We slip test existing flooring

AND OUTDOOR SURFACES IN-SITU AND IN LABORATORY

Grip Doctors test the slip resistance of floors and floor materials according to EN and BS standards using the TRL Pendulum Friction Tester - BS 7976 (The Pendulum Method) and BS EN 13036-4 (Skid Testing of roads and airfields)
We produce detailed reports about floor materials frictional characteristics measured in PTV, for architects, injury solicitors, surveyors, property managers, floor suppliers, engineers, risk managers and many others.

The pendulum test

The standard for determining slip resistance of floor materials in the Republic of Ireland and the UK is the Transport Road Laboratory (TRL) Pendulum test.

The operations ad methodology of using the Pendulum is defined  by the British Standard Institute (BSI) in EN 13036 & BS 7976: 1-3 standard and further developed by the UK Slip Resistance Group (UKSRG) in their Guidelines, Issue 5.0 October 2016.

Pendulum Test mimics the way a pedestrian’s heel makes contact with a floor and measures the dynamic coefficient of friction in dry, wet or contaminated conditions between two materials, the slider and the substrate.

Slider#96 is made of a special 4S rubber (Standard Simulated Shoe Sole) for shod pedestrian traffic. For bare feet pedestrians a softer slider TRL #55 is used.

a minimum of 36 PTV
must be achieved

IN DRY AND IN WET CONDITIONS

TECHNICAL GUIDANCE
DOCUMENT B – FIRE SAFETY

Floors of Escape Routes 1.4.6. The floors of all escape routes (including steps, ramps, and landings) should have non-slippery surfaces.

technical guidance
document M - access and use

Stepped Access Routes 1.1.3.5 (p) Where a stepped access route is provided the surface of the threads should be slip resistant, especially when wet. Guidance on slip resistance is given in BS 8300:2009 Annex E.

technical guidance
document M - access and use

Access Routes 1.1.3.1. (l) The frictional characteristics of the surface materials used along the access route should be similar to prevent tripping and falling at interfaces between different materials.

technical guidance
document M - access and use

Access Routes 1.1.3.1. (k) Where an access route is provided the surface should be slip resistant, especially when wet. Guidance on slip resistance is given in Building Regulations 2010 and BS 8300:2009 Annex E.

Surface Roughness measurement (Rz):

Grip Doctors Limited use a Surtronic Duo surface roughness meter for assessment. The meter moves a stylus along the test surface, measuring the floor profile’s average vertical peak to valley distance in microns. 

Surface roughness can be used to give a general indication of the slip risk potential of a floor, though it is by no means a comprehensive test.

Grip Doctors use surface roughness measurements married to pendulum results to enable accurate on-going monitoring of the surface. 

Grip Doctors use the relationship between Rz roughness and Pendulum Test Value where pendulum testing is impossible. The Rz measurements correlated to a similar nearby surface is sometimes the only way to relate a PTV, however this is to be considered as a guide only.

Slip Alert Test BS 8204

The ease of use and portability, together with fast set up times makes this device a common choice for many risk assessors , site engineers and facility mangers that want to fast and easy asses the slipperiness of theirs floors.
Grip Doctors use the slip alert machine to asses the floors before and after the works conducted prior to checking fully the surface with the Pendulum. Our crew use the slip alert to asses the floors before during and after theirs works.

Slip alert is an easy in use device however has its limitations that the operator has to be aware of. The device measures a large part of the floor providing an average reading of the floor not highlighting "slippery" spots in the floor that might provide to slip risk.

FSC 2011 Tribometer

FSC 2011 Tribometer performs a test with no human input except for setup and pressing the start button.  The instrument includes many features that help to validate the test as time and location of test, calibration date and last verification by user as well as slider used with its age and number of runs.These functions help establish test credibility   

The tester conforms to ASTM standards used in the USA and provide fast and effective way of measuring samples and floors in situ

However it is Grip Doctors’ and the HSE opinion that the FSC 2011 does not read correctly  smooth slippery surfaces when  wet, giving over optimistic results. It is however useful for dry measurements and wet measurements of rougher non slip finishes.

You cannot be held liable…

…FOR A SLIP AND FALL INJURY IF YOUR COMPANY HAS CERTIFIED EVIDENCE THAT YOUR FLOOR MEETS THE HSA REQUIREMENTS OF SLIP RESISTANCE

Safety is not
about signs

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