Anti Slip Advice

Anti Slip Advice

Thousands of avoidable accidents happen in the US every single year. Protecting workspaces with non-slip solutions can reduce these risks.
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How do I make slippery steps and ramps safe?

For potentially hazardous areas such as slippery steps and ramps, it is crucial to make sure that you choose a coating with the correct level of slip resistance. For instance, a coating designed to withstand foot traffic would not be as non-slip as a floor paint designed to take heavy traffic such as forklift trucks - there is a big difference. Choosing the right anti-slip paint is essential to minimize the risk of accidents and keep people safe.

Anti Slip Steps - Paints

Safety Coat Plus is ideal for both steps and ramps. It is a two-pack epoxy resin paint that is applied in one thick single coat. The formulation uses pigmented Araldite, which holds the graded anti-slip particles in place - (please ask us for a dry tile sample if you would like to see how tough the surface is). The anti-slip aggregate comes separately and is sprinkled on as soon as the coating has been applied. You can decide just how to slip-resistant you’d like it to be, scattering as much or as little aggregate as needed to achieve the desired effect. After scattering the aggregate, re-roller the wet coating - this distributes the aggregate evenly and binds it into the coating. Safety Coat Plus is extremely tough and will withstand heavy traffic such as forklift trucks. It is used extensively on steps, ramps, or disabled ramps, loading bays, car parks, tail lifts, footbridges, walkways, and entranceways to busy shopping centers. It provides a high level of slip resistance, even in wet or oily conditions, so it is ideal for making slippery floors safe around machinery. This tough epoxy resin coating offers superior chemical resistance and is ideal for bund areas. It also withstands harsh mechanical scrubbing. Safety Coat Plus is available in a fast curing version, Safety Coat Plus Rapid (ready for light traffic in 8 hours at 59°F) or a cold-curing version, Safety Coat Plus Cold Cure (ready for light traffic in 24hrs at 50°F).

TIP - If applying Safety Coat Plus to a rusty surface, remove as much of the rust as possible by using a wire brush and then treat the rust with Watco Prime base, once treated you can go ahead and paint it.

TIP - Once mixed, do not leave any of the Safety Coat Plus in the tin, always decant it into a roller tray, otherwise it will become unusable within a very short time.

TIP - Apply Safety Coat Plus with a medium pile sheepskin roller not foam.

Anti Slip Steps - FRP

For difficult to coat areas where you just can’t wait for a coating to dry before putting it back into use, or for application in wet or very cold areas where using a coating is impractical, Fiberglass Step® Covers would be perfect. Fiberglass Step® Covers are made of non-slip FRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) and are exceptionally strong making them ideal for use in heavy wear areas that are in constant use such as entranceways to hospitals, shopping centers, and multi-story car parks. They are roughly 4mm thick and do not warp, swell or stretch even when subject to direct sunlight and offer exceptional slip resistance. They are also ideal for steps that are too crumbly or damaged to be prepared properly for a paint coating. For dirty or oily areas that are hard to clean, just screw-fix them into place using countersunk screws (we supply them) - they can be trafficked immediately, or, providing the floor is clean and dry simply stick them down using Watco Adhesive Mastic. Fiberglass Step® Covers are virtually indestructible and more or less maintenance free so once they have been put down you can just forget about them!

If it’s just the edge of steps that need protecting rather than the whole step itself, then I would recommend Safety Edge FRP. Safety Edge FRP is just as slip-resistant and strong as the Fiberglass Step® Covers and is chamfered at the back which reduces any potential trip hazard. We have two different versions available, one for inside and one for outside; the only difference is the size of the grit (although the internal version can still be used outside if preferred).

For slippery areas such as jetties, pontoons, marine slipways, and bridges, Heavy-Duty FRP Plate would be perfect. They will resist extreme temperatures and will not rot or warp. These plates offer excellent slip resistance and, like the Safety Edge FRP, they have a chamfered back. Heavy Duty FRP Plate are extremely durable.

For smooth surfaces where the strength of GRP is not as critical, but you would still like a durable non-slip finish that will withstand medium traffic, we would recommend QuickGrip Stair Covers or Safety Tape. Both have a non-slip finish and the tapes are available in three different anti-slip grades - standard, coarse and extra coarse. For profiled metal such as chequer plate, use Slip Free Treads or Safety Tape. They both have a flexible aluminum backing which fits snugly around a textured surface and with a rubber mallet you simply tap it into place. If a smarter finish is preferable, use QuickGrip Stair Covers. These are made from aluminum, have a slip resistant surface and are pre-drilled, ready for screw fixing into place.

TIP - Fiberglass Step® Covers come in different colors, different sizes and different depths. We can cut them to size at no extra cost to save you time and trouble, but you can cut them yourself if preferred, all you need is a hacksaw (although a jigsaw or circular saw would probably be easier for this).

TIP - Both Safety Edge FRP and Fiberglass Step® Covers can be applied to an uneven floor such as chequer plate - all you need to do is apply a thick layer of Mastic Adhesive to bed them down to help prevent ‘rocking’.

TIP - Matching Anti-Slip Fiberglass Sheets are available.

TIP - Always use the Safety Tape Edge Sealer if using it outside or even inside where it may get wet or damp. For dusty or porous surfaces use Safety Tape Primer as this helps stabilize the floor prior to applying the Safety Tape or the Heavy Duty FRP Plate.

See how simple it is to create anti-slip steps using FRP by watching our Youtube videos, here.