UKAS slip testing for
warehouses and distribution centres.

Why warehouses and distribution centres need UKAS accredited slip testing

Warehouses are one of the highest-frequency slip claim sectors in the UK. Employer's liability exposure is direct (workforce) and substantial. Post-incident pendulum testing is routinely commissioned by insurers within days of a RIDDOR event to establish whether the surface itself contributed to the slip. UKAS accredited results are the only form that carry weight at tribunal or in civil claims.

Specific issues we see in warehouses and distribution centres

• Power-floated concrete. New power-floated slabs often test above PTV 36 dry but drop below PTV 25 when contaminated with even small amounts of water. Operators who understand their substrate understand the risk zone.
• Painted pedestrian walkways. A standard yellow walkway paint applied over concrete typically tests at wet PTV 15-25 — high slip potential. Anti-slip aggregate additives change this dramatically but only if correctly specified.
• Loading docks. Dock plates and the concrete approaches to them see water, oil, and hydraulic fluid contamination. Testing with representative contaminants (not just water) reflects operational reality.
• Forklift-worn surfaces. Forklift operation polishes the concrete over time. A surface that tested well at commissioning may drop below compliance after 3-5 years of heavy MHE traffic. Re-testing is prudent.
• Cold store transitions. The transition zone between chilled and ambient is prone to condensation. Slip resistance evidence for this specific zone is often requested by insurers post-incident.

Which standards apply

Testing to BS EN 16165 Annex C with water contamination. Where the surface is subject to other routine contaminants (oil, glycol, hydraulic fluid), supplementary testing with those contaminants provides more complete evidence. Reports include measurement uncertainty statements required for admissibility in civil and HSE proceedings.

What you get

• UKAS accredited pendulum test report (Lab 7933)
• Pendulum Test Values 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

An employee slipped yesterday — how fast can you get here?

Post-incident testing is our most urgent category. Most mainland UK warehouses can be visited within 48-72 hours; London, Midlands and Yorkshire often sooner. Call us on 020 8246 5562 and we will prioritise the visit.

What do insurers want to see in the report?

Insurers want UKAS accreditation (lab 7933), the exact test location photographed and described, the PTV result with measurement uncertainty, the slider used, contamination applied, and the interpretation against HSE benchmarks. We provide all of this as standard.

We have a multi-site estate. Can you do it efficiently?

Yes. Multi-site estate surveys are scheduled in geographic batches. A 10-site warehouse estate audit typically takes 8-12 working days in the field plus reporting.

What about cold stores — can you test below zero?

The pendulum test is validated for surfaces that can be water-contaminated at standard laboratory conditions. For working cold stores, we typically test during a planned warm-up period or test representative locations outside the freezer compartment where the same surface specification is installed.