Before hopping onto the instruction on how a slip testing is done, let’s understand what its significance is. Incidents related to slip and fall are the main reasons behind many personal injuries. It is essential for the slip testing to be done if there has to be safety of people.
Your funding in slip resistance for the surface of your floor shows your cognizance of duty of care as proprietor, employee, supervisor or occupier. In order to provide a secure working surroundings for everyone on the floor, slip testing is necessary.
Under the Wrongs Act and the OH&S/WHS Act you need to have answers that state the data you possess. If used correctly, the data out of your tests may additionally reduce critical damage and help during any legal occasion by anyone on you.
Going through the risk:
Firstly you will have to include results of the tests you perform into a risk matrix. For this what you will have to do is assess the threat of slipping with someone who is relevant. This will require you to decide the chance of a slip occurring out of the test that you have conducted and the effect of the harm caused (if any). If you're uncertain about the effect of the harm, know that accidents from slipping are said to sometimes even exceed the expenses from road accidents. So assume the worst case because you never know how a small slip could lead to spending thousands of dollars in the hospital.
For building an appropriate risk evaluation, selection of the proper test regions and appropriate method is the first step. The choice of place in addition to the quantity and type of tests need to provide a complete and correct representation of the location. It is also dependent on the number of various available flooring materials in addition to the chances of contamination, etc.
For an overall risk assessment of the existing installations that you have, you can refer to the Australian standard AS 4663:2013 that explains the steps and ways that are involved in measuring the installation’s frictional characteristics. For the purpose of evaluation of surface treatment’s effects, usage of The Australian standard AS can be done. Such treatments include polishes, etchants, and sealers which change surface characteristics.
Methods to follow:
The two test techniques that are utilized in Australia to the maximum are Oiled Inclining Platform and the Pendulum Test Method.
The Oiled Inclining Platform Test is a laboratory only test and is the only applicable for checking the slip prevention of new surfaces that are supposed to be established in or on a pedestrian walkway. This test is one of the alternatives in the AS 4586:2013.
The Pendulum Test Method It is properly described AS 4663-2013 above. The Pendulum wet and dry testing is the maximum broadly used evaluation manner in Australia. The test may be used for brand new surfaces as in line with AS 4586:2013 however it can also be used for the testing of current surfaces in-situ.
The AS 4663: 2013 is a beneficial device for the evaluation of danger for facilities managers and floor protection organizations and may be used as a part of an average risk assessment manner for locations or buildings in public. It may also be used for evaluating floor applications and treatments, together with materials inclusive of polishes, sealers, and etchants that regulate the surface traits of pedestrian surfaces. It offers techniques of measuring the frictional traits of present pedestrian surfaces in moist and dry situations, and it's best used for existing in-situ installations.
The wet pendulum test:
The material used for the test is known as a Portable Skid Resistance Tester used for the check of pendulum done by the Roads Research Council and the United Kingdom Transport. According to the Australian Standards test should be done wet. The tester had a heavy mechanical foot towards the arm’s end pivoting so that the foot is able to swing around in a vertical plane.
In operation, a pendulum arm rotates about a vertical spindle: while launched from a horizontal role, the arm of the pendulum passes through the bottom of its arc inflicting the slider to contact the floor for a set distance of 126-128mm. A Rubber Slider which has a particular hardness as well as a resilience of only either 4S or TRL rubber is geared up by the foot of the pendulum arm. As there is a fixed angle for the slider with respect to the ground energy is absorbed because the 75mm back edge only sweeps across the floor. The value recorded of the energy is called a British Pendulum Number. This energy is measured on a scale with a pointer.
AS 4663: 2013 offers for a revised method for Wet Pendulum checking out in comparison to AS/NZS 4663: 2004, to mirror more accurately, and provide greater discrimination, between a worn or a heel that has been polished and the surface of the pedestrian that is smooth . Replication of the decrease slip resistance due to the contact of smoother surfaces under moist conditions is recommended.
Sliders:
Wet slip resistance checking out can be accomplished using two kinds of rubber substances: Slider 55 (TRL) rubber and the Slider 96 (Four S). The Slider 55 has been historically used for testing outside surfaces consisting of roads and footpaths as well as moist barefoot areas. We know that both of them could be made use of for the purpose of the Wet Pendulum test. But it should be noted that only the Slider 96 rubber is made use of during the Dry Floor Friction Test. The Slider 96 rubber was evolved to update the Slider 55 rubber for testing smoother indoor surfaces, because it offers more discrimination. The two rubbers that are used for the purpose of wet as well as dry slip resistance testing allow a direct assessment to the slip resistance results.
The numbers ‘55’ and ‘96’ are a Shore A hardness’ reference of the rubber compounds used. An increase in the number results in the rubber compound being harder.
Corrections for slope and temperature:
The slope correction the AS 4663: 2013 method and tables and the formulation in HB 198: 2014 of same slope correction are used for sloped regions. The corrected outcomes implemented to the Slip Resistance Value below moist situations, or the suggest coefficient of friction below dry conditions and suggested as the SCV within the outcomes Slip resistance testing carried out on a slope of greater than or equal to 1.5 degree could have a Slope Correction Value applied that depends on the maximum gradient of the area examined.
Wet slip resistance trying out carried out the use of a Slider 55 rubber, at the time of checking may have a Temperature Correction Value in addition depending on the temperature of the air. Testing done with the Slider 96 rubber does not need any correction required. For a Slider 55 rubber, the corrected results are carried out to the Slip Resistance Value and reported as the TCV in results.
Once the testing is done A Slip ‘Test’ is generated and geared up for interpretation. In acquiring an accurate and precise outcome, the scientific evaluation needs to be reproducible inside the allowed margin of error. Other factors are to be noted too.
What is compliance reporting?
A Compliance Report helps in making a defensible, detailed, and clear evaluation. With the help of this report, corrective measures can be taken and the risk of slipping can be eliminated or reduced.
The Report has to mention data of the test, the result stating whether the defined criteria has been met, process behind the interpretation of the results keeping the standards in mind, and the conclusions that have been made with their reasons by an authoritative person.
How are results classified?
Test reports do not provide interpretative information on the system of classification. The AS/NZS 4663: 2004 protocols have been used as the accepted standard inside the slip resistance checking industry. While AS 4663: 2013 details the testing gadget and methodologies, it does not offer interpretative statistics or a type device about what the consequences of the dry and wet testing suggest. However, AS/NZS 4663: 2004 does comprise information that estimates the notional contribution of the ground surface to the incidence of a slip below wet or dry situations.
The difference of the British Pendulum Number classifications in AS/NZS 4663: 2004 and AS/NZS 4586: 20045, is that in place of a single category for BPNs underneath 25, AS 4586:2013 makes use of two classifications of under 12 BPN and 12-24 BPN. This is vital because the more is the discrimination done that incorporating 3µm lapping film, the higher is the sensitivity whilst smoother surfaces’ test.
Steps for controlling risks:
Sometimes it can be difficult to reduce the risk of slipping so for such cases, hierarchy controls could be used. To stay free from risk then implementation of manageable measures can be taken before the setting up of the surfaces.
If it is noticed that an area’s surface always turns wet then control measures should be taken to reduce the risk of an incident occurring. The floor should be maintained in a clean and dry atmosphere with inspections from time-to-time. Immediate actions such as restricting the entry to that area can be done especially if many incidents of slipping have taken place there earlier.
If it has already been set up then measures such as signage, sufficient entry matting, air-lock doors, and cleaning regimes can minimize the risk. The last option would include to grinding, replacing the floor or just treatments over the surface. Usually such risks shall be inspected at the earliest. This can be completed in a number of ways such as elimination, substitution, isolation, etc.
Even if the slip resistance results in a high or low threat you should always have a correct plan for reducing the risk. The testing for risk should be done timely to ensure that the threat stays acknowledged.
Methodology restrictions:
Ideally the slip resistance of surfaces may be highly strong. There is a huge amount of time spent, need for evaluation of the results again and again in case of changes due to any events, etc. Sometimes the performance of many seemingly slip resistant substances could differ with time and the way of its usage.
Building code regulations:
Sometimes the code regulations of the building the floor’s slope, lighting, dimensions of the stairway and handrail, etc. plays a part in the cause of slipping.
Surface degradation:
One of the main reasons for the risk of slipping is the degradation of the floor with time. For avoiding such cases and reducing risks one should make usage of software for slip resistance testing. Regular checking of floors is critical depending on crowd and the location.
Without making sure of how long the floors remain durable, they are put a lot of times. With time some floors deteriorate rapidly due to cleaning or some consequences. If instead of this you want a new floor then make sure to check its durability with respect to the Accelerated Wear Test.
Surface treatments:
Selection of proper surface treatment should be considered as an important factor for slip testing. For this you need to have information regarding the alternatives along with their pros and cons. In the recent times, surface treatments have gained recognition as there is an increase in the need for safer flooring having less risk of slipping. The extended variety of options affords choice for clients.
Final take on slip testing:
The occurrence of someone slipping on the floors that exist cannot be predicted by anyone. If at all there is a slip incident due to fault in the flooring then there could be many problems for the person who is in charge. It is always recommended to stay on the safer side and make sure that the flooring is in accordance with the protocols that have to be followed and take precautions too.