When choosing tiles there are lots of different things to think about – the material, colour, shape and size just to name a few. Depending on where you are going to be using your tiles, slip resistance is another thing to keep in mind. In most areas of the home a standard tile is fine, however if you are looking for tiles for a wet room, external use or swimming pool surround it’s something you should consider.
There are some important things to note when choosing tiles based on their slip resistance ratings. No tile is slip proof – some commercial tiles have extremely high slip resistant ratings but slips can still occur. Contaminants on either the floor or soles of feet/shoes can cause slip hazards, so it’s important to try and keep these as clean and dry as possible. Hand rails should be installed where necessary, for example on ramps. Grouted joints will add extra slip resistance – mosaic tiles have added grip thanks to the additional grout lines, however we do not recommend glass mosaic tiles for floors.
Our range of external Valverdi Indoor-Out tiles all have a slip resistance rating of R11, so they are perfect for use on terraces, balconies, pathways, patios and swimming pool surrounds. Remember that the higher the slip resistance rating, the rougher the surface of the tile will be – this is why we offer different tiles for internal and external use. Make sure you are protecting the surface of tiles prior to grouting, as grout can dry on the surface of the tile and becomes extremely hard to remove.
The below tables show the ratings we currently use for our tiles – if you are not sure which tiles are suitable for your project please get in touch so we can help.
DIN 51130 Inclined Ramp Test for Shod Feet
During the Inclined Ramp Test a tiled ramp is lubricated and gradually inclined to find the slipping angle of the tile. The subject wears shoes with a standardised rubber sole during the testing.
- R9 is suitable for dry internal domestic floors like kitchens, dining areas, hallways etc.
- R10 is great for internal domestic floors that sometimes get wet, like bathrooms and kitchens.
- R11 is perfect for external areas like patios, walkways, balconies or areas subject to heavy wetting like wet rooms.
Some tiles have an additional rating, where the above test is conducted with bare feet – these tiles will have both an R rating and an A-C rating.
DIN 51097 Inclined Ramp Test for Wet Barefoot Areas
- An A Rating can be used in dry barefoot areas
- A B Rating can be used in pool surrounds and showers
- A C Rating can be used on wet ramps, walk through pools and jacuzzi floors