Slip resistance and slip safety according to DIN 51097 and DIN 51130

Slip resistance for floors and floor coverings are defined according to the industrial standards DIN 51130 and DIN 51097. The industrial standard DIN 51130 is designed for general work areas. The industrial standard DIN 51097 is relevant for barefoot areas such as swimming pools, showers and changing areas.

With DIN 51130, a test is carried out according to the following criteria. The floor covering is placed on a rack for testing and 200ml of a defined motor oil is applied per square metre.

The test person walks over the floor covering with a specified work shoe, while it is slowly lifted. In this way, the tester walks on the floor covering at an increasingly steep angle. The decisive moment is when the tester slips or feels insufficient sure footedness. The angle of inclination reached by the floor covering is measured and the following classes are obtained.

• R 9 Slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of 3° to 10°.
• R 10 Slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of 10° to 19°.
• R 11 Slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of 19° to 27°.
• R 12 Slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of 27° to 35°.
• R 13 Slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of more than 35°.

DIN 51130 is used to classify the anti-slip properties of floor coverings. This ensures that anti-slip flooring as well as workplace matting and anti-fatigue matting meet the necessary requirements in terms of slip resistance.

All anti-slip floor coverings, whether for outdoors or indoors, or for floor surfaces or stairs, should comply with the required class of DIN 51130.

We also offer a wide range of workplace mats and anti-fatigue mats with excellent anti-slip properties. These are summarised in a separate category, anti-slip mats,

The structure for the test according to DIN 51097 is similar to the test according to DIN 51130. The difference is that water is applied to the floor covering, instead of engine oil and that the test person is barefoot.

In this setup, the following safety classes are determined according to DIN 51097:

• A efficient slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of 12° to 18°.
• B efficient slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of 18° to 24°.
• C efficient slip resistance up to an angle of inclination of more than 24°.

Due to the test design of DIN 51097, it is particularly used for the classification of anti-slip mats in the leisure sector and for swimming pool mats.

As you can see, the DIN standards for slip resistance are designed for completely different types of areas. Nevertheless, decision-makers for occupational safety are left in the dark as to which floor covering is suitable for their respective application.

The DIN standards only give an indication, to which products could be required to improve safety. When it comes to durability, resistance to oils, greases and chemicals, installation and cleaning, additional help is needed.

As one of the leading manufacturers of safety mats and anti-fatigue mats and with more than 40 years of experience in the field of floor safety, COBA Europe is your go-to safety expert.

Our team of experts are available to answer your questions and can also arrange site surveys to assess your working environment.