The Pendulum Test
The Pendulum ‘co-efficient of friction test’, also
known as the portable skid resistance tester, is now the preferred
method used by the ‘Health and Safety Executive’ for
the assessment of floor surface friction co-efficients.
 The
principle is simple. The Pendulum test method is based on a swinging
arm at the end of which is mounted a ‘dummy heel’ This
heel is made out of a standardised rubber (FourS – standard
simulated shoe sole), designed to simulate a ‘typical’
heel of average slip resistance striking the floor surface for a
fraction of a second and to assess the slipperiness of the floor.
The Fours rubber is suitable under normal conditions, but for barefoot
conditions the rubber TRRL (a softer compound) may be more suitable.
The slipperiness of the floor has a direct and measurable effect
on the Pendulum value given – known as the slip resistance
value (SRV), pendulum test value (TRV) or British pendulum number.
The slip risk classification based on the pendulum test
values are:
| Pendulum Value |
Slip Risk |
| 0 - 24 |
High |
| 25 - 35 |
Moderate |
| 36 - 64 |
Low |
| 64+ |
Extremely Low |
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) has confirmed the Pendulum
test to be reliable and accurate for purposes of assessing the slipperiness
of floors. It has been adopted by the HSE as their standard test
for this type of measurement in both dry and wet / contaminated
conditions.
The HSE believes this test to be the only one at this stage to
accurately simulate the action of the floor on a wet floor.
The distributors of HANDL Solutions Limited and No Skidding Products
in the UK have the ability to complete a pendulum test and have
been certificated as competent users of this apparatus.
This means that you can have the performance of your floor certified
before and after treatment to ensure it meets the standards laid
down in the slip risk classification above. |
