What is a Slip Rating
In Australia, the non-slip rating system for flooring is called the Slip Resistance Classification. It measures how slip-resistant a surface is under various conditions, particularly when wet. Like with any flooring type, it is important to understand when and where polished concrete and terrazzo can be affected by slip ratings. There are two standards that are followed AS 4586 and AS 4663.
AS4663 Standard
AS 4663 is the Australian Standard for "Slip Resistance Measurement of Existing Pedestrian Surfaces." It provides guidelines and methods to assess the slip resistance of surfaces that are existing or already installed.
AS 4586 Standard
This standard outlines the test methods and classifications for slip resistance of new or planned pedestrian surfaces. It includes various tests to simulate real-world conditions, such as walking on wet surfaces, inclines, or areas with contamination.
The main testing proceedures used are:
R-Rating (Ramp Test):
The R-Rating is derived from a ramp test, where a person walks on an inclined surface covered with oil to determine the angle at which they start slipping. This rating is common for commercial and industrial settings where oils or other slippery substances may be present.
Pendulum Test (P-Rating):
The Pendulum Test uses a swinging arm with a rubber slider to simulate a person’s heel striking the floor. This test is performed in both dry and wet conditions. The results are classified from P0 to P5, with P5 being the highest slip resistance.
Tortus Tribometer (Dry floor friction test method):
The test is performed using a device called the Tortus Tribometer. This device moves across the surface being tested and measures the coefficient of friction (COF), which indicates the amount of grip the surface provides.
Results:
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R-Rating - Often used for tiled surfaces, the R-rating (R9 to R13) measures slip resistance on an incline. The higher the number, the more slip-resistant the surface.
- R9 - 6° to 10° incline : Low slip resistance (mostly used for indoor areas).
- R10 - 10° to 19° incline: Moderate slip resistance.
- R11 - 19° to 27° incline: Suitable for areas prone to water spillage.
- R12 - 27° to 35° incline: High slip resistance (e.g., commercial kitchens).
- R13 - More than 35° incline: Very high slip resistance (e.g., swimming pool surrounds).
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P-Rating - The Pendulum Test (P0 to P5) measures slip resistance in both wet and dry conditions.
- P0 - BPN less than 12 : Very low slip resistance (potentially unsafe in wet areas).
- P1 - BPN 12-24: Low slip resistance, not suitable for wet areas.
- P2 - BPN 25-34: Suitable for dry areas or areas with minimal wet exposure.
- P3 - BPN 35-44: Suitable for areas with occasional water, such as bathrooms and corridors.
- P4 - BPN 45-54: Suitable for frequently wet areas like entrances, bathrooms, and kitchens.
- P5 - BPN 55+: Highest slip resistance, suitable for areas like commercial kitchens, swimming pool surrounds, and areas with constant water or grease exposure.
- Dry Floor Friction Test
- >0.4 - moderate to very low risk of slipping when dry
- <0.4 - high to very high risk of slipping when dry
These ratings are critical for compliance with Australian building codes and safety regulations, especially in public or commercial spaces. Slip resistance can vary greatly between dry and wet conditions. A surface that may perform well in dry conditions might not perform the same when wet. Testing under both conditions helps ensure the safety of different environments. Wet testing is particularly important for areas like, pool decks, bathrooms, entrances and lobbies, kitchens, public walkways etc. By understanding what is required in each area and how testing is completed you can better choose what type or finish of polished concrete, terrazzo or epoxy is needed.
There are some common environments that have required ratings. It is important when advising clients on finishes that you understand the requirements of slip testing.
- Bathrooms: P2-P3
- Residential Outdoor Areas: P3-P4 (depending on water exposure)
- Hotels/schools: Wet Areas P3/R10 most other areas P2/R9
- Shopping Centres: P3 for indoor spaces such as foodcourts supermarkets or shop entry areas from outside.
- Commercial Kitchens: P5 or R13 for greasy, wet areas.
- Restaurants and Cafés: P1 - P3 for dining areas depending on several factors, P4-P5 for kitchen areas.
- Swimming pools and sporting facilities: ramps and stairs P5, pool surrounds and change rooms P4
- External Stairs and Ramps: start at P3 or R10 for undercover areas and increase to P5 or R12 depending on the slope of the surface.
Additional Considerations
Surface Material: The material of the surface plays a significant role in its slip resistance. Tiles, concrete, wood, and carpets all have different properties when it comes to wet or dry friction. The types of sealers used will also affect the dry and wet friction.
Maintenance: A surface’s slip resistance can degrade over time due to wear, contamination, or improper cleaning. Regular maintenance is crucial to preserve slip-resistant properties.
Slip resistance testing is vital in ensuring the safety of high-traffic areas, particularly where moisture is prevalent, and it is important you understand what you product can deliver and whether it is appropriate for the needs of the floor.
What polished concrete finish is right for me
This is a loaded question and ever house is different. So we thought we might put together a small list of pro's and con's to the major types..jpg)
First big difference is diamond polished or grind and seal.
- Pro Diamond polished:
- hard to scratch as no topical coating to scratch off
- able to achieve a variety of non-slip levels easily
- eco-friendly greener flooring option
- low lifetime cost
- easy to refurbish
- Con Diamond Polished:
- susceptible to acid etching
- susceptible to staining
- level of exposure and artefacts determined by the concreter who installs
- Pro Grind and Seal:
- often cheaper option
- very good staining resistance
- can achieve "wet look" polished concrete
- Con Grind and Seal:
- topical coating that can scratch
- achieving non-slip requires an additive that can detract from aesthetics or cause floor to wear prematurely
- harder to refurbish
The next major question to answer is the exposure of aggregate level
Burnished concrete/cream polish Class O and A):
- Pro:
- clean seamless finish
- natural looking and easier to colour match between different pours.
- cheapest and fastest diamond polished concrete floor
- Con:
- staining that occurs before polishing can be difficult to impossible to remove
- pattern and finish dictated by the quality of helicopter work when installed
- acid etching can be much more noticeable compared to floors with exposed aggregate.
- can really only be achieved on new builds
- small aggregate and fines can be exposed during the polishing process
- level of finish dictated by levelness of floor
Hit n Miss/partial aggregate exposure (Class B):
- Pro:
- industrial look
- works on most floors (sometimes due to installation majority of aggregate will need to be exposed)
- can sometimes hide artefacts from pouring.
- Con:
- level of exposure dictated by levelness of floor
Full exposure/platinum (Class C/D):
- Pro:
- will always level the floor out
- can grind out high spots and to allow for doors without affecting the look and finish
- terrazzo look to floor
- very high end finish
- Con:
- quality of exposure dictated by installation of concrete
- artefacts such as boot prints and screed marks can be seen.
- Cold joints in pour can be obvious
Diamond Fire & Electrical
We are independant and 100% Australian owned.
All of our expert electrical services are carried out by competent and highly qualified electricians to the very highest of standards.
Diamond Fire & Electrical All of our expert electrical services are carried out by competent and highly qualified electricians to the very highest of standards.
We take health and safety very seriously indeed, and all of our team are licensed and certified for the electrical services that we provide. We have established a solid reputation for outstanding work and top quality products that are supplied at the best value for money prices in the Sydney.
Call David on 0400 293 464 or Anthony on 0406 641 747 Electrical:
- Residential, Commercial, Industrial. We have a solution to all your electrical needs.
- Appliance Testing & Tagging
- Switchboard Upgrades & Installation
- Emergency & Exit Lights
- Thermal Imaging
- Mains Upgrades
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- Underground Cable & Fault Finding
- Data Logging
- Preventative Maintenance
- Pits & Trenches
- Refits & Renovations
- Fire Systems & Testing: Using latest mobility device technology we can provide on call 24/7, our service technicians test, service and maintain your equipment to help ensure it complies with regulations including Australian Standard AS1851. Our expertise and services extend across a range of fire suppression systems and interventions including;
- Risk analysis – survey sites and make recommendations
- Suppression system servicing, maintenance, compliance.
- Maintenance: Power Distribution Lighting Systems
- Energy Management Systems
- Emergency Power & UPS Systems Site
- Parking Lot Lighting
- Security Lighting
- Lighting Control Systems
- Electrical Safety Inspections
- Power Additions
- Maintenance Contracts
- Electrical Drawing & Plans
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- Electrical Troubleshooting
24 Hour Emergency ServicesRoutine maintenance work is extremely important and can reduce the risk of the unexpected. But when the unexpected does happen, you can rest assured that the friendly team at Diamond Fire & Electrical Team will be there for you
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Hot Water |
Service |
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Using the latest mobility device technology we can provide on call 24/7, our service technicians test, service and maintain your equipment to help ensure it complies with regulations including Australian Standard AS1851. |
With such a broad range of equipment available, it can become very difficult to select the right combination to suit your requirements and environment. With our experience in Audio Visual installations you have access to our expertise and the latest audio technology. |
If you want to install a hot water system in a new house, townhouse, apartment or office, or if you’re replacing an inefficient or broken system, We don’t discriminate between types of systems because we know everyone has different needs and different budgets, with our experience we’ll help you select the perfect one to meet your needs & budget. |
Our highly organised and efficient team are reliable and professional, and in the event of an emergency, an electrician will be on their way as soon as possible. |
Our mission
Here at Diamond Fire & Electrical we are about delivering a great experience to customers that achieves great results and a happy customer. We have the reputation for the supply of expert services to our clients all across the Sydney & Western Sydney Areas.
Call us today on 0400 293 464 or 0406 641 747 today for more information on our electrical services.
Different Types of Polished Concrete
There are so many different names givent to polished concrete it can be extremely confusing for example;
hiperfloor, superfloor, pyrafloor, hit n miss, burnished, surface polish, cream polish, salt n pepper, partial exposure, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, just to name a few........
At Diagrind (R) we have tried to simplfy the process and ignore all the fancy names which essentially mean the same thing. American standards (as we are yet to get Australian ones) break polished concrete into several classes
Class O: burnished concrete
Class A: cream polish
Class B: partial exposure
Class C/D: medium to full exposure
Class S (this is unique to Australia: grind and seal (varying levels of aggregate exposure)
There are no fancy names, this can be used by any propriatary polishing system. This way you know that you are getting what you asked for from your contractor. We provide free resources for you to use and give you contractor to descibe the type of polished concrete you want.
All of the forms are here
Concrete and how to get it right as a flooring choice - Undercover Architect Podcast
Diagrind ® was recently interview by the Undercover Architect. This was a great way to help answer all the questions that people often have when it comes to polished concrete. 
