Slip resistance testing demonstrates that flooring products and walking surfaces are safe for building occupants and lowers the risk of a dangerous slip and fall or other harmful accidents. Slip-resistant surfaces are typically defined as “providing a sufficient frictional counterforce to the forces exerted in walking to permit safe ambulation.” The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also requires floors accessible to people with disabilities to be slip-resistant to minimize hazards, especially for those who use walking aids.
ICC-ES laboratories are accredited to conduct tests for slip resistance on a variety of flooring products and walking surfaces including:
Slip-resistance testing determines the traction of a surface by measuring its coefficient of friction (COF). The coefficient of friction is the ratio of the frictional force to the force, usually gravitational, acting perpendicular to the two surfaces in contact. COF is broken down into two categories: static coefficient of friction (SCOF), and dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF). The static coefficient of friction measures the amount of force required to move a stationary object, while the dynamic coefficient of friction measures the amount of force required to keep moving an object that is already sliding.
There have been many test standards created for SCOF and DCOF. ICC-ES labs are able to test to the following standards:
