Why is surface roughness of floors important in providing slip resistance?
Research has shown that floor surface roughness (measured in microns or millionths of a metre) gives a reliable indicator of floor slipperiness on most surfaces. The microscopic roughness of the surface is able to break through the film of water or contaminant on the floor so that there is direct foot-to-floor contact. The more viscous (thicker) the likely contaminant then the more floor roughness is needed to penetrate it. See Assessing the slip resistance of flooring [PDF 321kb] for more information on floor roughness values and measurements.
Research has shown that floor surface roughness (measured in microns or millionths of a metre) gives a reliable indicator of floor slipperiness. The microscopic roughness of the surface is able to break through the film of water or contaminant on the floor so that there is direct foot-to-floor contact. The more viscous (thicker) the likely contaminant then the more floor roughness is needed to penetrate it. See Assessing the slip resistance of flooring [PDF 321kb] for more information on floor roughness values and measurements.
