When is it necessary to install a slip resistant flooring?

15 june 2023

In some places, the installation of a slip resistant flooring is strongly recommended, or even mandatory. These include retirement homes, communal kitchens and sports hall changing rooms. The aim, of course, is to prevent falls and workaccidents.

As specialists in the sale and installation of anti-slip floorings in Luxembourg, we’d like to take you on a brief tour of the different types of floors and their uses.

First of all, let’s define what a floor’s grip is.

By definition, grip means preventing slipping. In the case of floor coverings, this is the measure of their slip resistant properties at the point of contact, i.e. the feet.
Two DIN standards classify requirements in terms of floor adhesion:

• The “R standard“, which applies to areas where your supposed to walk with shoes. This standard corresponds to DIN51130, which measures slip resistance on an oil-coated ramp at different angles. As we shall see, it is subdivided into different categories.
• The “ABC standard“. This applies to barefoot traffic areas, and is derived from DIN 51097. The tests are similar to those for the R standard, but with bare feet and soap and water instead of oil.

This little diagram will give you a better idea of what we’re talking about.

The R standard.

This standard establishes a hierarchy of grip levels for different types of floor, based on indices from R9 to R13, and thus determines their use.

R9 -> normal grip: this type of floor is suitable for surfaces such as dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms.
R10 -> moderate grip: floors rated R10 can be laid in an entrance hall, kitchen or bathroom.
R11 -> good adhesion: these floors are recommended, for example, for service areas behind a public bar or refrigerated rooms.
R12 -> high adhesion and R13 -> very high adhesion: these last two levels are generally reserved for specific uses (collective kitchens, laboratories, etc.) or in inclined areas such as ramps.

The ABC standard

Class A – These medium-adhesion coatings are intended for areas such as changing rooms, bathrooms and saunas.

Class B – Class B floors have a high adhesion, making them suitable for showers or pool surrounds.

Class C – Strong adhesion is reserved for sloping floors at the edge of swimming pools or stairways leading into the water.

There are two ways of making a floor more adhesive:

1 – Choose a floor covering whose technical characteristics meet the necessary grip requirements, e.g. a vinyl or rubber floor.

2 – Increase the adhesion of a floor covering, for example by applying a polyurethane (PU) varnish to parquet or linoleum.

Vinyl

We offer products from the Forbo brand, which markets the Safestep and Surestep ranges, whose anti-slip performance is guaranteed for life.

With products from the Surestep R10 and Safestep R11 ranges, we can offer solutions for all your needs: whether in professional kitchens, bars, laundries, swimming pools, fitness centers, saunas, wellness areas, bathrooms for the elderly or those with reduced mobility, retirement homes or restaurants.

Vinyl floors can also be used in walk-in showers, saunas, relaxation areas, fitness centers and changing rooms.

In addition to a vast choice of colors and patterns, Surestep Laguna and Safestep Aqua offer the advantage of being easy to clean and slip-resistant even when wet.

Rubber (R9 to R10)

We offer rubber floors from the nora® brand, in particular the norament and noraplan ranges. Here are just a few of their features, which offer numerous advantages:

• They are made from high-quality natural and industrial rubbers;
• They are dyed using natural materials and ecological color pigments;
• They are manufactured without PVC, plasticizing phthalates or halogens;
• Their low emissions have no impact on indoor air quality;
• They have flame-retardant properties (EN 13 501 standard);
• They are easy to maintain;
• They are moisture-resistant and do not swell when cleaned with large quantities of water;
• They need no surface protection such as varnish or wax, and their appearance remains new even after many years of use;
• They make walking more comfortable;
• They generate more pleasant acoustics by significantly reducing footstep noise;
• They are slip-resistant, even in wet conditions;
• And last but not least, their wide variety of styles and colors makes them an aesthetically pleasing design flooring that may surprise you.

Adhesion levels of nora ® rubbers:

R9 : All products in the norament and noraplan ranges are R9 tested.

R10 : Higher adhesion level R10 is reached with the following collections:

• norament 926 grano (square structure)
• norament 926 arago
• noraplan stone (with discreet structured surface / reflex breaker)
• noraplan stone acoustic
• noraplan stone ed
• noraplan signa (with discreet structured surface / reflex breaker)
• noracare seneo
• noracare uneo

R11 : Slip resistance up to this level is achieved with noraplan ultra grip

Polyurethane varnish for parquet and linoleum

With polyurethane (PU) varnish, there’s no need to lay a new floor covering, as it will be applied to an existing parquet or lino floor, giving it R10 or R11 level grip. This type of colorless varnish also provides effective, long-lasting protection for your parquet or linoleum floors against stains (oil, vinegar, wine and other contaminants…) and makes them easier to clean.

To care for a varnished parquet floor, we invite you to read our article on the subject.

While it’s true that major work to replace existing floor coverings isn’t necessary, some minor works are still needed.

In the case of parquet flooring, before sealing with PU varnish, a thorough sanding of the surface to be covered is required. To find out how to do this, we suggest you consult this other article on our blog , which gives more explanations on the subject.

In the case of linoleum, a thorough cleaning is required before the new coat of varnish can be applied. Contact one of our staff to find out more about the work involved.

Conclusion

Now you know a little more about slip resistant floorings. If you still have any doubts or need further advice, please contact us and make an appointment to visit our showroom. We’ll be happy to show you a wide range of samples and advise you.