HOW CAN I DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF SLIP-RESISTANT FLOOR MY FACILITY REQUIRES?

Contributors: Tamer Abdel-Aal, Technical Support Engineer - Stonhard Canada and Christopher Trageser, Product Manager - Tech Service, Stonhard 

The Slip Resistance of a Flooring Product Must be Determined Through Testing  

You know a slip-resistant floor is imperative to protect staff and visitors within your facility, but did you know one size does not fit all? Before deciding on a “slip-resistant floor” you should obtain DCOF slip test values from your flooring installer.  

The DCOF Rating Slip Test  

The DCOF, (or dynamic coefficient of friction), is a measurement that determines how much friction is on wet, level floors when walked upon and whether the flooring surface could contribute to someone slipping and/or falling. Reliable flooring manufacturers and installers will have tested their products and make this data available to you, so that you can be certain the floor will meet the standards for the specific space in your facility. In addition to test results, the floor’s use, traffic, expected contaminants, maintenance, and wear should be considered, as well as additional guidelines and recommendations from the floor manufacturer.  

How is the Slip Test Conducted?  

There are several types of testers that may be used to determine DCOF. A pendulum tester is the most accepted one used throughout the world. It has a standardized rubber on the bottom of a pendulum foot and is set up to travel on the flooring surface for 125 mm. The arm swings from a fixed position, makes contact with the floor, and then swings back up where it provides a reading. The reading is known as the pendulum test value which is equivalent to DCOF. The minimum acceptable value is 0.36. Other popular slip-resistant testers are the variable incidence tribometer (VIT) and BOT 3000E.  

What About the SCOF Rating Slip Test?  

You may hear about another test method called SCOF (static coefficient of friction). SCOF measures slip resistance at a standstill, while DCOF measures slip resistance in motion. DCOF is considered a more accurate test for slip resistance. Since slips occur most frequently during the heel strike stage of a gait cycle, with the heel sliding forward relative to the rest of the body, your floor installer should be using the DCOF method to obtain the best results for your facility.  

Adding Texture to Resinous Floors for Slip Resistance  

Seamless, poured-in-place floors are easy to clean, durable, and can be formulated to solve several issues commercial and industrial facilities are exposed to during their operations. Slip resistance can be configured based on the type and level of texture needed as determined by testing and other factors mentioned above. An experienced flooring expert will be able to advise you based on test results, knowledge of similar facilities and knowledge of the flooring product and also be able to discuss the balance between slip resistance and cleanability since both slip resistance and sanitary conditions affect safety.  

How Does Stonhard Test for Slip Resistance? 

Stonhard uses the BOT-3000E in accordance with ANSI A326.3 to measure DCOF.  This standard was developed for the tile industry, and while hand-applied resinous flooring will always have some limits in consistency when compared to manufactured goods, we can use this device on samples and floors in place to gain a level of confidence with the slip resistance that can be delivered.  

Custom textured samples can be tested at time of production. The option is also available for on-site testing if requested. 

The English XL VIT is also available for in-house testing, though the DCOF standards are currently the preferred methods of testing.  

About Stonhard 

Stonhard is the unprecedented world leader in manufacturing and installing high-performance polymer floor, wall and lining systems. Stonhard maintains 300 territory managers and 200 application teams worldwide who will work with you on design specification, project management, final walk-through and service after the sale. Stonhard’s single-source warranty covers both products and installation. Contact us to learn how we can solve your facility's problems.