Technical guidance
GRP Anti-Slip & Slip Resistance Guidance
Understand SRV, PTV, wet-test evidence and ramp classifications before specifying GRP grating, sheets, strips, stair covers or nosings.
Start with the slip risk, not a headline number
Slip resistance is a relationship between the walking surface, contamination, footwear, movement and maintenance. The same GRP surface can perform differently when it is wet, greasy, dusty, icy, damaged or worn. A specification should therefore define the foreseeable use condition before selecting a product.
Environment
Indoor or outdoor, exposed or sheltered, level, sloping or stepped, together with drainage, temperature and weather exposure.
Contamination
Water, oils, grease, process residue, food waste, mud, dust or fine particles that can separate footwear from the surface.
Movement
Pedestrian frequency, direction of travel, ramps and steps, turning or braking, carried loads and the footwear normally used.
Installation
Substrate condition, edge transitions, fixing centres, cut-outs, drainage paths, access for drilling and future inspection.
Terminology made useful
SRV and PTV: what should you ask for?
SRV is commonly used in product literature to mean “slip resistance value”, but the label alone does not identify a test. PTV is the numerical result produced by a pendulum test. For a meaningful comparison, request the value and the complete test conditions.
A general description
Useful as shorthand, but not sufficient evidence on its own. Ask which method generated the stated value.
Pendulum Test Value
The measured output from the pendulum. It must be read with the slider, wet or dry condition, direction and test standard.
Current test framework
BS EN 16165:2021 Annex C sets out the pendulum method now commonly cited in current UK technical specifications.
How to interpret a pendulum result
HSE uses the pendulum as its preferred method of formal floor slipperiness assessment. It can be used in the laboratory and on installed surfaces, but competent operation is important. Rough or profiled GRP may require readings in several directions.
| Pendulum Test Value | HSE slip-potential band | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 | High slip potential | Investigate the surface, contamination and control measures before relying on the route. |
| 25–35 | Moderate slip potential | Review foreseeable conditions and whether a more slip-resistant surface or additional controls are required. |
| 36+ | Low slip potential | Useful evidence where the slider, test condition and specimen represent the intended application. |
Slider 96
Normally used to represent shod pedestrian use. It is the slider commonly identified in wet PTV specifications and general workplace assessments.
Slider 55
Used for barefoot assessment and may also help investigate highly profiled surfaces. The result must not be compared with Slider 96 without identifying the difference.
PTV and R ratings are not interchangeable
The R classification comes from an inclined ramp test using safety footwear and oil contamination. It describes the angle range at which the operator loses secure footing. It is not a score out of 13: the scale begins at R9, its lowest class.
| Ramp class | Angle range | What the class tells you |
|---|---|---|
| R9 | 6–10° | Lowest ramp classification; it should not automatically be read as suitable for wet or greasy service. |
| R10 | 10–19° | A broad class covering a wide range of performance. Check the relevant wet PTV and intended contaminant. |
| R11 | 19–27° | Higher ramp classification, commonly considered for increased contaminant risk. |
| R12 | 27–35° | Very high ramp classification for more demanding contaminated environments. |
| R13 | Above 35° | Highest class in this ramp system, but still not a substitute for a representative pendulum result. |
Reading GRP Express product evidence
Where these figures are stated on the relevant GRP Express product data or certificate, read each one as a different part of the performance picture. Do not transfer a value automatically between products, finishes or manufacturers.
Indicates low slip potential in the stated wet pendulum test. Confirm the test standard, slider and supplied surface.
Indicates the highest class within the oil-contaminated shod ramp classification; it is not the same measurement as PTV.
A Pedatron wear result supports durability assessment. It is not, by itself, a measurement of wet slip potential.
Learning from safety-flooring practice
Contaminants change the requirement
Slip-resistance research and test practice demonstrate why “wet” is not a single condition. A liquid film only micrometres thick can interrupt full contact between footwear and the surface, while dry contamination can behave like many small rolling particles.
- Water: request a representative wet pendulum result and review drainage, falls and ponding.
- Oil and grease: more viscous contaminants can require a more aggressive surface profile and a different cleaning regime.
- Dust, flour or fine residue: dry particles can reduce contact even where a surface feels rough to the hand.
- Mud, algae and organic growth: external routes require drainage, cleaning and periodic inspection as well as an anti-slip surface.
- Ice and frost: an anti-slip finish cannot prevent freezing; weather controls and route management remain necessary.
Sustained slip resistance matters
Initial test performance and in-service performance are not automatically the same. Technical assessment should distinguish initial slip resistance from sustained performance; this is particularly important when assessing gritted GRP. Specify a durable finish, then inspect and maintain the installed route.
As supplied
Confirm the certificate refers to the same resin, aggregate, finish and manufacturing route as the supplied product.
After installation
Adhesive, sealant, swarf, drilling dust or cleaning residue must not be left on the walking surface.
During service
Inspect turning points, leading edges, braking zones and heavily trafficked areas for contamination, damage or loss of texture.
When risk changes
Reassess after a process change, new contaminant, footwear change, incident or material alteration to the route.
Slip-resistance evidence checklist
Use this checklist when comparing technical data, product certificates or proposed substitutions.
Test identity
- BS EN 16165 Annex C or stated legacy method
- Pendulum slider used
- Competent laboratory or operator
Test condition
- Dry, water-wet or other contaminant
- Test direction or directions
- Temperature and specimen conditioning
Product identity
- Exact product and surface finish
- New, conditioned, worn or installed specimen
- Batch, certificate date and traceability
Choose the right anti-slip format
Sheets and floor plates
Cover larger worn or slippery floor areas, platforms and landings. Confirm sheet size, substrate, edges and fixing pattern.
Strips and decking routes
Add targeted grip to timber, composite or concrete routes while retaining drainage between strips where appropriate.
Steps and leading edges
Use full step covers when the tread surface needs renewal, or nosings when edge definition and local grip are the priority.
Ramps and walkways
Account for slope, drainage, transitions and regular traffic before selecting full-width covers or plates.
Open-mesh grating
For new access routes, moulded grating can combine drainage, corrosion resistance and a gritted walking surface.
Cut-to-size preparation
Send dimensions, quantities, edge details and cut-outs so material use and installation can be considered together.
Installation and maintenance remain part of the control
A tested surface cannot compensate for loose fixings, raised transitions, trapped contamination, blocked drainage or a cleaning method that leaves residue.
Check substrate condition, drainage, thresholds, fixing compatibility, access, cut-edge treatment and the intended traffic path.
Inspect fixings and edges, remove contamination promptly and monitor wear in turning, braking and high-traffic areas.
Anti-slip guidance FAQs
Are SRV and PTV the same thing?
Not necessarily. SRV is frequently used as a general label for a slip-resistance value. PTV specifically identifies the result from a pendulum test. Always ask for the test method, slider, condition and actual PTV.
Does PTV 36 mean a surface is non-slip?
No surface should be described as impossible to slip on. PTV 36 or above sits in HSE’s low-slip-potential band under the stated test conditions. Foreseeable contamination, footwear, slope, drainage, cleaning and wear must still be assessed.
Is R13 better than PTV 36?
They are different measures and cannot be ranked directly. R13 is the highest class in an oil-contaminated ramp test. PTV 36+ is the start of HSE’s low-slip-potential band for the pendulum result. Both require their test context.
Should wet and dry results both be requested?
Request evidence that represents the foreseeable condition. A dry result alone may not describe a route that is regularly wet or contaminated.
Does a gritted surface guarantee that a route will not be slippery?
No. Slip risk depends on the complete use condition, including contamination, footwear, drainage, wear, cleaning and surface geometry. Use relevant test evidence and a site risk assessment.
Can anti-slip covers be installed over damaged floors or steps?
The underlying structure and substrate must remain suitable for the loads and fixings. Covers improve the walking surface; they do not repair an unsound structure.
What information should I send for technical support?
Send photographs, dimensions, substrate material, contamination, slope, traffic, footwear, colour needs, quantity and any required test or project standard.
Technical references: HSE: Assessing the slip resistance of flooring and HSE flooring guidance. Current specifications should also identify the applicable method within BS EN 16165:2021. Product values must always be confirmed against the relevant GRP Express technical data or certificate.
Technical specification checkpoint
Technical evidence behind an anti-slip specification
A useful specification records the test method, surface condition, contaminant, intended duty and how performance will be maintained. A product description or a single headline rating is not enough.
| Specification area | What to establish | Engineering boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Pendulum test | BS 7976-2:2002+A1:2013 method and competent operation; HSE classifies PTV 36+ as low slip potential for the stated condition. | Do not treat a dry result, ramp class or unqualified coefficient of friction as an equivalent wet PTV. |
| Ramp classifications | DIN 51130 R9–R13 and DIN 51097 A–C use different footwear and contaminants. | Useful supplementary data, but HSE cautions against substituting these bands for representative pendulum testing. |
| Trafficked performance | Record retained performance after a stated trafficking or wear procedure where high footfall is important. | Confirm that the tested construction and aggregate match the supplied product. |
| Risk assessment | Workplace surface, contamination, use, footwear, behaviour, environment and cleaning. | A low-slip-potential surface does not eliminate management, housekeeping or drainage duties. |
Important: Avoid unsupported phrases such as “non-slip”, “zero maintenance” or universal “compliance”. State the measured performance, condition and limits.
Primary references: HSE GEIS2; Approved Document K; and the relevant current project, accessibility and asset-owner requirements.
Anti-slip specification routes
Use this guidance alongside the product route, fixing method and surface condition. Slip risk depends on contamination, cleaning, footwear, slope, exposure and how the product is installed.
Choose the product format
Compare sheets, strips, step covers and ramp covers before selecting the fixing route.
Anti-slip product routesCheck the HSE context
Use HSE slip-resistance guidance when reviewing surface risk and control measures.
HSE slip-resistance guidanceSend the site detail
For worn, wet or external routes, send dimensions, substrate and traffic details for support.
Request technical supportUse the guidance
Turn anti-slip guidance into the right product, fitting route or support request.
These pages help visitors move from slip-risk advice to a practical GRP anti-slip product or project route.
Anti-slip GRP for wet, oily, icy and contaminated surfaces
Problem-led searches include anti-slip flooring for wet areas, GRP for oily walkways, non-slip external steps, icy walkway grip and anti-slip retrofit products for contaminated industrial routes. Surface selection should reflect the actual contaminant, cleaning regime, footwear, slope and environmental conditions, and test evidence should be used where a quantified slip requirement applies.