Solutions / Anti-slip retrofit
Improve existing walking routes
Anti-slip route upgrades.
Improve the whole route.
Plan anti-slip upgrades for stairs, decking and supported floors. Match the surface treatment to the conditions, then resolve the substrate, edges and maintenance.
Find the cause before choosing the surface
Look at the conditions.
Look at how people move.
A slip problem may involve water, contamination, cleaning, wear or the way the route is used. Assess those conditions alongside the proposed product so the improvement addresses the actual problem.
Surface & substrate
Record the existing material, condition and any loose or damaged areas. Distinguish a surface problem from a structural defect.
Water & contamination
Identify rain, washdown, leaks, oil, dust or organic build-up. Consider how contamination reaches the route and how it can be controlled.
People & movement
Describe footwear, direction of travel, gradient, frequency of use and mobility needs. Include doors, turns, stairs and transitions.
HSE guidance highlights the role of contamination and effective cleaning in slip prevention. Include cleaning and drainage in the improvement plan, not just the new finish.
Select by application
Choose the treatment
that fits the route.
QuartzGrip products address different parts of an existing walking surface. Select the format alongside the substrate, finished geometry and fixing arrangement.
Stair tread covers
Add a gritted surface across the tread. Coordinate the front edge, rise and going, landing transition and the fit of each cover.
Review tread covers →Stair nosings
Treat the front edge where a nosing is the appropriate scope. Check edge visibility, projection, support and secure fixing.
Review nosings →Decking strips
Introduce gritted contact areas across a timber route. Confirm timber condition, fixing retention and the layout for expected travel.
Review decking strips →Gritted sheets
Cover a supported floor or landing. Coordinate sheet joints, perimeter edges, drainage and doors. The substrate must carry the intended loads.
Review flat sheets →Ramp surfaces
Assess the ramp gradient, transitions and user needs with the proposed finish. A surface treatment does not correct unsuitable ramp geometry.
Review ramp surfaces →Tactile surfaces
Address a defined tactile requirement with the correct pattern and location. Tactile guidance and slip resistance serve different purposes.
Review tactile plates →If the route needs a new spanning floor, assess GRP grating and flooring rather than treating a surface overlay as a structural replacement.
Compare a report, not a description
Ask what was tested.
Keep the conditions attached.
A product described as anti-slip still needs relevant performance information. Review the actual finish and test conditions against the intended route.
| Report detail | Why it belongs in the decision |
|---|---|
| Product & finish | Identify the tested product, surface construction and sample condition. Confirm that the proposed supply matches the evidence. |
| Method | State the method used. BS EN 16165:2021 describes methods for evaluating pedestrian surface slip resistance; results from different methods are not interchangeable. |
| Test conditions | Include dry or wet conditions, relevant contaminants, direction and the specified slider or footwear conditions. |
| Result & acceptance | Read the result with the method and project criteria. Agree whether further assessment is required for the installed route. |
| In-service condition | Consider wear, cleaning, drainage and contamination. A laboratory result does not describe every future condition on site. |
References: HSE — assessing slip resistance · BSI — BS EN 16165. Ask for the applicable product report through the Assurance Centre.
The detail makes the route usable
Secure the surface.
Resolve every transition.
Plan where people walk, turn and enter the treated area. Coordinate the layout with changes in level, drainage and neighbouring surfaces.
Confirm the substrate and fixing method for the application. Include edge support, fastener heads, joints and clearance beneath doors.
Timber
Assess condition and fixing retention. Resolve damaged boards, movement and drainage before agreeing the strip or sheet layout.
Concrete or masonry
Check condition, flatness and the specified fixing or bonding requirements. Do not cover loose or unsound material.
Metal
Review corrosion, support and fixing access. Coordinate preparation and interfaces with the selected product and method.
Prepare the route for the upgrade
Plan the fitting.
Protect the working area.
Use the current product instructions with a site-specific method. Confirm the substrate, weather or curing conditions where relevant, and when the route can be returned to use.
Survey & schedule
Record dimensions, individual stair or panel variations and the edge details. Confirm the required product, colour and finish.
Preparation
Make the substrate suitable for the accepted method. Identify and address defects, contamination or moisture conditions that affect installation.
Fixing & finishing
Follow the specified fixing arrangement and any bonding requirements. Check the finished edges, joints and security of the components.
Release & maintenance
Inspect the completed route and confirm any waiting period before use. Give the receiving team the cleaning and inspection information.
Turn the route into a clear brief.
Show the whole route and the detail.
Include photographs, dimensions, substrate, contaminants, user needs and the cleaning method with your enquiry.
Questions about anti-slip upgrades.
Can the existing floor stay?
It can only support an overlay where its condition and capacity are suitable. Repair or replacement may be needed before surface treatment.
Will gritted strips solve every slip problem?
No. Layout, contamination, drainage, footwear and maintenance remain part of the assessment. Select the product and treatment extent for the route.
Should we choose nosings or full tread covers?
A nosing treats the front edge; a tread cover extends across the tread. Consider the area needing treatment, stair geometry, visibility and fitting detail.
Can we compare two anti-slip ratings directly?
Only when the test method and conditions support that comparison. Review the complete applicable report rather than an isolated number or marketing term.
Does the surface still need cleaning?
Yes. Use a suitable cleaning method and inspect for contamination, damage, wear and loose components.
What information helps with a recommendation?
Send overall and close-up photographs, dimensions, substrate details, typical wet or contaminated conditions and the way the route is used.
Anti-slip retrofit in context
An external stair upgrade at HMS Victory.
Review a retained project-photo record showing the existing tread condition, installation sequence and completed QuartzGrip® surface at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Read the HMS Victory case study →Show us the walking route.
Define the right upgrade.
Share the surface, conditions and dimensions. Ask Vital to help coordinate the product choice, fitting detail and evidence for your application.