Multiple Floor & Ground surfaces Slip and Skid Test Standards

Meeting the 'Standard' for Safe Floors

(See the end of this page for Acronyms or use the Pop Out of Floor Testing and Slip Injury Terminology (suitable on PC's only and not on phones)

In the UK, Europe and worldwide, Legislation States That Floor Surfaces Will Be Safe For Users, i.e., customers, visitors, staff, residents etc. including the disabled.  In the UK, floor safety is governed by the UK HSE (Health and Safety Executive) who in turn rely on various standards and guidelines, the majority of which are as discussed below

NOTE - In most cases the standards below use the Pendulum Floor Test and / or the Floor Ramp Test: -

EN 16165 – Determination of Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surfaces — Methods of evaluation

Note - EN-16165 does not cover Roads and Airfields - See BS-EN-13036-4

Issued in Dec 2021, EN-16165, has become the new UK and European Standard for Pedestrian Floor Testing (fully supported by the UK HSE).

EN-16165 replaces the following mainstay of floor testing standards but many other standards listed further on will also be subsumed into EN-16165.

• BS 7976 - 2 Pendulum Test.  (TBA if BS-7976 Pt 1 (Build) & Pt 3 (Calibration) will be replaced).
• DIN 51130 (Shod Ramp Test)
• DIN 51097 (Bare Foot Ramp Test)
• BS EN 13893 (Tribometer Test)

Pendulum Rubber Sliders Values in EN-16165

There are slight differences in the value of the Rubber Slider Values in EN-16165 compared to its predecessor BS-7976-2 (The latter due to be suspended). EN-16165 promotes use of rubber slider #57 and #96 as opposed to #55 and #96 in BS-7976-2. However, the UK HSE and upcoming issue of UKSRG Guidelines (above Issue 5) will only list and promote use of #55 and #96 sliders; this is believed to do with the ability to obtain in the UK other than #55 and #96 sliders in the post Brexit / Covid world.

Rubber Slider Mounted on Metal Backing Plate

Note 1 - The number - e.g., #55, refers to the IRHD or 'International Rubber Hardness Degree'. The lower the number, the ‘Softer’ the rubber compound 

Note 2 – Produced by Smithers (Formerly RAPRA UK - Rubber and Plastic Research Association)

Note 3 - Produced by BAM Germany (Bundesanstalt für Materi­al­fors­chung und prüfung) also known as the Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing

UKSRG Guidelines (United Kingdom Slip Resistance Group), The Assessment of Floor Slip Resistance.

The UKSRG GUIDELINES is the chief text used in the UK for a detailed guide to conducting floor and road testing. The UKSRG is an assembly of independent members from industry, experts within flooring and floor testing and actively supported by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The guide is fully recognised in UK courts of law in Slip Injury Claims.

The UKSRG Guidelines bring together test method criteria data from British and European standards to effectively Conduct Floor Slip Resistance Testing. The forthcoming issues (Above issue 5) of the UKSRG Guidelines will be integrated in 2022 with EN-16165.

Buy the UKSRG Guidelines

Do you need Floor Testing? Contact FloorSlip Today

Contact the UKSRG

Non-Slip / Anti-Slip Shoes and Boots Standards

Further detail on anti-slip shoes can be found at this link

• BS EN ISO 13287:2022 - Personal protective equipment - Footwear - Test method for slip resistance. The item of footwear to be tested is put on a surface and the floor surface sprayed with an aqueous glycerol solution. The footwear is then moved relative to the surface under a given force and the frictional force is measured to determine the dynamic coefficient of friction.
• EN ISO 20344:2021 - Personal protective equipment — Test methods for footwear. This testing covers many aspects of the shoe or boot and not just the slip resistance; the slip resistance is referred back to the method described in EN ISO 13287:2022  

Other Floor Test Publications & Standards

Listed sequentially below are other British and European standards covering the topics of Floor Slip Resistance Testing

Read further on for more detail on each Floor Testing Standard

• BS EN 1338 - Concrete paving blocks — Requirements and test methods
• BS EN 1339 - Concrete paving flags — Requirements and test methods
• BS EN 1341 - Slabs of natural stone for external paving. Requirements and test methods
• BS EN 1344 - Clay pavers — Requirements and test methods
• BS 4592-0 - Flooring, stair treads and handrails for industrial use. Common design requirements and recommendations for installation
• BS 5395 1 to 4. Stairs. 4 Different Parts covering the Code of practice for the design of stairs of different types
• BS 7976-1 - Pendulum testers — Specification
• BS 7976-2 - Pendulum testers — Method of operation
• BS-7976-3 – Pendulum testers – Method of Calibration
• BS 8445 - Bath and shower mats. Testing. Assessment of slip resistance properties
• BS EN 12057 - Natural stone products — Modular tiles — Requirements
• BS EN 13036-4 - Road and airfield surface characteristics — Test methods Part 4: Method for measurement of slip/skid resistance of a surface: The pendulum test
• BS EN 13845 - Resilient floor coverings – Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with particle based enhanced slip resistance – Specification
• BS EN 13893 - Resilient, laminate and textile floor coverings. Measurement of dynamic coefficient of friction on dry floor surfaces
• BS EN 14231 - Natural stone test methods — Determination of the slip resistance by means of the pendulum tester
• BS EN 14411 - Ceramic tiles — Definition, classification, charac­te­ristics, assessment and verification of constancy of performance and marking
• DD CEN/TS 15676 - Wood flooring. Slip resistance. Pendulum test
• BS EN 16837 - Surfaces for sports areas. Determination of linear shoe/surface friction
• DIN 51097 - Testing of Floor Coverings – Determination of Anti-Slip Properties – Wet Loaded Barefoot Areas – Walking Method – (Bare Foot) Ramp Test
• DIN 51130 - Testing of Floor Coverings – Determination of Anti-Slip Properties – Workrooms and Fields of Activities with Slip Danger – Walking Method – (Shod Foot) Ramp Test

Standards for Disabled Persons Considerations in respect to Floor Safety

• CIRIA C652 - Safer Surfaces to Walk On – Reducing the risk of slipping
• BS EN 8300 (Parts 1 and 2) - Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment - Buildings. Code of practice
• BS EN 9266 - Design of accessible and adaptable general needs housing. Code of practice

Summary of Individual Floor Testing Standards

BS EN 1338 / 1339 – Concrete Paving Blocks / Slabs Requirements and Test Methods

This standard informs products made from concrete will provide acceptable floor slip resistance throughout except where a major proportion of the aggregate has been exposed on the surface. Wet Floor Sample Testing is conducted with the Pendulum Test Equipment with a Slider in the Range 53 To 65 after the sample has been soaked for a defined period.  The test results are the mean (average) of 2 tests carried out at 180° to each other. The Unpolished Slip Resistance Value (USRV) is the average (mean) pendulum Test Value (PTV) obtained on 5 specimens. There is no minimum PTV specified in the specification so it is assumed it will follow the UK Laws on Floor/Road Safety or the specifications of local Councils etc .

BS EN 1341 2012 – Slabs of natural stone for external paving. Requirements and test methods

Carried out using a Pendulum Test with a Slider 55 Rubber as a wet test only, using the method described in BS EN 1423, which states the surface should be greater than 35 PTV when wet when the surface is horizontal or sloping less than 6 degrees but check with the specifier as requirements differ depending on application. Note that any Floor Slope will adversely affect the ability to resist slip by a nominal 1.75 PTV per degree.

Free Data on BS-EN-1341 available (2022) at https://­nobelcert.­com/­DataFiles/­FreeUpload/­EN%­201341-2012.pdf

BS EN 1344 – Clay pavers — Requirements and test methods

Pendulum Tested with slider 57 using test method from EN-16165.  The surfaces are given a class of:-

BS 4592-0 – Flooring, stair treads and handrails for industrial use. Common design requirements and recommendations for installation

This standard unusually gives the choice of: -

• Pendulum Test carried out previously to BS 7976 and now to EN 16165 (as BS 7976 is being withdrawn) and/or the UK Slip Resistance Guidelines.  
• Ramp Test specifying:-
  • Using water as the contaminant or contaminants used in the area of application noting any change in contaminant will affect the results so careful scrutinization is required.
  • Any, well-fitting footwear, commercially available and of industrial safety type noting the type of footwear used will influence the result along so, results from this test need to be scrutinised carefully.
  • Two different operators taking four half gait steps forward and backward twice on the ramp at a set pace over a one-metre distance of the surface under test. 
  • Where no slip occurs, the angle of the surface is raised by one degree and the process is repeated until a slip occurs. 

From the angle of slip of the ramp test the surfaces are categorised as follows:

BS 7976 – Pendulum testers — Part 2: Method of operation

NOTE THAT - BS 7976 Part 1 (Build), Part 2 (Testing) and Part 3 (Calibration) shall be replaced by the introduction of BS-EN 16165 in 2022

BS 7976-2 describes the Method of Using The Pendulum Testing Equipment and has been the most commonly used standard in the UK for decades used to test the slip resistance of pedestrian and road surfaces (as well as BS-13036-4).

It has also been a principal document underpinning UKSRG Guidelines at issues 1 to 5. At Issue 6, EN 16165 will become the underpinning standard.

BS 8445 – Bath and shower mats. Testing. Assessment of slip resistance properties

This is a Ramp Test where a bath mat is placed on an acrylic bath surface on the ramp carried sprayed with a contaminant of 0.01% soap solution.   Two barefoot test two operators walk in a controlled manner at a set pace over a one metre distance of the surface under test.  The operators twice repeat taking four half gait steps forwards and backwards to ascertain of an operator slips Where no slip occurs, the ramp angle is increased upwards by one degree and the process is repeated until a slip occurs, or until the bath mat no longer adheres to the acrylic surface. 

The final ramp angle arrived at determines the class as: -

BS EN 12057 – Natural stone products — Modular tiles — Requirements

The Requirements standard for natural stone used for modular tiles referring to BS-EN 16165 as the test method for measuring slip resistance (formerly BS-EN 14321)

BS EN 13036 – Part 4 – Road and airfield surface characteristics — Test methods: Method for measurement of slip/skid resistance of a surface: The pendulum test

This is a Pendulum Test which uses Rubber slider #96 or slider #57 testing in the wet only and in only one direction (direction of traffic or as close to the direction of traffic).  It is used for slip (pedestrians) and skid (vehicles) resistance. BS-13036-4 is not often used in the UK due to the unavailability of Slider #57, though slider #55 could be used if the Customer accepts it. In respect to the Pendulum Testing element, BS-7976-2 and EN-16165 and UKSRG Guidelines say similar things as BS-EN-13036 but use Pendulum Rubber Slider 96 and a Slightly Softer Slider 55 instead.

BS EN 13845 – Resilient floor coverings – Polyvinyl chloride floor coverings with particle based enhanced slip resistance – Specification

This standard has a choice of two slip tests and Pass Criteria: -

Shod Test to achieve BS-EN-13845 ESf (Enhanced Slip Resistance Footwear)
Consists of: -

1.    Pendulum Test to EN-16165 fitted with a IRHD 96 Slider
2.    Ramp Test using a shoe shod with a sole of IRHD 96 hardness rubber

Pass criteria 

1.    Pendulum Test Result of greater of equal to 36 PTV
2.    Ramp Test Result of greater or equal to 20 degrees of ramp slope

Barefoot Test to achieve BS-EN-13845 ESb (Enhanced Slip Resistance Barefoot).

Consists of: -

1.    Pendulum Test conducted to BS-EN-16165 fitted with a IRHD 55 Slider
2.    Ramp Test using a contaminant of 0.1% soap solution sprayed onto the surface at a rate of 6 litres per minute.

Pass criteria 

1.    Pendulum Test Result of greater of equal to 36 PTV
2.    Ramp Test Result of greater or equal to 15 degrees of ramp slope

Ramp Test Method (As part of BS-EN-13845)

In the ramp test two operators walk over a one metre distance of the surface under test at a set pace in a controlled manner. The operators conduct 2 sets of four half gait steps forwards and backwards. If there is no slip the angle of the surface is raised by approximately one degree and the process is repeated until a slip occurs.  Further detailed information may be found in the Publication issued by Altro Safety Flooring 

BS EN 13893 – Resilient, laminate and textile floor coverings. Measurement of dynamic coefficient of friction on dry floor surfaces

This test uses a tribometer with rubber and leather sliders in the DRY floor condition only.  A minimum requirement of 0.3 Coefficeint of Friction (Equal to 30PTV on the Pendulum Test) is required For CE marking.  This standard to be superseded by EN 16165.

BS EN 14231 – Natural stone test methods — Determination of the slip resistance by means of the pendulum tester

This test is intended for natural stone flooring used in buildings. The test is carried out using a Pendulum Test in the dry and the wet states with a 55-slider rubber; the wet test is carried out after soaking the samples in water. Six specimens are tested. Each specimen tested twice in directions at 180° to each other. 

It is unknown if this will be superseded by EN 16165; we know this test is still conducted

 BS-EN-14411 – Ceramic tiles — Definition, classification, charac­te­ristics, assessment and verification of constancy of performance and marking

Slip resistance is a declared value based on EN-16165.

DD CEN/TS 15676 – Wood flooring. Slip resistance. Pendulum test

Floor Pendulum Test using Slider 55 usually carried out in the dry but there is an annex for wet testing.

BS EN 16837 – Surfaces for sports areas. Determination of linear shoe/surface friction

Test method for the determination of shoe/surface friction of synthetic sports surfaces and can be used for the assessment of indoor and outdoor sports surfaces but not suitable for long pile synthetic turf surfaces.. This is a Pendulum Test in the dry only using a slider with a hardness (IRHD) of 55 ± 3, which means EN-16165 and UKSRG Guidelines are suitable. 

DIN 51097 – Testing of Floor Coverings – Determination of Anti-Slip Properties – Wet Loaded Barefoot Areas – Walking Method – Ramp Test

TO BE SUPERSEDED BY EN 16165 in 2021/2022.

This is a Ramp Test that determines the Floor Surface ABC Ratings 

Two different operators with bare feet walk in a controlled manner over a one metre distance of the floor surface under test.  The operators twice taking four half gait steps forwards and backwards.  If there is no slip, the angle of the surface is raised by approximately one degree and the process is repeated until slip occurs. A contaminant of a soap solution is sprayed onto the surface at a rate of 6 litres per minute. 

The angle of the ramp from horizontal when the slip occurs categorises the surface as:  

It is important to recognise, there is information available on line that the ABC ratings can be aligned with the Pendulum Test Values (PTV). This is incorrect, there is NO direct correlation between this test and the pendulum test. It is therefore always highly recommended to also have the On-Site Floor pendulum Testor Floor Sample Pendulum Test whenever an ABC rating surface has been selected.

DIN 51130 – Testing of Floor Coverings – Determination of Anti-Slip Properties – Workrooms and Fields of Activities with Slip Danger – Walking Method – Ramp Test

TO BE SUPERSEDED BY BS-EN 16165 IN 2021 / 2022

This is a Ramp Test that determines  R Ratings

Two different operators with feet shod in standard boots walk in a controlled manner over a one metre distance of the floor surface under test.  The operators twice taking four half gait steps forwards and backwards.  If there is no slip, the angle of the surface is raised by approximately one degree and the process is repeated until slip occurs. A contaminant of oil is sprayed onto the surface.

*Note that any Floor Slope requires an additional 1.75 PTV

It is important to recognise, there is information available on line that the ABC ratings can be aligned with the Pendulum Test Values (PTV). This is incorrect, there is NO direct correlation between this test and the pendulum test. It is therefore always highly recommended to also have the On-Site Floor pendulum Test or Floor Sample Pendulum Test whenever an R-rating surface has been selected.

Building Design for Safe Floors for the Able Bodied and Disabled

CIRIA* C652 - Safer Surfaces to Walk On – Reducing the risk of slipping

(CIRIA = Construction Industry Research and Information Association)

Commissioned by the UK HSE, the guide informed how floor slips and trips might be reduced. The publication is aimed at designers, flooring specifiers, architects & managers. The publication considers the science of slips and falls, contamination, footwear, flooring materials and cleaning and environment issues. Formulation of the Slip Potential Model promoted by the UK HSE and in the UKSRG Guidelines occurred as a result of this piece of work.

Link to CIRIA https://­www.­ciria.­org/­ItemDetail?iProductCode=­C652F&­Category=­FREEPUBS

BS EN 8300 (Parts 1 and 2) - Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment - Buildings. Code of practice

Part 1 (External Environment)

Part 2 (Internal Environment)

BS-8300 covers design, build and management of the built environment.

The recommendations given apply mainly to new buildings, but can also be used when assessing the accessibility and usability of existing buildings and, where practicable, as a basis for their improvement. But BS-8300 does not apply to individual dwellings, or to residential buildings (See BS-EN 9266)

It includes Slip Potential Characteristics of treads, ramp surfaces and floor finishes floors, in a manner inclusive for all people including the physically and neuro disabled irrespective of the impairment. The standard is aimed at officers in councils, planning, access, design, building control and architects, interior designers and landscape designers.

BS EN 9266 - Design of accessible and adaptable general needs housing. Code of practice

This standard is for use with new or existing dwellings of accessible and adaptable general needs housing and improving existing housing. The standard covers external access routes to blocks of flats or individual houses, car parking, common circulation areas (in blocks of flats), circulation areas within dwellings, and the provision of key rooms / facilities.

The Code of Practice has recommendations on how to design accessible and adaptable general needs housing, in the form of flats or individual houses for the impaired and disabled and considers floor surfaces, ramps, stairs and lifts.

The standard is aimed at Local government and council officers in planning, access, design, conservation and building control and private sector counterparts such as Landscape designers. Architects, Interior designers. Also see BS 8300.

ACRONYMS - Floor Testing Standards

• BAM - Bundesanstalt für Materi­al­fors­chung und -prüfung (Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing - Germany)
• BS - British Standards
• BS-EN - British Standards - Europäische Norm (German) European Norm (English)
• BSI - British Standards Institute
• CE - Conformité Européenne (French) / European Conformity (English)
• CEN - European Committee for Standardization (English) / Comité Européen de Normalisation (French)
• CIRIA - Construction Industry Research and Information Association
• COF -Coefficient of Friction
• DDA -Disability Discriminations Act
• DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung (German) / German institute for standardisation (English)
• EN - Europäische Norm (German) European Norm (English)
• ESB - Enhanced Slip Resistance Barefoot
• ESF - Enhanced Slip Resistance Footwear
• GL - Guidelines
• HSE - Health and Safety Executive
• IRHD - International Rubber Hardness Degree
• ISO - International Standards Organisation
• PTV - Pendulum Test Value
• RAPRA - Rubber and Plastics Research Association
• SRV - Slip Resistance value
• UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Service
• UKCA - UK Conformity Assessed
• UKSRG - United Kingdom Slip Resistance Group
• USRV - Unpolished Slip Resistance Value

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