Ceramic Tile Slip Resistance Rating

The tile industry uses ansi a137 1 section 9 6 also called the acutesttm.

Ceramic tile slip resistance rating.

The tile is awarded an r rating between 9 and 13 inclusive with the higher rating indicative of higher resistance. The r stands for ramp test with the subsequent number indicating it s anti slip grade 13 being strong 9 being slight. A value of at least 42 is standard for interior floor tile. The following ratings have been developed to indicate the level of wear resistance you can expect from your chosen porcelain tiles.

However there is no indication other flooring such as granite vinyl marble or wood should have any different slip resistance requirement from that of ceramic tile. Improper maintenance and improper maintenance products can result in a build up on the surface of the tile causing the tile to be slippery. As mentioned not all floor tiles have slip ratings although the ones that don t will be graded to a specific minimum standard regardless but those designated as anti slip floor tiles will be assigned what is known as an r value. The r13 rating is the highest slip resistance rating for anti slip floor tiles.

Simply put we do not change our shoes when we step from tile onto marble so many in the industry assume the same test and safety standard applies to all types of indoor. R13 non slip tiles. Not all tiles will have a slip ratings but tiles that have been designed to provide grip often will. Stepwise has a dcof of at least 60 well above the standard.

It does not measure the fracture strength of the entire tile nor does it offer any rating of the slip resistance of the tile. It should be noted that the pei rating involves testing of only the surface wear layer of a tile s enamel glazing. There is a table at the bottom of this article showing possible suggested applications for tiles in each rating. With its combination of superior slip resistance and exceptional cleanability stepwise is the ideal solution for commercial kitchens pool surfaces bathrooms and more.

The pei categorization primarily defines the hardness and durability of the various ceramic products that are tested. Wear ratings help you determine what tiles are a good match with different levels of foot traffic. The rating agency the tile council of north america states that according to the ansi a137 1 2012 standard ceramic tiles selected for level interior spaces expected to be walked upon when wet must have a minimum wet dcof acutest value of 0 42 numbers can be deceptive as some tile manufacturers still publish older ratings. These values span a scale from r9 minimum standard right through to r13 the highest slip resistance.

Note that the lowest score possible is 9.