Our Most Advanced Anti-Slip Surface Ever
Tested to over a million footfalls
We are continually evolving our innovative product range to ensure that our customers experience unrivalled performance from their composite materials, but with our d2 product range, we’ve really hit on something special.
We re-engineered our Dura Platform, Dura Grating, Dura Slab Trench Cover, Stair Treads and Dura Tread products to deliver our best ever anti-slip surface. The high specification composition which is unique to Dura Composites has been rigorously tested (in accordance with BS 7976-2:2002+A1:2013) and achieves the ultra-low slip potential in both wet and dry conditions that you’ve come to expect from us.
However, this time we also went above and beyond the standard testing procedure used by others. We invested further to ensure that our test conditions simulated the effects of more than 3 months’ worth of pendulum testing, to accurately assess the long-term performance and durability of Dura Composites’ products.
None of our competitors have had the confidence to submit their products for such rigorous anti-slip testing. As a result of our investment, our customers now have the knowledge that the low slip potential of the Dura Composites anti-slip surface is proven to reduce by a mere 5% after an incredible 1.1 million footfalls, making it the only serious contender for heavy-duty flooring in today’s demanding marketplace.
Why is mitigating the risk of slips and trips so important?
Every year around 10,000 people suffer a major slip or trip injury whilst at work. On average 90% of these result in broken bones, and in fact, slips and trips account for a third of all major injuries. Aside from the incalculable cost to the individual from effects such as lost income, pain suffered and reduced quality of life, the Health and Safety Executive reports that slips, trips and falls cost employers over £500m per year.
By selecting the right floor at the initial design stage or during refurbishment, it is however possible to minimise the risk of slips. Poor choices can be costly, can increase the risk of accidents and make changes difficult to manage later.
Once you have narrowed your choices based on the criteria to the right, the crucial way to lessen the risk of injury and resulting legal action is to ensure that your chosen flooring has undergone stringent slip testing in accordance with British Standards.
The most widely accepted method of measuring slip (and which Dura Composites has invested heavily in testing across its Dura Platform, Dura Grating, Dura Slab and Dura Tread GRP flooring ranges) is the Pendulum Test.
When choosing a flooring material for your project, you will need to consider:
- where the floor will be fitted;
- the type of work taking place on it;
- the amount of pedestrian usage;
- the type and amount of contamination or spillages likely to end up on it;
- your available budget;
- how durable the flooring needs to be in conjunction with the lifecycle of the building or project;
- the environmental sustainability of the material;
- what your load-bearing requirements are.
What exactly is the Pendulum Test?
In scientific terms, the Pendulum test measures dynamic coefficient of friction (CoF). In layman’s terms, this means that it assesses the friction offered by a floor surface when a foot comes into contact with it.
The pendulum slip test is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive as a reliable and robust test providing accurate analysis on the slip potential of all types of flooring and is the subject of a British Standard, BS 7976- 2:2002+A1:2013.
Ensuring that the products you use for your flooring projects have passed the pendulum test is a great way to prove to authorities, insurance companies and lawyers that you have provided a safe floor environment, and can be used for your protection should you be taken to court; or indeed to prevent claims from the outset.
Read on to discover what the test results from the pendulum test actually mean and how you should incorporate them into your project considerations.
What do the PTV numbers actually mean?
In the simplest of terms, the higher the PTV the better. The PTV equates to an approximate accident risk and is based on the basic condition of a reasonably active pedestrian aged between 18-60 years, walking in a straight line at moderate pace, not turning, carrying, pushing or pulling a load.
The required PTV for the GRP flooring for your project should be determined by the intended end use of the floor surface. Higher PTVs may be required if walking on a non-level surface, or an otherwise higher risk surface such as stairs.
A marina pontoon for example is intended to be wet and therefore should definitely achieve a PTV of more than 36 in both dry and wet conditions; whereas a mezzanine factory floor which is away from any potential spillages may only ever be dry – and therefore the wet PTV may be less relevant.
Testing in accordance with the standard generates a pendulum test value (known as a PTV), also sometimes known as a slip resistance value (SRV). This PTV falls into one of three categories:
For pedestrians walking in a straight line on a level surface, a PTV of 24 or lower equates to a high slip potential. 25 to 35 is a moderate slip potential, while 36 or more means low potential. All of Dura Composites’ flooring products achieve low slip potential and are tested to an incredible 1.1 million footfalls.
Making an informed decision: What data to ask for
If you’re responsible for the safety of others in your buildings and premises, then your risk assessment should consider all the factors which contribute to the potential for slip accidents, so you can make an informed decision about the best flooring material for your specific needs.
HSE data shows that over 90% of slips occur when the floor is wet with water or contaminated with food product, so don’t be swayed by suppliers who choose only to present customers with their “dry” results. Your flooring supplier should be able to provide documented evidence of its slip resistance testing, in all travelling directions and in both wet and dry conditions. As well as our extensive slip resistance testing, our live load testing data is available within our searchable Online Product Selector database to help you make decisions based on real data to ensure maximum safety for your project.
- A PTV of 20 indicates a 1 in 2 probability of a slip
- A PTV of 24 indicates a 1 in 20 probability of a slip
- A PTV of 27 indicates a 1 in 200 probability of a slip
- A PTV of 36 indicates a 1 in 1 million probability of a slip
As an example of just how well our surface performs, under recent testing, Dura Composites new d2 Dura Grating achieved an incredible score of 62 in the wet, (against the low slip threshold of just 36), making it ideal for almost all flooring conditions. If you’d like help and support with your flooring project, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
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