Anti Slip Paint Guide Ireland

Anti slip paint for increased slip resistance and safer floors

Every workday seven people in Ireland are injured in workplace slip, trips and falls. This is the second highest single cause of workplace injuries and adds up to months of time off. Slips and falls are also responsible for nearly 50% of all claims made against retailers in Ireland. If you are an employer, you have duty of care to provide a safe workplace for your employees, and under Irish law you are liable if you neglect it. Fortunately there is a simple remedy: an anti slip paint or non slip coating is easily applied and effective in preventing slip-caused injuries.

In a country as wet as Ireland, slips and trips are a serious problem, both at home and in the workplace. In this article we will provide you with all the information you need to determine which anti slip paint solution is right for your project, and help you find the non slip product you need. We will also take a look at the slip resistance regulations and testing methods in Ireland.

Defining the most suitable anti slip paint for your project

How you choose your non slip paint depends upon a number of factors. Non slip coatings are numerous, and many are intended for specific substrates or end uses. When choosing your paint therefore, it is paramount that you keep in mind:

• Your substrate type: metal, concrete, wood, plastic, etc.
• The environment: Is there a risk of chemical exposure, abrasion, UV radiation?
• The end use: Will it need to withstand mechanical loads and heavy impacts, or is it for foot traffic? Is it in a setting where health and cleanliness is a concern?

Choose which the 3 types of non slip paint is right for you

Once you know exactly what you need from your coating, you need to understand the demands of each coating type. Anti slip paint comes in three different types: as a separate paint and non slip additive which need to be combined, a premixed coating, and as a nano coating.

1. Nanoparticle based anti slip coating

Substrates: All.

An anti slip coating based on nanotechnology uses the numerous benefits of nano coatings and adds one more by making them non slip, too. A relatively new process, the anti slip paint with nanotechnology provides a textured surface on a scale so small it is virtually unnoticeable, but which actually becomes even more non slip when it is wet. These coatings are also durable, waterproof, abrasion resistant, long-lasting, low-maintenance, and non-toxic.

Uses: Applications which require a clear, glossy finish and very thin coating profile. Nano non slip coatings can be used for interior and exterior applications including entryways and ramps, in food preparation areas, in wet-prone areas like spas, swimming pools, and leisure centres – it also works as a anti slip coating for tiles.

2. Anti slip paint (premixed)

Substrates: There are specific products for specific substrates; this option is suitable for all substrates, but you need to choose the appropriate coating. For a breakdown of anti slip coatings by substrate, visit our anti slip pages for concrete, wood, and metal.

The simplest of the non slip coatings, these products come with aggregate pre-mixed, either as a two- or single-component rubberised paint systems, or create a rough textured surface as the coating dries. These coatings are durable, water and oil resistant, and come in epoxy, polyurethane varieties. They are often divided into categories based on specific need; Offshore (corrosion resistant non slip paint for metal surfaces), Industrial (chemical and abrasion resistant coatings) and Commercial (aesthetically appealing non slip coatings).

Uses: Interior and exterior floors, walkways, decks, patios, mild industrial and commercial environments with up to heavy pedestrian foot traffic and light rubber wheeled cart traffic. Hospitals, kitchens, change rooms, schools, anywhere that requires a non slip floor paint.

3. A coating combined with a non slip additive

Substrates: All, just choose your coating and aggregate pairing carefully.

Anti slip paint with additional grit in parking lots provides more grip for vehicles and pedestrians.

Anti slip properties are given to a coating by adding an aggregate such as sand, glass beads, rubber crumb, and others. The aggregate provides a rough surface which prevents slipping. Aggregate can be mixed through a coating before application, or sprinkled over a still wet first coat. If the second, it should be allowed to dry before having excess aggregate brushed away and a second coat applied on top. The aggregate comes in three grades: fine, medium, and coarse, in order of increasing anti slip strength. Glass beads and synthetic aggregate can be combined with acrylic coatings as well as resin coatings (epoxy, urethane, polyaspartic and polyurea), whereas silica sand, aluminium oxide, coloured quartz and flint silica aggregates can only be used with resin coatings.

Uses: Heavy industrial-use flooring to kitchen floors, aggregate is a flexible material. Aggregate based anti slip is used for industrial flooring with heavy mechanical loads and finer aggregate can be used as a non slip paint for wood in exterior locations.

Testing and standards related to anti slip paint and slip resistance

The Irish Health and Safety Authority clearly outlines the responsibilities of employers and building design. The slip resistance of flooring needs to comply with specific standards and a non slip paint can help achieve the certain level of resistance. In Ireland, the regulations regarding slip resistance of flooring are based on 3 test methods and values derived from those.

1. Pendulum test: measures coefficient of friction on wet and dry surfaces (mimics the way a heel slips on a slippery surface). Results in Pendulum Test Values (PTVs)
2. Slip Alert: produces accurate results on coefficient of friction useful for risk assessment and monitoring surfaces. Results in Slip Alert Test Values (STVs)
3. Ramp tests: according to DIN 51130 results in R-ratings which are comparable with PTVs and STVs. Anti slip paint manufacturers rely on R-rating in describing their products’ slip resistance.

The following table sums up and compares the results derived from the different types of test methods.

Anti slip paint Ireland: specialists and products

Anti slip paint is available from suppliers across Ireland. Below is a table outlining different non slip paint varieties, as well their suitable substrates and prices. If you would like any more information about non slip paint for your project, our experts are here to help. Get in touch through the “Request a quote” button at the bottom of the article and use our 100% free service.

Note that the nano products are usually not available for direct purchase, but are applied by trained contractors. The price of anti slip nano products is also significantly higher than the one of more traditional solutions.. For more information about nano coating, contact us!

Non slip paint specialists in Ireland

Here below you can find some companies that specialise in manufacture, distribution or application of anti slip paints. The applicators can guarantee your floor a slip resistance that conforms to the set regulations as we explain later in this article.