Tiles with an adequate slip resistance is very important for selected areas of the home such as bathrooms, hallways and wetrooms or for use on an outdoor area. Anti-Slip tiles are often selected to meet the need of the household for example if a person is elderly or has mobility restrictions tiles with slip resistance are often a good choice. Anti-slip tiles are also required for use in commercial settings where wet floors may pose a safety risk.

There are several types of slip resistance tests and rating with details below and the experienced sales team will be able to advise you on the best options for your needs. Tubs & Tiles offer a huge selection of tiles with varying degrees of slip resistance and if a higher slip resistance is required for commercial projects we can source these through our network of manufacturers. Our commercial team can also advise on the technical requirements for any project.

Slip Resistant ‘R’ Rating
‘R’ value indicate the level of slip resistance of a tile. It stands for ‘ramp test’. This ‘R’ value ranges from R9, which has a small degree of slip resistance, up to R13, which is the highest slip resistance.

R9, R10 and R11 Slip Stop are suitable for walkways, halls, conservatories, kitchens and bathrooms. A minimum rating of R10 is required for use in wetrooms but we highly recommend R11 rated tiles.

Standard tiles with slip resistance higher than R10 can make daily cleaning and maintenance more difficult, therefore these are not recommended for typical domestic settings, however R11 Slip Stop Smooth ranges are suitable as they have a smooth finish. R11 is required for outdoor use and may be required in commercial settings or some grant aided domestic projects.

R11 Slip Stop Smooth
When wet the R11 Slip Stop Smooth tile surface combines the high performance of an R11 anti slip tile with a soft, smooth texture which is easy to clean and maintain.

BareFoot
Barefoot classification of floors looks at the slip resistance of tiles tested on an inclined surface with a pre-determined slope angle and classified according to rating groups A, B and C.
Barefoot floors can be classified as “Class A” (suitable for barefoot walkways, mainly dry), “Class B” (suitable for showers, pool surrounds) or “Class C” (suitable for steps into water, walk-through pools).

Class C is the highest anti slip rating

Pendulum Test Value PTV
This test measures dynamic coefficient of friction (CoF) which is designed to replicate a pedestrian heel strike, the point at which most slips occur. It can be used to accurately test the slip potential on clean and dry or contaminated floors. Higher PTV’s may be required if walking on a non-level surface, a surface where pedestrians turn or otherwise higher risk surface, for example stairs, wet areas, swimming pools or sporting areas.

PTV slip probabilities if straight walking on a horizontal surface are
- PTV of 20 indicates a 1 in 2 probability of a slip
- PTV of 24 indicates a 1 in 20 probability of a slip
- PTV of 27 indicates a 1 in 200 probability of a slip
- PTV of 36 indicates a 1 in 1 million probability of a slip

Stepwise technology
The tiles produced using this new technology have a high degree of slip resistance giving you a surface which is soft to the touch and easy to clean since it has no superficial roughness. Stepwise is applied to the body of the tile prior to it being glazed and fired rather than to the surface of the tile, this assists and enhances the final look, surface finish and slip resistant nature of the tile.

Arrange a Consultation

Speak with the experienced team in your local Tubs & Tiles Showroom or contact us on 090 6424000 or info@tubstiles.ie to arrange a design consultation which can be online, over the phone or in person.