Different Tribometers for Slip Resistance Testing

About the Author: Claudius Nan

British Pendulum Slip Tester

BOT-3000E

  • State-of-the-Art Technology: Sets a new benchmark in slip resistance testing. Measures the coefficient of friction (COF) with high precision.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Easy operation for both professionals and beginners.
  • Versatile Application: Suitable for commercial and industrial settings. Adapts to various flooring materials.
  • Compliance and Trust: Meets industry standards for accurate measurements.
  • Advanced Reporting: Allows easy storage, analysis, and reporting of data.
  • Durability: Built to last, ensuring consistent performance.
  • The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code also mentions the BOT-3000E as a preferred method of measuring slip resistance, alongside the British Pendulum.

SlipAlert (iAlert Slip Meter)

  • Slip Resistance Test Method: Proprietary product with a published British standard. Endorsed in the 2024 version of the United Kingdom’s Slip Resistance Group’s “The Assessment of Floor Slip Resistance” and mentioned in the latest European standard BS EN 16165:2021.
  • Validation for Pedestrian Traction: Validated by studies from British and Australian government agencies comparing SlipAlert to the pendulum.
  • Advantages: Smaller, lighter, simpler, more rugged, and less costly than the pendulum.
  • Drawbacks: Requires a long path length. The cart may veer, bounce, or spin, necessitating repeated runs.
  • Use: Suitable where the pendulum is not economical. Rapid monitoring by minimally trained staff and visual demonstrations.

Horizontal Pull-Meter

  • Embodiment of Improvement: The 825A slip meter addresses issues with size, weight, and the large Neolite pad’s adhesion problems. Evolved to adapt to various environments.
  • Standards: Designed to meet ANSI/NFSI B101.1-2009 standards for accurate and reliable slip resistance measurements. This device was created to be able to test with the ASTM C1028 Standard (which has been withdrawn since 2014.)
  • Advanced Technology: Aims to be the top SCOF meter available. Stay at the forefront of slip resistance testing with the advanced 825A SCOF Meter.

Tortus III

  • Slip Resistance Test Method: Proprietary product, endorsed by the Ceramic Tile Institute of America (CTIOA).
  • Validation for Pedestrian Traction: University of Southern California Medical Center study (Tortus II) published in J. Forensic Sci. March 2007.
  • Advantages: Provides printed records, cost-effective for multiple points on a property, and can test short, narrow samples if needed.
  • Drawbacks: May not assess hydroplaning potential for running individuals.
  • Use: Periodic monitoring, both dry and wet, using hard and soft rubber test feet.

English XL (VIT)

  • Origins and Development: Developed in the early 1990s by William English. Designed to measure pedestrian slip resistance.
  • Small and Portable: Compact and easy to transport. Powered by a gas burst instead of gravity.
  • Variable Incidence Tribometer (VIT): Applies force to the flooring surface to recreate the force of a human foot. Test foot cylinder contacts the surface in a heel-first manner, similar to human walking.

Brungraber Mark IIIB

  • The Slip-Test Mark IIIB is a completely re-engineered update of Dr. Robert Brungraber’s original research-proven Mark II / Mark III design.
  • Heavy-duty billet aluminum construction.
  • Weighs only 10 pounds.
  • Sturdy case fits in an airplane overhead compartment.
  • No batteries or CO2 required.
  • Conforms to ASTM F2508.