Slip resistence
Fields of application
Test ramp incline
Level of grip
Non-Slip Rubber Flooring
Slips and falls are a significant risk and can be very dangerous. This is why slip-resistant rubber flooring and tread covers are so common in public spaces. Although the risk of slipping can never be entirely eliminated, it is important to use materials that help mitigate this risk as much as possible. Our anti-slip flooring achieves this by taking advantage of the natural slip-resistant properties of rubber. All Artigo rubber flooring is R9 certified, so it can be readily used in public spaces such as the entryways and stairs of public buildings, in restaurants and cafeterias, in stores, in medical clinics and hospitals, and in schools. Our Lava line is R10 certified to ensure an even greater degree of grip and safety.
What is non-slip flooring?
The simple answer for practical purposes is that non-slip flooring is flooring that prevents or, better, minimizes the risk of slipping on a given surface. Technically speaking, this surface is covered by a material — rubber in our case — that increases grip by increasing friction on the surface in order to make it more slip resistant.
When should non-slip flooring be used?
There are a number of variables that increase the risk of having a slippery surface and that could call for the use of non-slip flooring. The greatest challenge lies in the fact that, often, the slipperiness of a surface can change as environmental conditions change, so it can be difficult to control. For example, factors that can make a floor more slippery include:
- Dampness, such as water brought in from outside on a rainy day and deposited on an office floor by customers or employees.
- Lack of appropriate signage indicating a hazard due to floor cleaning or other maintenance.
- Type of shoes worn and the condition of the soles, which may not provide suitable slip resistance.
- Certain ordinary behaviors, such as hurrying or not paying attention to potentially dangerous situations.
Slip-prevention standards and certifications
For a surface to be called slip-resistant, or anti-slip or non-slip, it must first pass a rigorous testing and certification process. Italian and international regulations set different standards for each type of material or flooring.
DIN 51130 certification
The German DIN 51130 certification standard defines the characteristics for anti-slip flooring where shoes or other footwear are to be used. In order to determine whether a floor meets the standards of applicable regulations, certain laboratory tests are conducted to measure the slip potential, or slipperiness, of each product and calculate its R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the slip resistance.
R9
Entryways and stairs with outdoor access; restaurants and cafeterias; medical clinics and hospitals; schools
From 3° to 10° incline
Normal
R10
Employee areas in restaurants; parking garages; underground spaces
From 10° to 19° incline
Intermediate
How are tests of slip potential conducted?
A sample of the flooring is placed on a machine and is then covered in an oily substance. The machine varies the incline of the surface as a person wearing safety shoes walks up and down this sloped surface in progressive cycles. When the person is no longer able to remain stable on this greasy surface, the test is ended and the flooring is assigned its R-value based on the measured coefficient of friction (CoF), or grip in simple terms.
EN 13893 certification
Another important, internationally recognized slip-resistance standard is EN 13893, which is known for being a very common component of the ISO family of certifications. The EN 13893 standard measures the dynamic coefficient of friction on dry floor surfaces where shoes are generally worn and which include the use of resilient, laminate and textile floor coverings. UNI EN 13893:2005 is a translated and updated version that has been in effect in Italy since February 1, 2005. Artigo rubber flooring is UNI EN 13893:2005 certified as slip resistant, having a tested CoF of at least 0.30.
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