There are a number of things to consider when choosing tiles for a floor space - the colour, the shape, the design. But you should also be thinking about slip resistance, depending on the area you’re tiling. For example, a wet room floor will be covered in water, so it is important to use a tile with a good anti-slip rating. To find the right non-slip tile for your project, watch out for the anti-slip tile gradings. These come in two formats, a PTV rating or an R rating.
Here at Walls and Floors, we use PTV ratings - the British Standard way of assessing a tile's slip resistance. PTV, which stands for Pendulum Test Value, measures how slippery a surface is and calculates its slip resistance. This rating is determined using a pendulum, a device designed to simulate the action of a shoe or barefoot on the surface. The resulting PTV score runs from 0 upwards, with a scale indicating slip resistance. This scale is as follows:
For areas like wet rooms where water exposure is frequent, a PTV rating of 36+ ensures an anti-slip surface, making it a reliable choice for safety.
The 'R' stands for 'ramp test'. The Ramp Test is derived from the German Ramp Test, and is a standard European test. It assesses slip resistance by determining the angle at which a person begins to slip while walking on an inclined surface coated with oil.
This 'R' value ranges from R9, which has a small degree of slip resistance, right up to R13, which has the highest slip resistance. This 'R' value shows the degree of slip resistance the tile has.
R13 is the resistance recommended by many professionals for public wet areas such as showers in a changing room and pool surrounds, whereas R9 and R10 values are often used for domestic situations such as bathrooms and kitchens.
orders over £250 ext vat before 2pm
with Free Next Day Delivery
Free Downloadable Brochures and Display Stands