The Five Moments You Should Always Re-Test a Floor

Slip testing is most effective when it follows change, not just a schedule.

Certain moments reliably increase slip risk — after resealing, cleaning changes, high traffic periods, near misses or refurbishment. Re-testing at these points helps confirm performance before assumptions turn into incidents.

Slip testing is most effective when tied to change, not calendar dates alone.

Certain moments reliably increase risk. These are the points where re-testing matters most.

The Five Moments

  1. After resealing, polishing or coating
    Any surface treatment alters friction.
  2. After a change in cleaning products or methods
    Chemistry matters more than most people realise.
  3. After a near miss, complaint or incident
    Early signals should never be ignored.
  4. After periods of unusually high traffic
    Wear is rarely uniform.
  5. Before reopening a refurbished space
    Assumptions are weakest at handover.

Why Timing Matters

Testing at the right moment:

  • prevents incidents
  • improves documentation
  • reduces reactive testing
  • supports defensible decision-making

Make Testing Strategic

Testing is not about frequency.
It is about relevance.

Has something changed since the floor was last tested?

Slip resistance can shift after maintenance, cleaning changes or increased wear. Zerofal provides slip resistance testing for existing pedestrian surfaces, helping confirm performance at the moments when risk is most likely to change.

If you’re unsure whether re-testing is needed, it’s usually better to check before a problem emerges.

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