NEW SEARCH NEW SEARCH, STATE - ACT
Next
Last
DISCLAIMER:
Whilst all care is taken to provide accurate information with respect to the item described, the Independent Living Centre (ILC) is not involved in product design or manufacture, and therefore not in a position to guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Selection of equipment, which is both suitable and appropriate for individual needs remains the responsibility of the person(s) considering requisition, and no responsibility is taken by the ILC for any loss or injury caused through use of the equipment or alleged to have arisen through reliance upon information provided. As information is subject to change any enquiries should be directed to the manufacturer.
Item Details
A Buyers Guide- Slip Resistant Tapes, Treads and Liquid Applications
ILC Reference NO 81:38:600
Item sourced from ILC ACT database
Short Description
One of the primary requirements of floor finishes is adequate slip-resistance. In particular, floor finishes should be as slip-resistant as possible when wet. Existing floor surfaces can be treated with a range of products designed to increase floor surface resistance or friction and therein enhance the floor's slip resistance.
Products include adhesive tapes and treads and liquid applications.
More Details
TAPES
Adhesive tapes are available from a variety of manufacturers and range in length, width and colour. Characteristically tapes usually range from fine to coarse texture and the reverse side is coated with an adhesive finish. Tapes are usually made from abrasive particles bonded by polymer onto a plastic, vinyl or aluminium sheet and are sold in roll lengths.
Applications vary from product to product but usually cover outdoor and indoor surfaces, heavy to light traffic surfaces, stairs and ladder rungs and some are designed for barefoot use in bath or shower.
Some tapes are also suitable for stabilising rugs and mats.
TREADS
Treads are similar to tapes but are generally supplied in pre-cut sizes and targeted for use on stairs, landings, docks and aisles. Treads may be adhesive and easily installed however some require screw installation.
Treads may be manufactured from vinyl, plastic, aluminium, rubber or metal plate.
LIQUID APPLICATIONS
Liquid applications are applied directly to a floor surface and they applications vary in terms of how they work.
ETCHING PRODUCTS
This type of application causes microscopic grooves and indents on the surface to which it is applied. To the user the surface still feels flat and smooth. Surfaces that can be treated in this way include brick, bluestone, granite, porcelain, ceramic or terracotta tiles and enamel baths.
The surface can become difficult to clean as dust and grit collect in the grooves/indents created and this is not visible to the eye. This can be a potential hazard in wet areas if the floor is not cleaned regularly.
The application should be re-applied according to the manufacturers instructions if the surface becomes worn or slippery.
TEXTURED SURFACE
This type of application can include 1) rubberised textured coating that is applied to metal, timber or concrete surfaces, 2) grains embedded into paint-on liquid and 3) chemical treatment which varies the molecular structure of surface.
This type of application usually alters the texture and feel of the floor surface to which it is applied and careful consideration needs to be given to the intended area of use. Pebblecrete finish might be suitable for a pool surround or driveway but would be unsuitable for an indoor wet area.
This type of application can also pose a cleaning and maintenance issue as dirt and lint can become embedded in and between the grains of the textured surface. A build up of detergent and contaminants can reduce the effectiveness of the product if regular maintenance/cleaning not carried out.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Make sure you select an application suitable for the area in which you intend to use it -ie don't select coarse grade tape for barefoot use.
Consider ease of application-is it a D.I.Y. or professional application
Colour of tape or tread-will all potential users be able to see the tape?
Consider the location of the tape/tread -is it being used to highlight step edge, is it a continually wet area or only occasionally prone to moisture?
Consider cleaning and maintenance needs of the product
Would a slip resistant sheet flooring product be more suitable than a tape, tread or liquid application?
· · · ·
Additional Comment
Slip resistant products are often marketed with information about grip factor, co-efficient of friction (COF) as well as classification ratings for slip resistance eg R13 product.
Please find below an explanation of these terms.
Grip factor / Co-efficient of friction
This relates to the ratio of force required to cause a body to slide a long a plane (F) to the force normal to that plane (W) at the point of sliding.
The co-efficient of friction is therefore the horizontal force divided by the vertical force.
The minimum value for slip-resistance is a co-efficient of 0.4 and, in theory, the higher the COF the more slip resistant the surface should be(reference: AS/NZ 4586 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surfaces).
This should not be relied upon as a sole indicator of effectiveness as there are many variables that affect the slip resistance of a surface, including:
wet, dry or oily surface
old, new or worn surface
inclination (steepness) of the surface, provision of handrails
lighting
footwear
build up of detergent and contaminants
· · ·
Slip resistance ratings
The R rating of a product is usually made in relation to a flooring material-eg sheet flooring, pavers and tiles following testing of that surface in accordance with the wet/barefoot ramp test and oil-wet ramp test as specified in AS/NZS 4586 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surfaces.
Sealers and etchants are included in the test scope of AS/NZS 4586.
R ratings range from R9 to R13- with R13 being the highest rating.
Minimum R10 is recommended for slip resistance in wet areas.
Standards
Some assistive technology needs to meet Australian or other standards. Standards may relate to materials, manufacturing and installation. Products that meet Australian or international standards will have written certification. To find out if a product meets Australian Standards ask the supplier to show you the certificate. For more information on what standards the equipment may need to meet, see http:// www.ilcaustralia.org.au/home/standards.asp
Standards relevant to slip resistance as follows:
AS/NZS 4586 - 2004 Slip Resistance Classification of New Pedestrian Surface Materials
AS/NZS 4586 provides four means of classifying the slip resistance of new pedestrian surfaces in accordance with four test methods: wet pendulum test, dry floor friction test, wet/barefoot ramp test and oil-wet ramp test.
The scope of this Standard is essentially for commercial and industrial settings but can be used a guide to appropriate flooring in domestic settings.
AS/NZS 3661.1 - 1993 Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surfaces Part 1 Requirements.
AS/NZS 4663 - 2004 Slip Resistance Measurements of Existing Pedestrian Surfaces.
Price Guide
Refer to supplier details for pricing.
Supplier Information - click to supplier for contacts details
3M AUSTRALIA,
PYMBLE, NSW
BLACKWOOD, J. & SON,
FYSHWICK, ACT
BRISTOL DECORATOR CENTRE,
,
FLOOR SAFETY SERVICES,
FITZROY, VIC
Additional /images
No additional /images apply to this item
First
Prev
Next
Last
