Anti slip rating
What is the R anti-slip rating?
Every floor surface has a certain ‘slip resistance’ which determines the likelihood of a person slipping up when walking across the surface.
The R scale describes the slip resistance of a surface material on a flat surface – before a product can be described as ‘anti-slip’, it must be ranked on the R scale.
There are 5 grades in the R scale:
- R9: at the bottom of the scale, this grade is generally only suitable for exclusively dry flooring.
- R10: surfaces with R10 classification are best suited for dry floors which can occasionally be wet, such as supermarket flooring.
- R11 and R12: these grades are best suited for floor areas which can sometimes be wet, including public outdoor areas.
- R13: the highest rating in the R scale, this grade is suitable for any floor but is only really necessary for specific applications, such as swimming pool perimeters and public showers.
How is anti-slip measured?
There are several ways of measuring slip resistance, but R-values are generated using the ‘ramp test’ method. A test operator stands on a flat platform which has been coated with the floor surface being tested, and gradually raises one side of the platform using a motorised apparatus so it becomes a ramp.
The steepness of the ramp is steadily increased until the operator (who is supported by a fall-arresting harness) starts to slip down the ramp.
From there a computer uses the angle of the ramp to determine the ‘coefficient of friction’ (COF or COH) – a value which describes the ratio between the force of friction between two objects and the force pressing them together.
The coefficient of friction is then used to determine the surface’s slip rating; either as an R-value if the test is being carried out with shod feet, or an ABC-value if the operator is barefoot. A floor surface must be capable of supporting an operator at a ramp angle of 6 degrees or more before it can achieve R-value classification.
If the test is being carried out to the DIN 51130 international standard, the operator wears cleated boots and the surface is covered with motor oil; this is done to assess how slippery the surface becomes when wet.
What R rating do I need for my floor graphics?
It depends where you’ll be placing them, but for most indoor applications, you’ll be fine with an R9 or R10 grade. If you’re planning to place your graphics outdoors, we’d recommend an R11 or R12 grade.
All floor graphics in our range are rated R9 or above to the DIN 51130 standard, with the MultiGrip option offering a superior R12 sand-textured finish. For more information, or to request a quote for your own bespoke-printed floor graphics, call printedfloorstickers.co.uk on 02380 878030.