Specifier guide, Slip
PTV and slip resistance: specifying floors to BS 7976
For any floor where a slip is a foreseeable risk, entrances, circulation, washrooms, hospitality and retail, the figure that satisfies the risk assessment is the pendulum test value, or PTV. Here is what PTV measures, the 36-plus threshold that defines a low-slip floor, and the tested values for our ranges.
What PTV measures
The pendulum test to BS 7976 is the method preferred by the HSE and the UK Slip Resistance Group for assessing slip risk. A weighted, rubber-soled slider swings across the floor and the friction it meets is read off as a Pendulum Test Value. The test is run dry and, crucially, wet, with a defined contaminant such as potable water, because most slips happen on a contaminated surface. A higher PTV means more grip.
The 36-plus threshold
PTV is banded into a simple risk scale. The point a specifier needs is the top band: a floor reading 36 or above offers a low potential for slip, and that is the figure risk assessments target for areas where a wet or contaminated floor is foreseeable.
How to read a PTV (UKSRG / HSE): 0–24 = high slip potential; 25–35 = moderate; 36 and above = low slip potential. Where a wet floor is foreseeable, specify to the wet value, not the dry one.
Dry versus wet, test the realistic condition
A floor can grip well dry and still be slippery once wet, so the meaningful number for an entrance, a washroom or a spill-prone hospitality area is the wet PTV. Always confirm which condition and contaminant were tested, and to which finish, slip resistance belongs to the specific surface finish, not the material in general.
Our tested values
The figures below are independent pendulum (BS 7976) results. We will issue the full PTV test certificate for the specified product and finish on request.
| Range / format | Finish | Dry PTV | Wet PTV | Slip potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winderen engineered oak | NanoTech lacquer | 65.9 | 36.9 | Low (wet & dry) |
| Organic resilient, 1500 plank | Standard | 81 | 46 | Low (wet & dry) |
| Organic resilient, 1500 tile | Standard | 67 | 42 | Low (wet & dry) |
| Organic resilient, 1500 sheet | Standard | 80 | 55 | Low (wet & dry) |
| Vermont, Classic Cork, Endgrain | , | Test data on request | Confirm per finish | |
Every value above clears the PTV 36 low-slip threshold in both dry and wet conditions, including the wet readings, which is what matters for entrances and contaminated areas. The Winderen result is for the NanoTech lacquered finish; other finishes are tested separately, so request the certificate for the exact finish you intend to specify.
Specifying it correctly
Quote the PTV with its condition, contaminant and finish, a bare “PTV 36” with no context is not a specification. Remember that slip resistance is finish- and maintenance-dependent: polishing, the wrong cleaning regime, wear and standing contamination all change it over a floor’s life, so pair the specification with an appropriate cleaning and maintenance method. For anything safety-critical, obtain and file the pendulum test certificate for the installed finish rather than relying on a brochure figure.
PTV and slip resistance, FAQs
How does the PTV (Pendulum Test Value) work?
The pendulum test measures how slip-resistant a floor is by swinging a weighted arm fitted with a rubber slider across the surface. As the slider sweeps the floor it loses energy to friction, so the more grip the surface offers, the more the pendulum is slowed and the higher the reading on the scale. That reading is the Pendulum Test Value (PTV). The floor is normally tested both wet and dry, in three directions, and the results are averaged. The method follows BS 7976 and the UK Slip Resistance Group guidelines, and it is the test the HSE relies on to judge real-world slip risk.
What PTV does a floor need to be low-slip?
The HSE and the UK Slip Resistance Group classify results as PTV 0 to 24 for high slip potential, 25 to 35 for moderate, and 36 or above for low slip potential. A PTV of 36 equates to roughly a one-in-a-million chance of slipping, so 36 or higher in the relevant wet or contaminated condition is the usual target for public and commercial floors. Ramps and wet areas may call for a higher figure.
Is PTV measured wet or dry?
Both, but the wet or contaminated reading is the one that matters for compliance, because most slips happen when a floor is wet. A surface can score well dry and poorly wet, so specifiers should check the PTV for the exact condition the floor will face, whether that is water, cleaning residue or other contaminants.
Which standard covers the pendulum test?
The pendulum test is defined in BS 7976 Parts 1 to 3, with practical guidance from the UK Slip Resistance Group. It is the method referenced by the HSE and is widely used to demonstrate that a floor helps meet the Workplace Regulations, Building Regulations and the Equality Act duty to avoid slip hazards.