Slip Resistance
Floor tiles are usually chosen based on their aesthetic qualities but the technical side of tiling is important too and the chosen tile should be suitable for the space in which you’re tiling.
Every tile is assigned a slip resistance rating, based on this rating you can assume which tiles are suitable for your project; for example, a high slip-resistant tile is suitable for a wet environment where the risk of slipping is greater.
Slips are caused when the heel of the foot strikes the floor and a fluid film, usually water, is present preventing contact with the floor. The higher the slip resistance the harder it is to slip. Measured using a Pendulum Test, a PTV rating is created.
Here at Topps Tiles, we brought this testing process in-house to ensure we correctly label our products to ensure the safety of our customers and to provide accurate advice on where to use different products for different requirements. Our in-house Quality Control team complete the testing for every single product brought into our collection enabling us to have an accurate and comprehensive safety review of each individual product.
WHAT ARE THE PTV RATINGS AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
Low resistance
PTV rating of 0-24
Low resistance shodfoot (in footwear)
Suitable for use in kitchens, living areas, hallways and bathrooms (with the use of a bath mat)
See our range of low slip resistant tiles
PTV rating of 25-35
Moderate slip resistance in shodfoot (footwear)
Suitable for use in kitchens, living areas, hallways and bathrooms (with the use of a bath mat) and external floors
See our range of moderate slip resistant tiles
PTV rating of 36+
Slip resistance in shodfoot (footwear)
Suitable for use in all internal domestic areas, commercial projects and external areas
See our range of High Slip Resistance tiles
High Slip Resistance - Wet Room Suitable
PTV rating of 36+
Suitable for use in Wet rooms.
HOW DOES A PENDULUM TEST WORK?
We use Pendulum Test Values (PTV), recognised by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the UK Slip Resistance Group (UKSRG) and the Tile Association in the UK, to determine the slip resistance of our tiles. A Pendulum testing machine is used to measure the friction caused by a simulated sole material passing across the surface of the tile when both dry and wet. The higher the Pendulum Test Value the higher the slip resistance.
The pendulum test consists of a swinging arm with a rubber foot, which is then allowed to fall and make contact with the tile being tested. The test replicates a person’s heel strike, the point at which most slips occur. There are two different rubbers used in testing, one replicates the sole of footwear, the other is a softer rubber designed to provide values relating to a bare foot. Water is used as a contaminant in order to measure the slip resistance of tiles in both wet and dry environments and the results are then recorded. The tests are carried out in accordance with BS7976-2:2002 and UK Slip Resistance Group guidelines.
All our tiles are tested for slip resistance by our suppliers and then tested again in-house by our Technical team to give you peace of mind that the tiles you’ve chosen are safe for their intended purpose.
Comments
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.