UKAS slip testing for
medical and dental practices.

Why medical and dental practices commission UKAS accredited slip testing

Medical and dental practices have particular exposure: vulnerable patients (elderly, post-treatment, mobility-affected), wet-weather waiting-room entrance zones, and staff treatment rooms with specific hygiene-driven floor specifications. UKAS accredited slip testing is proportionate to the clinical environment and supports insurance compliance.

Specific issues we see in medical and dental practices

• Waiting room entrance zones. Wet-weather umbrella-drip zones. Vinyl flooring typical. Often commissioned post-incident after a patient slip.
• Treatment room floors. Hygienic vinyl or resin. Tested with water and, where relevant, disinfectant residue contamination.
• Accessible routes. Wheelchair-accessible paths through the practice. Slip resistance must meet needs of walking-aid users.
• External approaches. Small-practice external paving — often overlooked and under-maintained.

Which standards apply

BS EN 16165 Annex C pendulum testing. UKSRG Issue 6 operational protocol.

What you get

• UKAS accredited pendulum test report (Lab 7933)
• PTV results for every test location, dry and wet
• Interpretation against BS EN 16165 and UKSRG benchmarks
• Photographic record of test locations
• Measurement uncertainty statements (required for admissibility)
• 5 working day turnaround from site visit to report

Common questions

GP surgery patient claimed after slipping — what now?

Call us for post-incident investigation. NHS practices often commission via their indemnifier; private practices directly.

Do CQC inspect for slip testing?

CQC inspect against premises safety frameworks. Slip testing is not specifically mandated but is part of a defensible audit trail.

Single-site practice — is it worth it?

Depends on claim history and premises type. A single baseline survey is typically £400-600 for a small practice.

Physiotherapy and rehab clinics?

Same process — tested as pedestrian surfaces with any wet-treatment areas handled separately (barefoot protocol).