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If your sports hall floor feels slippery, or you simply cannot prove that it is not, a pendulum slip test answers the question properly. Courtship Flooring carries out slip resistance testing for indoor sports floors across the UK, using the pendulum method set out in BS 7976-2, the test recognised by the HSE and relied on by insurers, courts and governing bodies.
The visit is quick and the output is what matters: a written report recording the Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of your floor across multiple positions, in wet and dry conditions where appropriate. A PTV of 36 or above indicates low slip potential; anything below that and the report tells you why, and what will fix it, whether that is a deep clean, a reseal or a change of cleaning regime. Because we are floor specialists first and testers second, the advice that follows the number is worth as much as the number itself.
We test floors we did not install, floors we maintain and floors we have just refurbished, and we can fold a slip test into any maintenance visit. Family-run since 1987, nothing subcontracted.
Slips and trips are among the most common causes of injury in UK workplaces, and a sports floor has to strike a careful balance: enough grip for players to stop and turn safely, but not so much that it catches a shoe. A pendulum slip test measures where your floor sits on that scale, so decisions about cleaning, recoating or resurfacing are based on evidence instead of guesswork.
No law requires a slip test as such, but workplace floors must not be so slippery that they put people at risk, and operators owe everyone using the hall a duty of care. The HSE prefers the pendulum test for assessing slip potential because it is portable and measures the floor in the conditions where accidents happen. A dated report is the clearest way to show the risk has been assessed.
A test also helps with:
A slip test is only as good as the way it is carried out, so ours are methodical. We test the busiest zones of the floor, entrances and any areas you have concerns about, in the conditions that actually cause accidents. Court surfaces, painted line markings and thresholds can each behave differently underfoot, which is why we measure them separately rather than quoting one number for the whole hall.
You can read exactly how a slip test is carried out on our blog, and our guide to BS 7976-2 explains the science behind the swinging arm.
The Pendulum Slip Resistance Test apparatus consists of a swinging arm, or pendulum, fitted with a rubber slider. The testing process starts with preparing the surface by cleaning and drying it, or by wetting it to simulate real-world conditions, depending on the intended usage of the flooring. The pendulum device is then positioned over the surface to ensure that the rubber slider contacts the floor during the swing. The rubber slider, made from a standardised rubber material such as Four S or TRL rubber, is adjusted to strike the surface at a precise angle and pressure. As the pendulum swings across the surface, the resistance encountered slows it down, and this deceleration is recorded as the Pendulum Test Value (PTV). A PTV below 25 indicates a high slip potential, values between 25 and 35 suggest moderate slip potential, while a PTV above 36 represents low slip potential, signifying a safer surface.
The report is written to sit in your risk assessment file and make sense to someone who was not there on the day. For each area tested it records:
Each PTV is the median of a set of swings taken after conditioning swings, so one odd reading does not skew the result. Court surfaces, painted lines and entrance zones are reported separately because they rarely behave the same.
Several factors can influence the outcome of a Pendulum Slip Resistance Test, and these must be carefully managed to ensure reliable results. The condition of the surface, whether dry, wet, or contaminated with substances like oil, grease, or dirt, can significantly impact the slip resistance results. Testing surfaces in conditions that replicate their intended real-world usage is a common practice. The type of rubber used for the slider also plays a role, with Four S rubber (Slider 96) used to represent shod feet and the softer TRL rubber (Slider 55) used for barefoot areas such as changing rooms and pool surrounds. The location of the test is important, as multiple testing points across the floor help account for variations, especially where there are differences in surface texture or treatments. Temperature and humidity are also factors to consider, as they may affect the properties of both the rubber slider and the floor surface, so tests that are compared over time should be carried out under consistent conditions.
A sports floor has two slip questions to answer, and they are measured differently. The first is pedestrian safety: can people walk across the hall, come in from outside or cross a wet patch without slipping? That is what the pendulum test to BS 7976-2 and the UK Slip Resistance Group guidance address, reported as a Pendulum Test Value, where 36 and above means low slip potential.
The second is playing grip. Sports surface standards such as BS EN 14904 also use a pendulum, but under their own test conditions and on a different scale, looking for a result inside a band (80 to 110 on that scale). The band has an upper limit as well as a lower one, because too much grip catches shoes and loads ankles and knees when players turn.
The two figures are not interchangeable, so a PTV cannot be read against the sports surface band, or the other way round. Our reports say which question each result answers. Where a hall is used for play and for general access, such as exams, assemblies or events, we test with that mix of use in mind.
Facilities managers are often shown slip figures from several different tests, and they do not mean the same thing. The pendulum is the method HSE has adopted as its standard test for assessing floor slipperiness in dry and contaminated conditions. Because it is portable, it measures the floor as it is today, in the hall, with its current finish and whatever residue the cleaning has left.
Ramp ratings, such as R9 to R13 under DIN 51130, come from laboratory tests on new samples of a product. They help when comparing products at specification stage, but HSE has reservations about how they are applied: the test uses heavily cleated boots and motor oil, and a single rating such as R10 covers a wide range of slipperiness. A ramp rating also says nothing about how an installed floor performs after years of wear and cleaning. Our guide to slip resistance ratings R9 to R13 explains them in more detail.
Surface roughness readings can supplement a pendulum test, and some trolley devices are useful for showing a change from dry to wet. For a sports floor in daily use, though, a pendulum test carried out by a trained operator is the measurement to rely on.
Schools need evidence that PE spaces are safe for pupils. Leisure centres need documentation their insurers will accept. Clubs need to know a shiny floor is not a dangerous one. The duty of care is the same everywhere: a floor that looks fine can still test poorly, and the only way to know is to measure. Our piece on health and safety testing in sports facilities covers what facilities managers are expected to have on file.
Many of our clients now book an annual slip test alongside their deep clean, which keeps the paperwork current for a minimal extra cost.
There is no fixed legal interval, so frequency should follow risk. As a guide, we recommend testing:
Comparing each result with the baseline shows whether grip is drifting before it becomes a problem, which is far easier to act on than a single number taken after an accident.
The cost of a slip test depends mostly on how much of the building needs measuring and how far we travel. A single sports hall with an entrance zone is a straightforward visit; a leisure centre with several halls, studios and changing areas, or a trust with sites in different towns, takes longer. The main factors are:
Combining a slip test with a deep clean or a quotation visit is the simplest way to keep the cost down, and testing several sites in one trip helps academy trusts and leisure operators with estates in the same region. Tell us which areas you need covered and we will confirm the fee before booking.
We test sports floors nationwide, from our home patch in Somerset and Bristol to Southampton, Portsmouth and beyond, and we often pair a test with a quotation visit so one trip does two jobs. The fee is fixed and confirmed before we travel, the report lands shortly after the visit, and if the floor fails, you will get honest, costed options for putting it right rather than a sales pitch.
Not as a specific requirement. The law requires workplace floors to be safe and not so slippery that they put people at risk, and operators owe users a duty of care. A pendulum slip test is the HSE’s preferred way of assessing slip potential, so a current report is the clearest evidence that the risk has been assessed.
Slip resistance testing is a process used to measure the frictional properties of a floor surface to assess the likelihood of slipping. It evaluates how a surface interacts with a person’s footwear or bare feet under different conditions, such as dry, wet, or contaminated, and provides a quantitative measure of the surface’s safety.
Slips are one of the most common causes of injury, and a sports floor’s grip changes over time as lacquer wears and cleaning residue builds up. Testing shows whether the floor is still safe for players and everyone else using the hall, guides cleaning and maintenance decisions, and gives you dated evidence for risk assessments and insurers.
The Pendulum Slip Resistance Test is a widely accepted method for measuring slip resistance. It uses a swinging arm (pendulum) with a rubber slider attached, which simulates the action of a shoe heel striking the floor. As the pendulum swings across the surface, the resistance encountered is measured and recorded as the Pendulum Test Value (PTV). This value indicates the slip resistance of the surface, with higher values representing greater slip resistance.
In the UK, slip resistance testing is commonly carried out according to British Standards (BS 7976: Parts 1-3, 2002) using the Pendulum Slip Resistance Test. A Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of 36 or higher is considered to represent a low slip potential, while values between 25 and 35 indicate moderate slip potential. A PTV below 25 is classified as a high slip potential, meaning the surface may pose a significant slip risk.
Several factors can influence the results of slip resistance tests, including the surface condition (dry, wet, or contaminated), the type of rubber slider used (Four S or TRL rubber), the angle of the surface, and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Testing in various locations on the floor can also reveal differences in slip resistance across different sections.
The Pendulum Slip Resistance Test is performed by positioning the pendulum device over the floor surface. The rubber slider attached to the pendulum swings across the surface, simulating a heel strike. The resistance encountered by the slider causes the pendulum to slow down, and this deceleration is recorded as the Pendulum Test Value (PTV). The test can be conducted on both dry and wet surfaces to assess the slip resistance under different conditions.
Yes. Wet testing shows how the floor behaves where water is likely: entrances in wet weather, routes from changing rooms, near drinking fountains and after spills. The report records the conditions for every reading, so wet and dry results are never confused.
At least once a year as part of your risk assessment, plus at handover of a new or refurbished floor, after a change of cleaning product or lacquer, and after any slip incident. The section above sets out when a test is most useful.
Usually, yes. On a sports floor the fix is most often a deep clean to remove residue and a change of cleaning product, or a screen and recoat where the lacquer has worn through. Mats and anti-slip tapes are not suitable on a playing surface, so the answer lies in the finish and the cleaning regime, and a retest confirms the improvement.
A low Pendulum Test Value (PTV), typically below 25, indicates a high slip potential. This means that the surface may be prone to slipping, especially under wet or contaminated conditions. In such cases, additional measures may be necessary to improve the slip resistance of the floor or to restrict access to areas where there is a higher risk.
By conducting slip resistance testing, property owners and businesses can identify areas of high slip risk and take appropriate action to mitigate hazards. This proactive approach not only ensures compliance with safety standards but also helps to reduce the likelihood of accidents and liability claims arising from slip-related incidents
Find the cause first. Residue, grit, worn lacquer and unsuitable line paint are the usual causes on sports floors, and each has a different fix, from a deep clean to a recoat or relining. Replacing the floor is rarely needed. We retest after the work so your records show the problem was found and resolved.
Testing should be carried out by a trained operator following UK Slip Resistance Group guidance, because poor technique gives misleading results. Our testers are sports floor specialists, so the report also explains what to do about the result.
For pedestrian safety, a Pendulum Test Value of 36 or more, measured to BS 7976-2 with the standard slider, indicates low slip potential. Playing grip is a separate measure under sports surface standards such as BS EN 14904, which look for a result within a band, so a court may need checking against both.
Yes. Squash courts and dance studios have their own grip needs, and barefoot areas are tested with the softer slider used for barefoot conditions. Tell us how each space is used and we will test it accordingly. Our squash court flooring and dance studio flooring pages cover the floors themselves.
Only the area being measured needs to be clear while it is tested, so testing can usually be arranged before sessions start or between bookings. Wet testing leaves the tested area damp for a short time, so it is best done where that part of the hall is not needed straight away.
A low result is rarely a reason to replace a floor. On sports floors the cause is usually one of four things: residue from the wrong cleaner or the wrong dilution, dust and grit from outdoor shoes, a lacquer worn through in the traffic lanes, or a finish that was never suited to sport.
Residue is cleared with a proper deep clean and a change to the daily regime, which our sports hall floor maintenance service covers. A worn finish needs a screen and recoat or a full sand and seal, and painted lines that test low can be renewed with a proper sports line paint. We retest afterwards so your file shows the problem was found and fixed. Squash courts have their own requirements; see squash court refinishing. We test across all the areas we cover.
Get in touch with our team for a slip resistance test to be carried out in your premises.