ISPSC – International Swimming Pool & Spa Code

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Source: 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code

CHAPTER 3 – GENERAL COMPLIANCE

• 306.2 Slip Resistant – [Updated 2024] Decks, ramps, coping, and similar step surfaces shall be slip resistant and cleanable. Where surfaces are evaluated for slip resistance, such surfaces shall have, when tested wet, a minimum pendulum slip rating classification of P4 (PTV 45-54) if tested in accordance with SA AS4586, or a minimum Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) of 0.42 if tested in accordance with ANSI A326.3. The design professional shall determine the appropriate classification and level of slip resistance necessary based on surface type, placement environment, and pedestrian traffic. Special features in or on decks such as markers, brand insignias, and similar materials shall be slip resistant.
• 324.2 Requirements – The equipment area or room floor shall be of concrete or other suitable material having a smooth slip-resistant finish.

CHAPTER 4 – PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS

• 402.4 Slip Resistance –  Diving equipment shall have slip-resistant walking surfaces.
• 406.5 Deck Covering –  Walking surfaces of decks within 4 feet (1219 mm) of a pool
  or spa shall be slip resistant
• 406.8.3 Tread Surface –  Diving equipment shall have slip-resistant tread surfaces.
• 409.2.6 Horizontal Markers –  Horizontal depth markers shall be slip resistant.
• 411.1.6 Treads –  Treads shall have slip-resistant surfaces.
• 411.2.5 Outlined Edges –  The leading horizontal and vertical edges of stair treads shall be outlined with slip-resistant contrasting tile or other permanent marking of not less than 1 inch (25.4 mm) and not greater than 2 inches (50.8 mm)

CHAPTER 5 – PUBLIC SPAS AND PUBLIC EXERCISE SPAS

• 509.3.4 Slip Resistant –  Depth markers in or on the deck surfaces shall be slip resistant.

CHAPTER 6 – AQUATIC RECREATION FACILITIES

• 610.4.4 Slip Resistant Surfaces –  Beach and sloping entry walking surfaces at water depths up to 36 inches ( 914 mm) shall be slip resistant.
• 610.7.6 Slip Resistant – The top surface of benches shall be slip resistant.
• 612.4.1 Surface –  Splash pad zone surfaces shall have a slip-resistant and cleanable surface. The manufacturer of manufactured zone surfaces shall certify that such surfacing is suitable for aquatic and chlorinated environments. Direct suction outlets from interactive water play features shall be prohibited.

CHAPTER 7 – ONGROUND STORABLE RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOLS

• 702.2.2 Platform – Where an A-frame ladder has a platform between the handrails, the platform shall have a width of not less than 12 inches (305 mm) and a length of not less than 12 inches (305 mm). The platform shall be at or above the highest ladder tread. The walking surface of the platform shall be slip resistant.
• 703.5 Slip Resistant –  The deck walking surface shall be slip resistant.

CHAPTER 8 – DIVING EQUIPMENT

• 808.5 Slip Resistant –  Diving equipment shall have slip-resistant walking surfaces.

Other areas of the code that mentions slip resistance:
306.9 Valves under Pool Decks
307.2.4 Surface Conditions of Public Pools and Spas
322.3 Ladders
808.5 Diving Equipment in Residential Pools

IBC – International Building Code

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Source: 2024 International Building Code

Chapter 10 – Means of Egress

[F] 1002.1 Maintenance
Means of egress shall be maintained in accordance with the International Fire Code.

1003.4 Slip Resistant Surface 
Means of egress shall have a slip-resistant surface and be securely attached.

1012.7.1 Ramp Surface
The surface of ramps shall be of slip-resistant materials that are securely attached.

1030.12.1 Walking Surface
The surface of aisles, stepped aisles and ramped aisles shall be of slip resistant materials that are securely attached.

IFC – International Fire Code

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Source: 2024 International Fire Code

Chapter 10 Means of Egress

1003.4 – Slip Resistant Surfaces
Circulation paths of the means of egress shall have a slip resistance surface and be securely attached.

1012.7.1 Ramp Surface
The surface of ramps shall be of slip-resistant materials that are securely attached.

1030.12.1 Walking Surface
The surface of aisles, stepped aisles and ramped aisles shall be of slip resistant materials that are securely attached.

1032.8.1 Records of Inspection, Testing and Maintenance
Records of inspections, testing and maintenance shall be maintained on site in a location approved by the fire code official.

OSHA – Occupational Safety & Health Administration

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OSHA has published the following regulations pertaining to floor safety:

OSHA 1910 OSHS Walking-Working Surfaces 1910.22

• 22(a): Surfaces must be kept free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice. All floors must be kept dry and clean whenever feasible. In areas with fluid flow, a business must install and maintain proper drainage, and provide dry standing areas such as platforms, mats, or false floors.
• 22 (b): Surfaces must be capable of supporting their maximum intended load.
• 22 (c): Each employee must have a safe means of access to and from the workplace.
• 22 (d): Surfaces must be regularly inspected and maintained in a safe condition. Hazardous conditions must be immediately corrected and repaired before a surface is used again, or cordoned off if the hazard cannot be immediately repaired. If repair or maintenance may impact a surface’s structural integrity, it must be completed or supervised by a qualified individual.

Important to Note

According to a 2003 letter between Richard E. Fairfax, Director of Enforcement Programs, and with Mr. Noah L. Chitty, a Manager at Tile Council of America, it is clarified by Mr. Fairfax that “OSHA does not have any standard that mandates a particular CoF for walking/working surfaces. While there are devices to measure CoF, no OSHA standard specifically requires that employers use or have them.”

The rumor circulating online that OSHA requires a SCOF of .50 is based out of a nonmandatory appendix in a rulemaking proposal. OSHA simply states that surfaces must have a safe means of access to and from the workplace.

Not all ANSI or ASTM standards get adopted and incorporated into OSHA standards. However, OSHA may still cite you for not following the standard, even though it is not mandatory to do so.

Employers are expected to consider any existing consensus standards, that is, non-legislative standards adopted by industry and other non-governmental organizations, including standards that aren’t ‘legally’ required.

ADA – American Disabilities Act

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Source: Advisory 302.1 General: A stable surface is one that remains unchanged by contaminants or applied force, so that when the contaminant or force is removed, the surface returns to its original condition. A firm surface resists deformation by either indentations or particles moving on its surface. A slip-resistant surface provides sufficient frictional counterforce to the forces exerted in walking to permit safe ambulation.

Important to Note

Ensuring that floors meet the slip-resistance requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is crucial for accessibility. However, the ADA does not specify the criteria for what constitutes a slip-resistant floor. This gap in regulation has led to the adoption of standards such as the ASTM E303 and the ANSI A326.3, internationally and nationally recognized test methods that are seen as the most reliable ways to assess floor slip resistance and slip potential.

Unlike outdated Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) methods such as the ASTM C1028 and the NFSI B101.1, the ASTM E303 and the ANSI A326.3 standards focus on the friction experienced by moving pedestrians, a scenario more relevant to real-world conditions since no one slips standing still. The ASTM E303 is a type of test method that has been in use for over five decades in more than 50 countries, reflecting its widespread acceptance and reliability.

There is a common misconception that ADA requires floor to be a .60 SCOF value indicating slip resistance, this is simply not true.

There are different testing methods that yield varying results, making it impossible to establish a single standard. The test methods using the British Pendulum or the BOT-3000e have been proven to be more reliable than others.

In the U.S., the ANSI A326.3 test has been in use as well as the ANSI A137.1. The test method is for the purpose of measuring the DCOF of a hard surface. Combining this method with the ASTM E303 can provide a comprehensive assessment of a floor’s slip resistance and slip potential. This combination of tests ensures ADA compliance of offering a slip resistant surface and enhances the safety of floor surfaces for all users, particularly those with disabilities.