What Makes a Safety Floor So Safe?
It’s the duty of every business to keep their premises safe. No accident is more common than slipping and tripping. That’s why so many places prioritise the safety of their floors. For this reason, many businesses will be looking to purchase safety flooring.
But what is it about a safety floor that makes it so safe? And how can you be sure the flooring you are buying is up to scratch?
Safety Floor or Slip Resistant? What’s the difference?
Put simply, safety flooring is a floor covering designed to prevent people from slipping. We put this kind of flooring to use in all kinds of contexts. You might see it in changing rooms, around pools and play areas, in kitchens and bars, and in hospitals and care homes. Most of the time, it’s made of vinyl. But it’s a very different kind of vinyl flooring to what you would find in a normal home.
It’s important however to note that there’s a difference between true safety flooring and simple slip resistant floors.
The difference is all in the way we test these two kinds of flooring. Firstly, authorities simply test a slip resistant floor at steeper and steeper angles, with a grade awarded depending on how steep the ramp was when the person testing the floor began to slip. A full safety floor on the other hand is tested with a pendulum system that mimics a footstep. This test tends to provide a lot more data on slip potential.
If a product has passed this pendulum test, then it’s a proper safety floor. The results of the pendulum test can be found in the product specifications. Regulators mark it up as EN 13845. As long as your flooring’s grade is over 36, you’ve got certified safety floor.
Take a Sure Step with Commercial Flooring Contracts
Manufacturers work all kinds of innovations into their safety floors to get the best results. Often, the flooring will have raised bumps and nodules to help increase friction, reducing the chance a foot will glide. Often, designers fuse small glass and quartz particles into the flooring, further improving grip.
The design of a safety floor ensures that the foot and the floor connect even when wet or contaminated. But that doesn’t mean dirt won’t affect performance; a safety floor won’t do all the work alone. To keep your flooring safe, and looking good, you’ll need to regularly clean it.
Though these floors put safety first and foremost, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a lacklustre finish. You can find safety floors to match the interiors of your premises, giving you one more reason to keep it looking shiny and new.
Commercial Flooring Contracts provides safety flooring to a number of premises including hospitals, care homes and schools. Make sure to get in touch with our expert team today to find out more.
