Pendulum slip testing in Sunderland.
Independent, UKAS-accredited floor slip resistance testing to BS 7976-2 across Sunderland and the North East — proof your floors are safe and your duty of care is covered.
What a slip test actually measures
Pendulum testing is the HSE’s preferred way to measure how slippery a floor is. A calibrated arm swings a rubber slider across the surface — mimicking a heel strike — to produce a Pendulum Test Value (PTV), wet and dry. It’s done to BS 7976-2 / BS EN 16165 and UKSRG guidelines: an objective, court-defensible number, not a hunch.
Accredited. Independent. Defensible.
Every test is carried out by a UKAS-accredited technician and reported to the standard the HSE, building-control bodies, insurers and the courts recognise. The full range of methods, properly documented — so the result isn’t just a number, it’s evidence.
Floors we test across Wearside
If it’s walked on and it can get wet, worn or contaminated, it should be tested. Single surfaces through to whole-site surveys.
Commercial kitchens
UKAS-accredited pendulum slip testing for commercial kitchens in Sunderland.
View sector →Care homes
UKAS-accredited slip testing for care homes and healthcare premises in Sunderland.
View sector →Retail
UKAS-accredited slip testing for shops, supermarkets and retail parks in Sunderland.
View sector →Leisure & pools
UKAS-accredited barefoot and shod slip testing for pools, leisure centres and gyms in Sunderland.
View sector →Schools & public
UKAS-accredited slip testing for schools, the university and public buildings in Sunderland.
View sector →Industrial
UKAS-accredited slip testing for factories, automotive plants and warehouses in Sunderland.
View sector →How a slip test works
Get a quote
Tell us the surfaces and the site. We reply within 24 hours with a clear, same-day quote.
On-site test
An engineer tests each surface wet and dry. About a square metre each, a few minutes apiece.
Analysis
Readings are worked against HSE and UKSRG thresholds for every realistic scenario.
Your report
A UKAS-accredited report with clear PTV results and recommendations — inside 48 hours.
The methods, and when we use them
We pick the method that fits the surface and how it’s used — then document it to the standard the HSE, insurers and the courts expect.
Pendulum (PTV) testing
The HSE’s preferred in-situ method. A calibrated pendulum produces a Pendulum Test Value, wet and dry, to BS EN 16165.
Shod & barefoot
Slider 96 stands in for footwear; Slider 55 for barefoot areas such as pools, showers and changing rooms.
Surface roughness
Microroughness profiling, read alongside the pendulum data to judge slip potential under wet contamination.
R-rating & ABC
Findings related to ramp-test R-ratings (DIN 51130) and barefoot A/B/C ratings where a specification calls for them.
Results that hold up to scrutiny
We don’t sell flooring, coatings or cleaning contracts — so nothing in our reports is shaded to make a sale. That independence is exactly what makes them credible to insurers and the courts.
UKAS-accredited lab
One of only a handful of UK labs accredited to ISO 17025 for slip resistance testing.
Court-defensible
Independent BS 7976 reports accepted in insurance claims and civil litigation.
Mobile across the NE
On-site testing throughout Sunderland and the North East, with minimal disruption.
Proactive, not reactive
Test before an incident to cut liability — clients have reduced slip & trip claims by up to 60%.
Sunderland & the North East
Across the city and the surrounding towns.
Sunderland built ships on the Wear and made glass for the world; today it builds cars at Nissan and runs busy seafront, retail, civic and industrial floors. Heritage stone or modern resin, with North East weather walked in through the door — measured grip is what keeps them safe underfoot.
Questions, answered
Q01What is pendulum slip testing?
An on-site floor safety test that measures slip resistance. A calibrated pendulum swings a rubber slider across the floor to produce a Pendulum Test Value (PTV). It’s the HSE’s preferred method, carried out to BS 7976-2 / BS EN 16165 and UKSRG guidelines.
Q02What PTV counts as safe?
A wet PTV of 36 or above is low slip risk; 25–35 is moderate; 24 or below is high risk. We test wet and dry and report against these HSE and UKSRG thresholds.
Q03Do you cover all of Sunderland and the North East?
Yes — across Sunderland (the city centre, Roker, Seaburn, Monkwearmouth, Hendon and Pallion) plus Washington, Houghton-le-Spring, Seaham, Chester-le-Street, South Shields and Durham.
Q04How fast is the report?
Typically within 48 hours of the visit, and we reply to every enquiry within 24 hours.
Q05Is it disruptive, and how long does it take?
Not really — each test covers about a square metre and takes a few minutes once set up. The number of tests depends on how many surfaces you want assessed.
Q06Are the reports accepted by HSE, insurers and courts?
Yes. Surface Performance is a UKAS-accredited laboratory testing to BS 7976. Independent, accredited PTV results are recognised by the HSE and UKSRG and accepted as credible evidence in insurance and civil claims.
Get a slip testing quote
Tell us about the site and surfaces. We’ll come back within 24 hours with a clear quote — no obligation.
- [+]Same-day quote, 24-hour reply
- [+]UKAS-accredited, court-defensible reports
- [+]On-site across Sunderland & the North East
- [+]Reports issued within 48 hours
Rather talk? Call 0208 246 5562 · info@surfaceperformance.com