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:

• Ceramic
• Porcelain tile
• Stone
• Polished and unpolished concrete
• Vinyl
• Wood
• Wood-plastic composite (WPC) decking
• Synthetic laminates

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:

• ASTM F462 – Standard consumer safety specification for slip-resistant bathing facilities
• ASTM F1678 – Standard test method for using a portable articulated strut slip tester (PAST)
• ASTM F1679 – Standard Test Method for Using a Variable Incidence Tribometer (VIT)
• ASTM D2394 – Standard Test Methods for Simulated Service Testing of Wood and Wood-Based Finish Flooring
• ANSI / NFSI B101.1 (BOT-3000E for any walking surface)
• ASTM C1028 (horizontal slip meter - typically for ceramic tile)
• ANSI A137.1 (BOT-3000E - typically for ceramic tile)
• ANSI A326.3 (BOT-3000E - for any walking surface)
• ANSI/NFSI B101.3 (BOT-3000E)
• ASTM E303 (British Pendulum - any walking surface, including roadways)