Blog

Water Parks: Inputs Wanted for Splash Pad Slip Resistance Standard

“Splash pads” are areas that contain water-play features and may contain play structures, but do not permit water to accumulate to any real depth. Their aliases include aquatic play pad, spray zone, spray pool, spray pad, spray deck, rain deck, and splash deck. There are 5,000–10,000 commercial or public splash pads in the USA, and … Continue reading “Water Parks: Inputs Wanted for Splash Pad Slip Resistance Standard”

John Glenn’s career-changing slip and fall

The world mourns the loss of pioneering astronaut and former U.S. senator John H. Glenn Jr., who in 1959 became one of America’s first astronauts, one of the “Mercury Seven,” and was the first American to orbit the Earth. Less remembered is the slip-and-fall accident that was a major factor in his early political career, … Continue reading “John Glenn’s career-changing slip and fall”

Restaurant Cleaning to Prevent Slips and Falls

When your restaurant floors are greasy, dirty, or wet, the efficacy of even the best anti-slip flooring solutions is greatly reduced. To maximize the safety of your staff and patrons, proper cleaning is necessary to maintain the traction of your anti-slip floors. Use Your Tools Wisely Your floor cleaning instruments are your number one tools … Continue reading “Restaurant Cleaning to Prevent Slips and Falls”

No More Slips in Supermarkets!

Today, over 99 percent of supermarket floor areas are slippery when wet or otherwise lubricated. The lubricants may be water from tracked-in rain and snow; vegetable display sprays or a dripping ice bag; WD-40 from a customer’s test of a spray can; cooking oil; milk; or a very large variety of other liquids and solids. … Continue reading “No More Slips in Supermarkets!”

Slip Resistance of Floor Graphics

The September/October 2016 edition of SGIA Journal (Special Graphic Imaging Association), pp 89–92 has an article, “New Slip Resistance Specifications — Are You in Compliance?”, by the Marketing Manager of Mactac Distributor Products (“Technology that Sticks”, including indoor and outdoor floor graphics). He discusses the following about American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard B101.3:     … Continue reading “Slip Resistance of Floor Graphics”

Introducing SparkleTuff™ Anti-Slip Floor Coating

For over a decade, we have been on the search for a totally non-slip and very glossy floor coating that could help people who have had the misfortune of installing slippery tiles, or those who have slippery tubs or showers. We’ve seen several attempts over the years in our floor slip resistance testing business, but … Continue reading “Introducing SparkleTuff™ Anti-Slip Floor Coating”

Cofficient of Friction and Probability of Slip

Analysis published many years ago by Pye of Britain’s Building Research Establishment quotes the probability of a slip (not a fall or injury) as varying with the coefficient of friction (COF) between the shoe and floor as follows: COF  Risk, 1 in … 0.40  1,000,000 0.38     100,000 0.34       10,000 0.31 … Continue reading “Cofficient of Friction and Probability of Slip”

COF vs. Pendulum Test Value (PTV to DCOF conversion table)

Pendulum slip (or skid) resistance data are usually expressed as PTV, Pendulum Test Value (or sometimes BPN, British Pendulum Number, or even SRV, Slip Resistance Value). The question has been asked, “What’s the coefficient of friction?” This number (dynamic COF – DCOF) was calculated decades ago at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards, and can … Continue reading “COF vs. Pendulum Test Value (PTV to DCOF conversion table)”