The term non slip treatment refers to the treatment provided to the floor of an office, home, factory or other places of work to help avoid accidental and falls
and injury. This is done using non slip coatings to create a microscopic or larger non slip texture. In wet condition especially, floors can be extremely prone to accident and injury.
Anti slip floor coatings achieve the desired level of slip resistance by using different types of aggregates. Polyurethane and epoxy solvent and waterborne resin-based coatings are the binders predominantly used for this purpose. Chemical based anti-slip treatments are also available, but this technique is not suitable for materials such as vinyl, wood, etc. In this method, slip resistance is increased by chemical reactions that cause changes to the floor surface. Compared to chemical treatments, non slip coatings require longer curing times as well as more intensive floor preparation.
Running a business with slippery surfaces or floors can be a nightmare. In addition to losses resulting from preventable slip and fall injuries, this may also lea to
- Loss of key personnel as well as time
- Reduced productivity of the workplace
- Additional expenses and hassles in the form of litigation.
Benefits of Using Non Slip Floor Coatings:
There are many reasons why more and more home and business owners are now using different types of non slip coatings to make their floors safe for all.
- Provides instant slip resistance to the floor and eliminates the risk of slipping and falling on the floor.
- Can be applied without any adverse impact on the overall appearance of the floor.
- Can be used on oily, greasy, dry, as well as wet floors.
- Suitable for a wide range of work areas such as workshops, office, canteen, entrance, kitchen, bathrooms, car parks, factory floor, staircase, etc.
- Causes little to no disruption to the regular activities of the workplace or home during application.
- Helps employers, owners, and managers comply with floor safety standards and regulations.
Understanding Slip Resistance:
Slip resistance may be referred to as floor roughness that reduces the possibility of slipping and falling by creating positive traction. Coefficient of friction (COF) is the metric used to measure slip resistance, and it may be defined as the necessary force for holding two materials together and the maximum necessary force for offering resistance to sliding.
Australian Standard 4586-2013 ‘Slip-resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials‘ applies to all classes of buildings under the Building Code of Australia
Slip-resistance classifications are required for
- Floor surfaces of a ramp
- The surface of a tread or the nosing strip on the tread
- The surface of a landing or the strip at the edge of the landing.
The application of finishes to these areas must have documentary evidence to prove the classification.
“SA HB 198: An Introductory Guide to the Specification and Testing of slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surfaces” is a handbook published by Standards Australia to provide guidance and help in understanding the standard. It points up the need of risk assessment and management, and takes into account the pedestrian contribution to risk of slipping and also the likelihood of contamination and other factors. It also notes that aging and wear of the surface will alter its slip resistive quality.
However, there are also individual council requirements and requirements under common laws that loss or damage to others has not been caused by negligence.
A& I Coatings recommends that the facility owner and applicator get signoff by a registered certifier on a sample area before project commencement.
The disadvantages of slip resistant additives are that they make the surface harder to clean by definition, and it requires a different type of cleaning method. It is therefore a compromise between slip resistance and ease of cleaning, but within the confines of the law.
A & I Coatings is amongst Australia’s most trusted names when it comes to delivering the highest quality of industrial and architectural coatings. If you are looking for state-of-the-art non slip coating for your workplace, contact our experts immediately.
