The HSL Ramp Test is a modification to existing DIN ramp tests to account for the common footwear/contaminant combination found in public spaces. Flooring samples are mounted on the ramp tester and a subject clad in 4S (Standard Simulated Shoe Sole) shoes performs a standardised walk up and down the sample. The sample is slowly inclined and the process repeated while clean water is fed onto the surface. The angle at which the subject slips is recorded.

The HSL UKSRG ramp test provides a good indication of the performance of a flooring materials subject to 'normal' footwear and water based contamination. Water based contamination is a very common cause of slip accidents, whether from a badly managed external doorway, cleaning regimes, splashes from sinks/drinks, leaky roofs or condensation. The HSL ramp test can be used to test different contaminants and even different shoe soles.

Results from the HSL UKSRG ramp test avoid the broad classifications of DIN 51130 and DIN 51097 methods. The tangent of the angle of slip is taken in order to convert ramp angle to CoDF. The CoDF is then classified as follows:

Angle of Slip

CoDF

Slip Risk

<22°
<0.4
Unsuitable for foreseeably wet conditions
>=22°
>=0.4
Suitable for use in wet conditions
>=31°
>=0.6
Enhanced slip resistance for use in areas where there is a higher frictional demand

The drawback of this method, and indeed all 'in-house' test methods is that tests are conducted on ex-factory samples. It is often the case that flooring installed and in use for a short period of time will have a different slip resistance to flooring leaving the factory. This is due to factory sealants wearing off, new sealants/polishes being applied, cleaning regimes and contamination. It is for this reason that the pendulum is such a widely used tool as it is the only accurate measure of slip resistance in situ as experienced by pedestrians using the surface.

To conduct HSL UKSRG ramp testing we require a sample of 1m x 0.5m and generally turn samples around in under 10 working days. To commission a test, please contact us.

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The HSL UKSRG ramp test is found to correlate well with the pendulum provided that the 4S soles used on the ramp and 4S slider used on the pendulum are prepared in the same way. This serves to demonstrate the pendulum's capability to effectively model a pedestrian heel slip and furthermore strengthens the HSL UKSRG ramp test as a valuable insight into the slip resistance properties of flooring materials.

Aggressively profiled surfaces such as this metal grating cannot be effectively tested with the pendulum. The HSL UKSRG ramp test provides an alternative accurate and industry recognised method to determine the CoDF of the surface.

 

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