippages, poor lighting etc. But, one of the most full-proof methods to ensure that customers, workers, or even pedestrians are protected from such on-premises injuries is to hire professionals and test for slip resistance. These professionals are proficient in various laboratory tests, such as slip resistance, dimension stone etc. The following are the different types of slip resistance tests, as per your premises:

  • Wet Pendulum

    • The pendulum test is the most widely used test of slip resistance, and is generally conducted with water as a contaminant. The pendulum test is meant to assess the situation when most slips occur, i.e. when a shoe comes in contact with a wet floor. During this test, water is sprayed on the floor and a pendulum is shoved across it. The boot will be used to move the pendulum, and it will give a reading regarding the friction level of the floor. This test is used to access the risk of slipping on a wet floor.

  • Dry floor test

    • The dry floor friction test is the one that’s used to check whether the floor meets the eligibility and requirements in a dry state. This is associated with both the floor conditions (with or without floor polish). This is also known as Tortus test which makes the use of a slow machine that has a rubber bottom. This machine then measures the friction of the dry floor.

  • Barefoot ramp

    • This test is quite self-explanatory, and assesses how well a barefooted person could withstand the given surface and at a certain angle of incline. The ramp test basically measures the gradient/angle at which an individual slips on a flooring sample, on a ramp. This test is conducted on the flooring sample, prior to its installation.

  • Oil wet ramp test

    • During this test, the flooring sample is kept on a ramp and oil is poured over it to make it slippery. This helps to determine the incline/gradient at which the floor is extremely slippery.

    So, these are some of the most widely used on-site tests of slip resistance, but there are also certain tests that happen inside the laboratory. You could go for these at your business premises, and after one or more of these tests are carried out, you will be given the results. The results will then be assessed, and you will be provided recommendations on how to improve the safety of your floors.

    Author's Bio: 

    Caitlyn Bell is an Arts student whose experiences in life make her really tougher than anyone else. She can lend you expert tips on diverse topics ranging from relationship to fashion, making money, health and so on. Her write-ups are a window into her thoughts and knowledge.