Slip Resistance

Summary

Slip Resistance - The ability of a floor surface to resist pedestrian slippage.

Technical Information

The commonly used process of power trowelling, which produces good abrasion resistance, also tends to produce smooth floors.

Slip Resistance of Concrete Floors

The slip potential of a power-trowelled floor surface depends on several factors: the footwear worn by people, the tyres on the Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) and the presence of surface contaminants such as dusts, coatings and liquids. In many industrial situations, contaminants may be the most important factor. The scheme designer should therefore establish at an early stage what contaminants are likely to be present during the normal operation of the premises, as this may dictate the floor finish required and the cleaning regime.

Where slip resistance is of importance, consideration may be given to further surface treatment such as shot blasting, acid etching, surface grinding or the application of resin-bound aggregate finishes. This latter method is particularly useful in areas adjacent to entrances where floors can become wetted by rain or water on incoming vehicles but it should be noted the abrasion resistance will be reduced with these treatments and periodic reapplication may be required.