Slip Resistance

Floor surfaces on access routes must be safe to walk on and should not be slippery under normal conditions as required by New Zealand Building Code Clause D1 (Access routes). Requirements vary depending on whether the area is dry, wet, or has special use.

Always check project-specific requirements against the latest Building Code provisions and Acceptable Solution D1/AS1.

Dry Access Routes

Dry access routes are walking surfaces that normally stay dry. In residential buildings, this covers all internal areas including kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, and laundries.

In commercial buildings, dry access routes refer to areas that are not regularly exposed to rain or moisture such as main lobbies, corridors, and internal ramps or stairways.

Level Surfaces

Level floors in dry areas must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Has a Coefficient of Friction (COF) ≥ 0.40 when tested to AS 4586 Appendix B (Dry Floor Friction Test)
2. Listed as acceptable in D1/AS1 Table 2 for dry slip resistance

Flooring with acceptable dry slip resistance on flat surfaces according to D1/AS1 Table 2

All Belgotex flooring products are deemed to have acceptable dry slip resistance under D1/AS1 Table 2 and can be used in dry, flat access routes without requiring slip testing.

Stairs and Ramps

Flooring used on stairs or ramps must meet one of the following dry slip resistance criteria:

1. Meets the minimum COF based on slope gradient according to AS 4586 Appendix F
2. Listed as acceptable in D1/AS1 Table 2 for dry slip resistance on stairs and sloping surfaces
   (only applicable for stairs and ramps less than 1:8 or 12.5%)
3. Has at least a P4 rating when tested to AS 4586 Appendix A (Wet Pendulum Test)
   (only applicable for stairs and ramps not steeper than 1:12 or 8.3%)

Minimum COF for dry ramps and stairs

Flooring with acceptable dry slip resistance on stairs and ramps according to D1/AS1 Table 2

Flooring that doesn’t meet any of the above criteria can still be used on stairs as long as slip-resistant nosings at least 50mm wide are used.

Wet Access Routes

Wet access routes refer to public walking surfaces that are expected to get regularly wet.

In commercial and industrial buildings, this typically includes entrances where water gets tracked in from outside.

For homes, only the area outside the main entrance is considered as a wet access route.

Floor surfaces in residential kitchens, laundries, toilets, and bathrooms are NOT considered wet access routes and are therefore not required to meet wet slip resistance requirements. While residential bathrooms may occasionally become wet, D1/AS1 notes that safety can be managed with bathroom mats, as highly slip-resistant flooring may be impractical due to the difficulty in cleaning them.

Level Surfaces

For flat surfaces expected to be wet with water in normal use, flooring must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Has a Slip Resistance Value (SRV) ≥ 39 when tested to AS 4586 Appendix A (Wet Pendulum Test) using Slider 96 rubber
2. Has a Wet Coefficient of Friction (COF) ≥ 0.40 when tested to AS/NZS 3661.1
3. Listed as acceptable in D1/AS1 Table 2 for wet slip resistance

Flooring with acceptable wet slip resistance on flat surfaces according to D1/AS1 Table 2

Note: An R11 rating from slip testing to AS 4586 Appendix D (Oil Wet Inclining Platform Test), or similar overseas standards (DIN 51130, EN 16165), is often considered equivalent to a wet SRV of 39.

Stairs and Ramps

Flooring used on stairs and ramps expected to remain wet must meet one of the following slip resistance criteria:

1. Meets the minimum SRV based on slope gradient according to AS 4586 Appendix F
2. Listed as acceptable in D1/AS1 Table 2 for wet slip resistance on stairs and sloping surfaces
   (only applicable for stairs and ramps less than 1:10 or 10%)
3. Has at least a P4 rating when tested to AS 4586 Appendix A (Wet Pendulum Test)
   (only applicable for stairs and ramps not steeper than 1:12 or 8.3%)

Minimum SRV for wet ramps and stairs

Flooring with acceptable wet slip resistance on stairs and ramps according to D1/AS1 Table 2

Flooring not meeting any of the above criteria for stairs in wet access routes can still be used provided they meet the slip resistance requirements for wet flat surfaces and slip-resistant nosings at least 50mm wide are used.

Transition Zones

Safety matting must be provided in transition zones between dry and wet access routes, or in entrance areas that do not meet wet slip resistance requirements. The matting must be absorbent and at least 1.8 m long, though shorter lengths may be used where space is limited.

Belgotex outdoor needlepunch carpets provide acceptable wet slip resistance, making them suitable for use as entrance mats without the need for slip resistance testing.

If safety matting is not provided, wet slip resistant flooring should extend 6 m to 10 m from the entrance door to ensure safety.

Specific Locations

Flooring in certain locations may comply with specific wet slip resistance requirements according to their unique conditions.

Barefoot Areas

For areas primarily used barefoot, such as around swimming pools and next to communal showers, flooring with a ‘B’ or 'C' classification when tested to AS 4586 Appendix C (Wet Barefoot Inclining Platform Test) can be used.

Oil-Contaminated Industrial & Commercial Areas

In environments where surfaces may be contaminated by oils or similar substances, such as commercial kitchens or loading docks, flooring that achieves the below slip ratings when tested to AS 4586 Appendix D (Oil Wet Inclining Platform Test) can be used.

Commercial Bathrooms and Toilets

Bathroom and toilet floors in commercial buildings typically remain dry during normal use, so they only need to comply with the slip resistance requirements for dry access routes according to the Building Code.

As best practice, Standards Australia HB198:2014 recommends that floors in toilet facilities in offices, hotels, and shopping centres achieve at least a P3 rating when tested to AS 4586 Appendix A, or an R10 rating when tested to AS 4586 Appendix D or a similar overseas standard.

Floors in bathrooms and ensuites in hospitals and aged care facilities are recommended to have at least a P3 rating, or at least a 'B' classification when tested to AS 4586 Appendix C.

Belgotex offers sheet vinyl products that can meet slip resistance requirements for wet barefoot areas and oil-contaminated industrial & commercial areas, as detailed below.