Understanding P and R Slip Rating in Epoxy Floor Coating
Epoxy resin flooring stands out from other flooring solutions for numerous reasons when it comes to picking new flooring systems for industrial usage, garage floor coating or any other outdoor surfaces. Epoxy flooring, also known as resinous flooring, is a versatile, long-lasting, environmentally friendly and aesthetic option for any surface. Epoxy flooring is appealing because of its resilience to high levels of wear and tear, making it one of the longest lasting flooring solutions.
Safety of Flooring Solutions
Adults walk 3 to 4 kilometres each day on average, taking approximately 6-8,000 individual steps. That's nearly 2,750,000 individual steps in a year. With that many steps, most adults should be very skilled at walking, yet hundreds of individuals slip, trip, and fall every day, with some suffering serious injuries. People don't plan on slipping or tripping and falling in public. Building owners do not anticipate consumers sliding, stumbling and falling when visiting their establishment. Every fall, trip and slip accident have a tale to tell and there are a lot of similar variables. One of them is the type of flooring solution used and the variable of slip resistance.
What is Slip resistance?
The relative force that prevents the shoe or foot from sliding over the pathway surface is known as slip resistance. Slip resistance is determined by several elements, including the surface of the pathway, the bottom of the footwear and the presence of foreign objects between them. In this article, we will talk about the slip resistance rating of epoxy floors.
What is the P rating in epoxy floor coating?
When the flooring is moist, the P3 grade implies a moderate danger of sliding. This slip rating indicates that the product may be used on stairs without adding additional traction. P2 is the industry standard and signifies a high danger of sliding on damp flooring. A Pendulum Friction Tester and a rubber slider are used in the Wet Pendulum Test. The rubber slider material of the revised Standard has been changed to better simulate a worn and polished heel. This means that achieving greater levels of slip resistance in the test is more difficult than in prior editions of the Standard.
What is the R rating in epoxy floor coating?
So, what precisely is an 'R Rating' on the floor? Architects, floor specifiers, builders and you may use the R9 to R13 Rating for Shod Feet (and an ABC Rating for Bare Feet) to measure the slip resistance of a surface before purchasing flooring. These R ratings refer to the non portable DIN Standard* Floor RAMP Test (the 'R' in Ramp Test). The Ramp Test involves attaching a certain floor type to a ramp and applying oil (For Shod Feet) to the ramp. The ramp is then elevated and the human test subject goes backwards and forward in little increments until they slide on the floor while wearing boots.
How Important is P and R rating in Epoxy Floor Coating?
Standards Australia HB 197:1999 provides guidance for these, which has been recommended since 1999. A variable angle ramp walking test is used to rate the slip resistance of flooring, which ranges from R9 (low slip resistance) to R13 (high slip resistance). When determining the degree of slip resistance required, there is a trade off to be made. Cleaning your epoxy floor system becomes more difficult as it becomes more slip resistant, yet your floor is not slippery. Your floor becomes easier to clean as the slip resistance is reduced. For some applications, a less aggressive slip resistance with a higher emphasis on cleanability is required. The more aggressive the floor's slide resistance, the more difficult it is to clean. This is due to the bigger and more angular aggregate that is disseminated onto the coating of an aggressive slip resistant component. The more angular the floor surface's profile, the more difficult it is to clean. When a more extreme slide resistance, such as R12, is required, problems arise cleaning equipment, such as a mop, will be ripped to bits.
In an epoxy floor system, there are three approaches to regulate slip resistance:
# 1 Rate of topcoat coverage
# 2 Aggregate is added to the epoxy resin
# 3 The natural finish of the topcoats
Aggregates, in general, are varied sizes and forms of oxide or silica sand; topcoat finish is the natural floor finish without aggregate, and rate of material coverage is computed by square metre per litre attained during application.
In locations where there is a lot of foot activity, you should choose slip resistant paint. In most cases, floor treatments are performed when the hard surfaces become slick when wet. To provide appropriate slide resistance in both dry and wet conditions, the use of epoxy flooring is highly recommended.
How does Epoxy Flooring Compare to other Flooring Solutions?
Epoxy flooring, particularly epoxy mortar and flake epoxy floors, is meant to minimise sliding and skidding. Most varieties of epoxy flooring are anti slip, as mentioned in the previous section. Epoxy mortar and flake epoxy flooring are the ones that resist slippage the best. If you maintain the floor sufficiently dry, you should be able to walk back and forth without losing your balance or slipping all day. Epoxy flooring is a form of flooring that is commonly used in garages and other outdoor areas. Although many types of epoxy flooring are anti slip, if they are wet with water or oil, it is still possible to slip and fall. You may walk on your epoxy flooring safely any day by strategically installing synthetic mats and runners or purchasing a big containment mat.
Epoxy flooring is less slick and more resistant to skidding than other smooth flooring materials. Epoxy coatings are also available with slip resistant versions, making them an excellent alternative for areas where slips and falls are a concern.
For more infromation, grab your phone now and dial 1300 037 699 for a free consultation with Sydney Epoxy Floors experts.