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Exploring Pendulum Slip Tests for Accurate Floor Safety Assessment

The Pendulum Slip Test is a well-researched and widely accepted floor slip testing method, particularly in the UK. It is the preferred method of both the Health and Safety Executive and UK Slip Resistance Group and provides accurate, reliable results to give you an insight into a floor’s traction and its ability to resist slipping.

It simulates the action of a pedestrian’s shod foot slipping by swinging an imitation heel clad in standard shoe sole simulating rubber over the surface being tested, and produces wet pendulum slip tests values, known as PTVs. The result is a figure that is the average of several tests, and can be interpreted as a pedestrian slip probability (Slip Hazard Rating) on the surface. The test is portable and therefore can be performed in situ to provide in-situ results, and can also be used for testing surfaces contaminated with water to reflect actual workplace conditions.

When the pendulum is dropped it will stop and bounce back on its fulcrum, generating a dynamic measurement of the surface’s frictional properties that is influenced by both the coefficient of friction and surface micro-roughness. The pendulum slip tester is a robust, repeatable and highly sensitive test that is capable of measuring small variations in surface texture, providing valuable data that is difficult to obtain with other methods of floor friction testing.

The pendulum slip test has been used extensively in the UK and internationally, with good correlation with human traction. It is backed up by the precision statement in ASTM E303-93 and was recently upgraded to 2022 with improvements that make it more useful than ever. It is possible to use the same pendulum slip resistance tester for both pedestrian and road skid testing by using either the harder Four S rubber or softer TRL/TRRL rubber for each type of test.

A wet PTV resulting from the pendulum test is a good indicator of how likely a floor will be to prevent a slip incident, and should be used as a guide when specifying flooring. PTVs can also be used to investigate accidents and incidents and to evaluate cleaning regimes. They are also a vital piece of evidence in personal injury claims.

A combination of wet pendulum testing and Rz Surface Roughness testing is recommended as the most comprehensive way to measure a surface’s traction under real working conditions. This will provide a more complete picture of a floor’s performance and how it will behave in use, and the effect of local contaminants on grip. All of Sliptech’s wet pendulum testers are operated to BS 7976, which will shortly be superseded by the new UKSRG guidelines, and all equipment carries UKAS accreditation. We look forward to discussing your requirements and helping you with your floor slip resistance testing. Contact us now for more information or to arrange your tests.

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