Slip Resistance Requirements

As of the 1st of May 2014, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) introduced amendments to include specific requirements surrounding slip resistance for buildings. These requirements were introduced to help enhance building designs to minimise the risk of slips to and within buildings and extended to ramps, stairways and landings.

Parts of buildings required to comply may be found under Part D2.10, D2.13 and D2.14 of Volume one & Part 3.9.1.4 of Volume Two with slip resistance materials to comply with AS4586 – 2013 (Slip Resistance Classification of new pedestrian surface materials).

BCA SLIP-RESISTANCE CLASSIFICATION

  • Ramp steeper than 1:14 must have P4 or R11 for dry conditions and P5 or R12 for wet conditions

  • Ramp steeper than 1:20 but not steeper than 1:14 must have P3 or R10 for dry conditions and P4 or R11for wet conditions

  • Tread or landing surface must have P3 or R10 for dry conditions and P4 or R11 for wet conditions

  • Nosing or landing edge strip must have P3 for dry conditions and P4 for wet conditions

Where the application of slip resistances occurs outside the BCA i.e. Bathroom floors, these are not actually regulated by the BCA. However, we do recommend that a best practice approach is considered when designing all buildings for accessibility.

For wet areas, including Ambulant and Unisex Sanitary facilities, we recommend adopting a slip resistance not less than that specified in the Standards Australia Handbook – Guide to the Specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces (HB198), which includes bathroom Floors must have P3 using a wet pendulum test and R10 or B oil wet inclined platform test.

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