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Top 5 Types Of Slip-Resistant Flooring That You Need Today

The selection of good flooring matters. For real estate developments, public parks, gym and leisure facilities, hotels, playgrounds, and other areas, the perfect flooring contributes to the safety and comfort of people using them. Slipping and tripping are some of the most common causes of injuries in leisure and work environments; uneven, slippery, dirty, loose, damaged, or simply unsuitable flooring can contribute to the incidence and severity of such accidents. Non-slip flooring is a smart choice and can be not only safe but attractive and durable. 

Most floorings are slip-resistant when dry, but add water, dust, or oil, and the risk of accidents increases. People in high-traffic areas are less able to identify the dangers underfoot, and facility owners and municipal councils are increasingly aware of their responsibility to provide the safest, slip-resistant environment possible. 

The key characteristic of slip-resistant flooring is a surface texture that provides traction, whether people are wearing steel-toed boots in an industrial environment or running barefoot through a splash park. But a number of other factors contribute to the longevity and enjoyment of non-slip surfaces.

What to consider when choosing non-slippery flooring 

The perfect slip-resistant flooring typically demands a substantial investment, so you want to ensure your choice meets your requirements for durability, safety, and attractiveness. Flooring sets the tone of an area, not least because it can be used to cover a large amount of space — compromising on flooring can result in disappointment and expensive remediation. Safety regulations may differ from one jurisdiction to another so be sure to check the requirements for your industry or application. To achieve your objectives, consider the following factors:

1.    Texture: The flooring texture should provide traction when people walk on it, but it should also have a surface smooth enough to allow proper cleaning.

2.    Sanitation: Flooring should drain and dry easily, to prevent the build-up of mold and bacteria. The pooling of water in worn areas of flooring, or seams and joints in the flooring which allows water to seep and collect underneath it, both encourage unsanitary conditions that can also contribute to a slippery surface. The slip-resistant flooring choice can be maintained by sweeping, and/or mopping or brushing with surface cleaners.

3.    Durability: The durability of non-slip flooring not only contributes to ease of maintenance but ensures long-term attractiveness and utility of environments over time — delivering a suitable return on your investment. 

4.    Comfort: Ideally, slip-resistant flooring also has a little “give” that contributes to both comfort of standing and walking on the surface and to fall-attenuation should an accident occur. This factor is especially relevant to industries in which employees spend long hours standing, and in leisure applications such as amusement parks, playgrounds, and promenades, where the comfort of surfaces contributes to delight in the environment. 

5.    Temperature: Outdoor surfaces heat up to varying degrees in the sun. This is an especially important consideration in areas designated for children to play in, and for non-slip sport or games surfaces. Children and adults can sustain burns when their skin comes in contact with sun-heated surfaces, and children, being shorter than adults, more intensely experience the heat radiating from playground surfaces, which can cause distress and dehydration.

6.    Visual appeal: Flooring can elevate or degrade the overall atmosphere of an entire area. Operators want people to feel positive and welcome when using their facilities — the color and pattern of flooring should be inviting.

5 popular types of non-slip flooring 

Having appropriate knowledge can help you choose the right slip-resistant flooring for your application. Check the regulations governing your application before creating a shortlist, and preferably test the flooring or experience it somewhere in situ before making a final choice. These are five top types of slip-resistant flooring:

1.    Mats and Tiles 

Anti-slip mats and tiles are often the first choice for industrial and restaurant-kitchen facilities, and can quickly render small areas both comfortable and slip-resistant underfoot. They must be cut to fit the size of an area during installation, to ensure no raised edges protrude to cause tripping and joins must be sealed to maintain clean conditions. Some have beveled edges to reduce the risk of tripping. Made of rubber, PVC, polyurethane, or hard substances such as silicon carbide, these floorings are generally high traction. Many mats and tile materials also help to dampen noise in industrial or high-volume environments. 

2.    Concrete surfacing

This type of non-slip flooring is often used in industrial settings, warehouses, and until recently in outdoor play areas. It is a hard and durable material and should maintain a textured surface to render it non-slip. For Outdoors, it can be colored and patterned to look like tiles or imprinted with timber so that it has a “grain”. For concrete to maintain its durability outdoors, the ground must be properly prepared and may require formwork and steel reinforcement, to ensure the finished surface will be resilient. Any cracks that occur must be quickly repaired to avoid the gathering of moisture and potential widening of the fissure.

3.    Continuous polyolefin flooring

The slip-resistant nature of PolySoft surfaces made up of polyolefin beads in a resilient aliphatic binder comes from the myriad surfaces of the beads themselves. When combined, PolySoft materials can be seamlessly poured over mounds, around fixtures such as benches or playground equipment, and dovetail with other surfaces. It is easily cleaned, chlorine and UV resistant, and available in a vast range of colors — subtle or vivid. Frequently used in children’s playgrounds and splash pads, on public promenades, in hotel amenities, in outdoor areas of real estate developments, and in sporting and leisure facilities, it absorbs less heat from sunlight than most other surfaces including synthetic grass and therefore remains cooler underfoot. Its fall-attenuation properties have been scientifically proven. 

4.    Ceramic tile flooring

Ceramic tiles are available in a vast range of attractive colors and surface textures. They are generally durable and easy to maintain. The texture of grouting or adhesive between the tiles adds to the slip-resistant quality of the surface. Ceramic tiles are often used in wet areas of sports and leisure facilities where hygiene is a prime consideration.

5.    Industrial floor and stair coverings 

This specialized category of flooring finds application in food processing, chemical, and oil-and-gas facilities and on transportation (buses, trains, ferries, and so on). Extremely durable, it can be custom-made to fit specific areas, such as walkways, stairs, platforms, and pathways.

Install the best non-slip flooring 

The quality of flooring also depends on your service provider. The team at Polysoft surfaces brings professional advice honed through hundreds of applications in some of the world’s harshest environments. Its cutting-edge, scientifically formulated, and independently proven products offer premium solutions to any number of surface challenges. Explore the options in the slip-resistant category and talk to PolySoft.