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Slip resistance refers to the frictional characteristics of a surface and how it interacts with footwear or bare feet to prevent slips, trips, and falls. Not only is it essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of building occupants, but it is also a requirement under various Australian construction standards and codes.
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Architects bear a significant responsibility to ensure that the materials chosen for the design of flooring surfaces offer the required degree of slip resistance suitable for their application as well as meet the minimum compliance requirements. This is not only essential in avoiding injury but also in preventing potential legal ramifications related to slips and falls.
Several factors influence the slip resistance of a surface. These include:
- Material composition (eg concrete, tile, wood)
- Surface texture (eg smooth, ridged, grooved)
- Environmental conditions (eg wet, oily, dry)
- Type of foot traffic (eg pedestrian, worker, special needs)
- Mobility of pedestrians
- Wear and tear of surfaces
Compliance requirements
Compliance requirements for slip resistance are defined within the National Construction Code (NCC) and relevant Australian Standards. However, depending on the project and applications, there may be additional requirements related to occupational health and safety needs. Minimum slip resistance values are provided within the NCC as either a ‘P’ and ‘R’ rating based on two different slip resistance tests. A specified surface need only meet the requirements of one of the tests, not both. Refer Testing methods in this note below.
National Construction Code (NCC)
The NCC Volume One stipulates Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) compliance requirements for slip ratings only for ramps, stairs, nosing strips and landings under Section D3. Different ratings are provided between Volume One and Volume Two.
The NCC Volume Two stipulates DtS compliance requirements for slip ratings only for ramps, stairs and landings under Section 11.2.
To correctly understand the slip resistance value required, you must determine whether the condition is deemed wet or dry. The NCC Volume Two explanatory notes state:
'To determine the appropriate surface of a tread or the floor surface of a ramp, it is necessary to determine the likely conditions the tread or ramp will be subject to over the life of the building. This can be either dry, wet or both. A dry surface is one that is not normally wet or likely to be made wet other than by an accidental spill. A wet surface is one that is normally wet or likely to be made wet, including areas exposed to the weather' (ABCB 2022).
Deemed-to-satisfy (DtS) requires that the relevant testing has been undertaken to confirm the slip resistance rating of a specified finish. However, where required Australian Standard test certification results are not available (due to the manufacturer not providing the relevant test results), a Performance Solution may be a pathway to determine compliance or seeking the completion of testing of the specified product as a means to achieve DtS. See Acumen note Performance Solutions.
Other compliance requirements
Work Health Safety (WHS) legislation aims to protect workers and other persons against harm to their health, safety and welfare through the elimination or minimisation of risks arising from work. Under WHS laws, employers and building managers have a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that the work environment is safe and without risks to health and safety. This includes ensuring that flooring surfaces are adequately slip-resistant, especially in areas that may become wet or oily, such as kitchens, bathrooms and industrial settings. In certain sectors like healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing, there may be additional guidelines or standards specifying minimum slip-resistance ratings to ensure safety in specialised work environments. Architects should understand the requirements imposed on workplaces by discussing and documenting foreseeable uses and working conditions with the building owner and user groups where WHS duty of care requirements might apply.
Australian Standards and other resources
The relevant Australian Standards addressing slip resistance are:
AS 4586-2013 - Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
The standard aims to classify different flooring and surfacing materials based on their slip-resistance properties, thereby aiding architects, designers and builders in choosing the right materials for various applications. It outlines various methods for conducting slip resistance tests, such as the Wet Pendulum Test, Wet-barefoot Incline Test and Oil-wet Ramp Test.
AS 4663-2013 - Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces
AS 4663 aims to assess the performance of surfaces in their current condition. This is particularly valuable for renovation projects or safety assessments of existing buildings. The standard outlines testing methodologies such as the Wet Pendulum Test and the Wet-barefoot Incline Test, similar to those in AS 4586. However, these tests under AS 4663 are applied to surfaces as they are found ‘in-situ,’ meaning in their installed, real-world condition. This accounts for wear, contaminants, and other factors that may influence slip resistance over time.
AS 1428.1:2021 – Design for access and mobility: General requirements for new building work
The standard specifies that all continuous accessible paths of travel must have a slip-resistant surface, but it does not define the term ‘slip resistance’. It also includes tolerance specifications to ensure adjoining surface alignment reduces tripping hazards.
AS/NZS 2890.6:2022 – Parking facilities Part 6: Off street parking facilities
The standard includes pavement slope and surface requirements for accessible parking and pedestrian access ways and aligns this in accordance with AS 4586-2013.
Handbook HB 197:1999 – An introductory guide to the slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces materials
HB 197 covers a range of topics, including the methods used for testing new and existing surfaces, criteria for selecting appropriate slip resistance ratings, and guidance on how to manage slip resistance in various settings. The Handbook categorises different areas such as commercial kitchens, stairways and swimming pool decks, etc according to the level of slip resistance required.
Handbook HB 198:2014 - Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces
The Handbook provides guidelines on the slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces. This is an invaluable resource and can be considered as the architect’s manual for slip resistance in Australia. The Handbook provides detailed guidance on the appropriate slip resistance that should be achieved across varying building typology and uses and commentary on relevant parts of the NCC.
While both HB 197 and HB 198 are not referenced requirements under the NCC, they provide valuable information for designers to help ensure that floor surface materials are adequately considered and provides guidance on appropriate slip ratings for specific use cases.
NATSPEC
NATSPEC publishes two useful resources:
- TECHnote DES 001 – Slip resistance performance: provides guidance on relevant standards, slip classification and material selection design considerations.
- TECHnote DES 039 - Universal design - Slip resistance: provides guidance and a workflow on the items that should be considered when specifying products subject to slip resistance performance requirements.
See NATSPEC website for resources.
Testing and certification
Testing methods
There are four different tests generally available for the testing of slip resistance: Wet Pendulum, Oil-Wet Incline, Dry Floor Friction Slip and, Wet Barefoot Ramp test. However, only the Wet Pendulum and Oil-Wet Incline test are referenced within the NCC as DtS pathways.
Wet Pendulum test: Measures the frictional characteristics of a surface when wet. The test utilizes a pendulum with a rubber "foot" that swings across the surface. The friction between the surface and the rubber foot provides the Slip Resistance Value (SRV). Wet Pendulum test results are provided as a P1-P5 value.
Oil-Wet Incline test: a test surface is coated with a defined amount of oil. A test subject or mechanical device then walks or moves across the surface at different angles of inclination to determine the point at which slippage occurs. Oil-Wet Incline test results are provided as an R9-R13 value.
Interpretation of certificates
Certificates usually display the Slip Resistance Value (SRV) and a corresponding classification, ie P3 or P4. The classification helps architects and contractors understand the material's appropriateness for a specific application. You should seek a copy of the slip test results from the manufacturer and check that the certificate shows testing has been undertaken in accordance with AS 4586. Any other testing type will not permit using a DtS solution. You should confirm that the test is of the material that is specified and matches the type and finish selected and refer to any conditions noted within the certificate that will alter the performance of the rating.
In-situ testing
In-situ testing refers to testing performed directly on site, rather than in a lab. It is particularly beneficial because it takes into account the unique environmental variables that may influence the slip resistance of a surface. Materials may behave differently under actual conditions as compared to controlled lab settings. In-situ testing might be required to validate the finishes of buildings under renovation and in-situ testing can inform whether the existing floors meet current slip resistance standards or require replacement or treatment.
References
- ABCB (Australian Building Codes Board) (2022) ABCB [website].
- NCC (National Construction Code) Volume One and Volume Two (2022) NCC [website].
Disclaimer
This content is provided by the Australian Institute of Architects for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. It is not legal, financial, insurance, or other advice and you should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. Using this website and content is subject to the Acumen User Licence.