Slip Resistance and ASTM F2772: What It Means for Athletic Flooring Safety

About the Author: Claudius Nan

When you’re designing or specifying athletic flooring, “slip resistance” isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a make-or-break property that can determine the safety and performance of your space. For those working with multi-purpose indoor sports flooring, ASTM F2772 is the go-to standard, but what does it really say about slip resistance?

Let’s cut through the fluff and break it down.

What Is ASTM F2772?

ASTM F2772 is the Standard Specification for Athletic Performance Properties of Indoor Sports Floor Systems, and it’s aimed squarely at ensuring that sports floors in gyms, courts, and recreational centers perform safely and consistently. This isn’t just about bounce and shock absorption—it includes surface finish effect, which is the standard’s term for slip resistance.

ASTM F2772 evaluates four key performance factors:

  • Force Reduction (Shock Absorption)

  • Surface Finish Effect (Slip Resistance)

  • Ball Rebound

  • Vertical Deformation

Each of these is essential, but from a safety standpoint, slip resistance is arguably the most critical for preventing fall-related injuries.

Slip Resistance in ASTM F2772: “Surface Finish Effect”

In this standard, slip resistance is measured using the British Pendulum Tester, in accordance with ASTM E303. This is a massive win for those of us who advocate for real-world, dynamic testing methods over outdated static coefficient tests. Why?

Because the British Pendulum simulates actual slip events—using a swinging rubber slider across the surface—giving us data that actually means something in the field.

Key criteria include:

  • Performance level: The floor must achieve a dry test value between 80 and 110 BPN (British Pendulum Number).

  • Uniformity: No individual test value can deviate more than 4 BPN from the average across test points.

This isn’t just lab fluff. These numbers directly relate to how a shoe interacts with the floor under real movement, whether that’s a quick pivot in basketball or a sprint in indoor track. Too slick? Players slide and fall. Too grippy? Risk of knee and ankle injuries goes up.

Why It Matters (and What You Should Watch For)

Most sports floors are designed with dry conditions in mind. But let’s be real—indoor courts get sweaty, especially in poorly ventilated facilities. Even a small moisture spill can turn a low-friction floor into a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Here’s what you need to ensure:

  • Test with the Pendulum: Don’t rely on static tests like SCOF.

  • Target the Right Range: Stay inside the 80–110 BPN window. If you’re under 80, you’re in slip-and-fall territory. Over 110? You risk “grip-trip” injuries.

  • Ensure Surface Consistency: The floor needs to behave the same way across its entire surface. Wild variation in grip isn’t just bad—it’s dangerous.

Final Word

ASTM F2772 isn’t perfect, but when it comes to sports flooring, it’s one of the best frameworks out there. Its requirement for pendulum testing of slip resistance puts it miles ahead of outdated U.S. standards that still cling to static measurements.

If you’re installing, maintaining, or specifying indoor athletic flooring, don’t overlook slip resistance. Insist on British Pendulum Test data. Demand uniformity. And remember: just because a floor meets “sports” standards doesn’t mean it’s safe in real-world conditions—unless you test it right.

Need help testing your gym floor? Call us today!