+39 379 141 7926 Lun-Ven 09-18
+39 379 141 7926 Lun-Ven 09-18
One of the peculiarities of the tiles and specific characteristic, to which almost no layman pays attention is the slipperiness coefficient, especially in outdoor flooring.
Many brands such as Marazzi, Dom, Emilceramica, Flaviker, Panaria, Pastorelli and ABK, produce tiles that can overcome this problem, which is not insignificant.
For the Italian regulation, the valid method for measuring the slipperiness of porcelain stoneware flooring, for example, is the BCRA. A friction test, chosen by the Italian legislator, of British origin, which gives as a result the value μ, coefficient of friction of tiles laid on the floor. So, we’re talking about tiles already installed. The test can be carried out on the floor already laid and not on the individual tile. The minimum value for a floor to be considered anti-slip is 40.
One of the most recognised tests is the German one, according to DIN 51130, which is legally binding in Germany. Unlike the previous test, this test is carried out in the laboratory, providing an R value, which identifies the friction value, on a scale ranging from 9 to 13, which distinguishes the following classes of surface slipperiness and indications of the areas of use.
Residential:
R9: indicates a normal grip with an inclination plane from 3° to 10°, ideal for entrance areas and stairs with access from outside, shops, clinics, canteens and restaurants, laundromats and places with heavy water.
Discover our R9 non-slip tiles offer
R10: indicates a medium grip with an inclination plane from 10° to 19°, suitable for bathrooms and showers, kitchens of small shops, garages.
Discover our R10 non-slip tiles offer
Commercial:
R11: indicates a high grip with an inclination plane from 19° to 27°, ideal for food production rooms, medium-sized exercise kitchens and work environments with a high presence of water.
Discover our R11 non-slip tiles offer
R12: with a strong grip and a slope of 27° to 35°, suitable for environments producing dairy products, cold cuts or slippery substances, large kitchens of catering facilities and car parks.
Discover our R12 non-slip tiles offer
R13: indicates a very strong grip with more than 35° inclination, for food production environments.
Discover our R13 non-slip tiles offer
More restrictive performances are provided for environments in presence of water, with barefoot tread on the floor, classified in assessment groups A, B, C:
A: medium grip, suitable for changing rooms or barefoot access areas, etc.;
B: high grip, suitable for showers, pool edges, etc.;
C: strong grip, recommended for dipped stairs, sloping pool edges, etc.
There’s no such thing as the best universal anti-slip floor that’s perfect for every kind of environment.
And it is with this distinction that we hope to have made the situation clearer and we want to give you some advice on destination, especially for the environments of your homes, keeping in mind the anti-slip rate of tiles.
When deciding on the floor for a kitchen, consider the intended use. Being the room where you spend the most time and where most activities are taking place such as preparing food, it can happen that food falls on the floor, causing not only possible stains to be removed, but also possible domestic accidents. This is why porcelain stoneware flooring comes to our aid, both for its ease of cleaning and for the possibility to choose the degree of friction. In fact, even a anti-slip rate R10 or R11 with a coefficient of grip A, considered barefoot, being an indoor floor, is suitable for this room.
The bathroom, as we know, turns out to be the one where the most water is used, both for personal needs and for cleaning the sanitary facilities. A place where it becomes very important to take into account the degree of slipperiness of the tiles. An anti-slip rate R10 and a degree of grip A on barefoot would be ideal and would be easy to clean, but also safe.
Unlike the bathroom and kitchen, the bedroom is less prone to slipperiness and friction, so even an R9 A coefficient is sufficient.
Terraces or balconies have also become part of the house, where you can spend time relaxing. For the flooring of this space, it is sufficient to choose a coefficient R10, with a grip rate A.
The outdoor porcelain stoneware flooring has a different thickness from the indoor flooring. It can be in fact 9mm or 20mm, but only the latter can be laid on either sand, grass or gravel. Thickness, together with the degree of slipperiness, is also a relevant factor for the choice. Suitable for outdoor use is the anti-slip tile coefficient R10, R11, R12 or R13, depending on the intended use, space and climatic conditions, which play a key role.
The higher the anti-slip rate, the greater the effort in terms of cleaning, but we all know, safety comes first!
