Non Slip 21 Frequently Asked Questions

Does Non Slip 21 work under water?

Yes. Non Slip 21 is perfect for underwater use in swimming pools and baths and has been successfully applied in The Meridian Hotel Group, The Hilton Hotel Group, Great Northern Hotel (McEniff Group) and The Sligo Park Hotel (Lee Group).

How does acid etching compare to Non Slip 21?

The first thing to say is that acids are dangerous to use - not only tofloor surfaces but also to people. Acids by their nature burn - and acid etching is the process of burning into a surface for effect. Often the effect is a rougher surface - the roughness created by the many tiny holes or pores burned into the floor surface. This will create the effect of a rougher and therefore less slippery floor but what the acid has actually done is damage the floor surface irreparably.

Those tiny holes or pores on the floor surface will soon fill up with dirt (walked in by shoes) and very soon despite regular cleaning (and sometimes because of inadequate cleaning) the floor begins to look very dirty, worn and very slippery.

Many organisations that have had their floors acid etched complain that the floor becomes impossible to clean. The gradual build up of dirt then causes the floor to eventually lose its slip resistance. In addition, some inexperienced operators of acid etching can ruin the appearance of the floor - even an expensive floor!

Acid etching is also not suitable for many types of flooring, such as vinyl (VCT), wood and epoxy.

Acid etching also requires the facilities to be closed off for a period of time because of the fumes caused by the etching process.

Non Slip 21 is not an acid or an etching treatment and unlike acids can be used to treat the aforementioned floors as well as natural stone, ceramic, terazzo and concrete.

Read an important guide to the use of acids in etching by the University of Wisconsin at http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/LAB/labHF.html

After the treatment hasbeen applied, do I have to use special cleaning products?

If you have just invested in a specialised anti-slip floor treatment then it makes sense to be careful with the products you use to clean that floor. The use of chemical or bleach-based cleaning products would weaken the anti-slip properties of the floor. We recommend cleaning the treated floor with Science Friction's own uniquely designed cleaning product that removes soiling and grease without leaving a slippery detergent residue. It's a simple replacement product for your current cleaning chemical. No other cleaning products are required.

How long does the Non Slip 21 treatment last?

After the initial professional application, and with a suitable cleaning programme in place, the treatment will last for 5 years. Science Friction can have the floor tested on a quarterly basis to demonstrate to you that the treatment is actually working, and to provide you with an historic record to cover Duty of Care requirements.

Will Non Slip 21 work on surfaces such as honed limestone?

Yes it will. A Pendulum Test result of 44 has been achieved on a honed limestone surface that has been treated with Non Slip 21. We can test representative floor sample pieces in our laboratory (or on site if necessary) to help inform your decisions so you will know how effective Non Slip 21 will be on your floor before a full application.

Will Non Slip 21 damage the floor surface?

No - it will not. Non Slip 21 is water-based, non-toxic and completely invisible when applied. It will not affect the floor specifications nor will it harm anything it comes into contact with, unlike the many dangers associated with toxic acid etching processes.

By how much does the treatment reduce the risk of slipping?

Results will vary depending on the floor type - but an increase of 0.2 or more in "measured dynamic coefficient of friction" is not unusual. So, what does that actually mean? Well, according to the best research available this decreases the risk (or probability) of slipping by a factor of more than 10,000,000.

Do you have any slip prevention tips?

Safety and the prevention of accidents are important. Rather than give you tips or pointers, we would encourage any organisation to download and read the Preventing Slips and Falls at Work, information from the Heath and Safety Executive. Another good source of independent advice and information is the Health and Safety Executive website on slips

If your question has not been covered here - then please ask the Non Slip expert!