UKAS ACCREDITATION

Do you need to commission a slip testing laboratory to fulfil your testing requirements? Do you want to be sure that they can supply you with accurate and reliable slip resistance test results? If you do, you will need to make sure that the organisation undertaking your testing has the people, facilities, technical expertise, management systems and track records to undertake the work professionally and competently.

The competence of a laboratory you appoint is crucial to maintaining your reputation as a responsible organisation. It is therefore surprising that organisations are still tempted to use slip testing companies whose competence has not been confirmed or audited by an independent and authoritative third party. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole accreditation body recognised by Government to assess against internationally recognised slip resistance testing standards such as BS 7976 and The UK Slip Resistance Group.

Surface Performance Ltd are accredited by UKAS to ISO 17025, which is the internationally
recognised standard for the competence of laboratories. We hold slip resistance test methods BS 7976 and The UK Slip Resistance Guidelines within our schedule of UKAS accreditation. It is
important to note that some companies may be UKAS accredited, however they may not have specific accreditation for slip resistance testing. You can download an up to date version of our UKAS accreditation schedule here:

 

UKAS CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION

You can download an up to date version of our UKAS accreditation schedule here

Through choosing Surface Performance Ltd as your slip resistance testing provider, you are able to ensure the following:

Minimise Risk

While risk can never be removed altogether, by employing the services of a UKAS accredited laboratory such as Surface Performance ltd means that you are ensuring technical competence, and therefore minimising the risk of testing being undertaken incorrectly.

Demonstrating Credibility

A UKAS accredited laboratory is able to demonstrate a full audit trail for the slip resistance test. Surface Performance have a UKAS approved training system that ensures that all site and laboratory technicians are highly skilled in their field.

Reduce Costs

Slip resistance testing carried out both on site and to surface products in the laboratory represents an investment in the safety of your staff and/or customers. In order to make sure this investment is of value you need to be sure of the reliability and competency of the Report, thus demonstrating the discharge of your Duty of Care and evidencing of the same. It will be an important part of your ongoing requirement for Risk Assessment.

Defend against Litigation

The use of a UKAS accredited laboratory is a powerful demonstration that you have discharged your Duty of Care in the selection and appointment of your slip testing supplier. The Report will comprise evidence which is far more likely to be accepted by the Court as competent evidence.

What are the Risks of using a Laboratory that is not Accredited by UKAS for Slip Resistance Testing?

If you decide to appoint a laboratory that does not hold UKAS accreditation then you are exposing yourself to the following risks:

Inexperienced Staff: Competence is built on qualifications, knowledge and experience.

Insufficient Resource: This can lead to inadequate and incomplete work and the possibility of
incorrect test results being reported.

A lack of Impartiality: You are unable to verify that the testing company is independent and is not linked to companies involved in the cleaning, maintenance, and installation of surfaces.

No Comeback: There may be no formal complaints procedure in place and the testing company has no accountability to UKAS.

Lack of Due Diligence: You may be exposed to future claims.

Equipment Quality and Equipment Calibrations: You can not be sure that the slip resistance testing equipment is of proficient quality to undertake the testing. You can also not be sure that the equipment has been independent calibrated by a UKAS calibration laboratory.

 

The following is a general description of the steps that Surface Performance undertakes as part of a slip resistance testing project. These steps ensure that we work within our UKAS accreditation for slip resistance testing. These procedures are not exhaustive, but give an indication of some of the stages performed in order to prepare and issue a UKAS test report.

On site, testing is carried out in both dry and wet conditions at each test location. The number of test locations can be specified by the client.

Both BS 7976 (5.2.2.3) and UKSRG (4.1) state that a rubber slider should be discarded when the worn

edge exceeds 4mm. Based upon our experience in relation to similar large scale UKAS slip resistance testing projects for clients such as Amazon and Chelsea Football Club, the rubber sliders will need to be discarded after approximately every 6 test locations, depending upon the abrasion characteristics of the surface type under test. Each slider put into service is required to be calibrated and checked for its conformity by an external UKAS laboratory in order to ensure that it meets the hardness requirements of BS 7976 and UKSRG. It is also worthwhile to note that the slider edge and integrity needs to be checked by the specialist using a UKAS traceable calibrated measuring device.
Please watch this video at 0 minutes 56 seconds for further explanation on this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdrcgC2l4pE

BS 7976 (5.2.2.1) and UKSRG (4.1) state that every time a new rubber slider is put into service, it should  be prepared using P400 conditioning paper (single use), pink lapping paper (single use), a certified conditioned Pavigres tile and float glass (to be replaced depending upon usage).

Surface temperature, ambient air temperature and humidity readings are all required to be undertaken at each test location. The equipment for these readings are required to be independently UKAS calibrated on at least an annual basis and checked internally on a regular basis as part of the ISO management system.

When a pendulum device is subjected to high use, the rate at which parts wear is significantly increased.
Parts such as cushioning rings, adjustment knobs, retaining nuts, hinge bolts, pointers and release mechanisms are required to be regularly replaced.

When a part is replaced and it has the potential to impact on the existing independent UKAS calibration of the device then a full independent recalibration of the slip testing device will be required.
In order to create and issue the final test report, the specialist is required to submit the test results obtained on site to the laboratory manager, who is based in our Sunbury laboratory. The laboratory manager is required to check and sign the test report prior to releasing to the client once she/he is satisfied that UKAS requirements have been met.

For further information regarding our UKAS accredited slip resistance testing then please contact us.