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How Often Should You Test Floor Slip Resistance?
There’s no single fixed interval that applies to every floor, because testing frequency depends
on footfall, contamination and how much a surface changes over time. As a general principle,
high-risk zones such as entrances, bars, kitchens and poolside areas should be tested at least
annually, with a re-test triggered any time cleaning products, footfall patterns or flooring
change. Low-traffic areas can typically be tested less often.
The short why
A PTV reading only tells you the truth about a floor on the day it was tested. Grip changes
with wear, cleaning residue and weather ingress, so a single test date quickly stops reflecting
reality. Testing frequency needs to match how fast conditions in that specific zone actually
change.
Why a calendar date isn’t the real answer
This is the belief worth challenging directly. Many venues test once, get a passing result, and
treat that certificate as good indefinitely. But floors don’t hold their PTV forever. A surface
that read safely at installation can measure very differently two years later in a busy entrance
or a poolside walkway, often without any visible change.
The more useful question isn’t “when’s our next scheduled test.” It’s “what’s changed since
our last one.” That shift, from a fixed date to a responsive rhythm, is what separates a one-off
compliance exercise from genuine ongoing safety.
What actually drives how often you should test
Using CHIMES as a guide, a few factors determine whether a zone needs frequent testing or
can go longer between checks:
- Contamination: areas exposed to grease, water or food debris regularly, bars, kitchens,
poolside, need more frequent testing than dry corridors - Heel: zones where footwear changes suddenly, bare feet by a pool, wet shoes at
reception, carry higher risk and warrant closer attention - Maintenance: any change in cleaning products or methods should trigger
a re-test, since the wrong regime can quietly lower grip - Environment: areas exposed to weather ingress or transitions between wet and dry
surfaces shift more than stable, sheltered zones
A corridor that sees light, dry footfall and no product changes can reasonably go longer
between tests than a poolside surround that’s wet, busy and cleaned daily.
Why testing more often pays for itself
For a multi-site hospitality operator, the cost of testing is small next to the cost of an incident,
in injury, reputation and potential claims. Slip Safety Services has found that organisations
who move from a single test to an ongoing measurement cycle see a 57%+ average reduction
in slip incidents. That result comes from catching a declining PTV before it becomes a fall,
not from the test itself. Skipping re-tests doesn’t remove the risk. It just delays finding out about it, usually until something goes wrong.
What to do about it
List your highest-risk zones, typically entrances, bars, kitchens and poolside areas, and check
the date of the last PTV reading for each. Any zone tested more than a year ago, or not tested
since a change in cleaning products or footfall patterns, should go to the top of your list for
re-testing.
Next step
If you’re not sure how your venue’s testing frequency compares to what’s actually needed, the
Slip Risk Scorecard is a quick way to see where the gaps are, before committing to a full
assessment.
Related questions
What is a safe PTV (pendulum test value)?
What is the pendulum test and how does it work?
What’s the difference between a slip test and a full slip risk assessment?
Can cleaning products lower a floor’s PTV score?
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