U.S. Senate Bipartisan Report: Falls Kill an American Senior Every 19 minutes

Lest we think that the U.S. Senate is capable only of partisan wrangling, the bipartisan Senate Aging Committee has published a report on falls prevention in efforts to protect those 65 and over from injury and premature death. Every 11 seconds an older American is treated in an emergency room for a fall. Every 19 … Continue reading “U.S. Senate Bipartisan Report: Falls Kill an American Senior Every 19 minutes”

What Should the Slip Resistance of a Bathtub Be?

Bathtubs, in hotels or homes, are in areas where slip accidents can be very serious or fatal because there are hard objects in close proximity that can be easily struck by the head after a slip — the side of the tub, the faucet, toilets and sinks. Bare feet are soft and essentially treadless, and … Continue reading “What Should the Slip Resistance of a Bathtub Be?”

Germany’s DIN 51130 Slip Test: What’s it Good For?

In Europe, a slip resistance test for flooring is prescribed by German Institute for Normalization (DIN) standard DIN 51130. A person wearing industrial-type treaded shoes walks, facing down slope, on a variable-angle ramp which has the flooring to be tested on it. The flooring is coated with motor oil. The walker (without holding the handrails) … Continue reading “Germany’s DIN 51130 Slip Test: What’s it Good For?”

A Caveat about Dal-Tile’s Situation-Specific Minimum DCOF AcuTest Values

This blog has previously praised Dal-Tile for recognizing that “one size fits all” does not work when it comes to slip resistance standards (or bikinis, for that matter). For instance, Dal-Tile has recommended a minimum ANSI A137.1 DCOF AcuTest wet dynamic coefficient of friction of 0.60 for swimming pool decks, public showers, and locker rooms. … Continue reading “A Caveat about Dal-Tile’s Situation-Specific Minimum DCOF AcuTest Values”

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”