Start with the standard and the right test method
For a floor that is already installed and in use, testing should follow AS 4663:2013, the Australian standard for measuring the slip resistance of existing pedestrian surfaces. It sets out two on-site methods: the wet pendulum test, which produces a P classification, and the dry floor friction test, which produces a D classification. A good provider matches the method to the surface, testing wet where floors get wet and dry only where they stay reliably dry. If a provider proposes a dry-only test for a bathroom or an entry, that is worth questioning. Our guide to wet pendulum versus dry floor friction testing explains the difference.
Look at how test locations are chosen
The value of a slip test depends heavily on where the readings are taken. One measurement in the middle of a large foyer says little about the worn path by the door, and a fixed package of a set number of locations may not match your building. Look for a provider who scopes test locations around where people actually walk and where risk concentrates: entries, ramps, wet areas, and the spots where surfaces change. Sensible scoping gives you a report that reflects real risk rather than a tidy but unrepresentative snapshot.
The report is the real product
This is where providers differ most. A results table full of pendulum numbers is only the raw material. The report you can act on also tells you, for each location, what the result means, how it compares to the recommendations in HB 198:2014 for that type of location, how urgent it is relative to everything else, and what your practical options are. If a report ends at the numbers, you are left to interpret and prioritise on your own. Before you book, ask to see a sample report and check whether it interprets results, ranks them by risk, and points to next steps. Our guide on how to read a slip test report covers what a strong report should contain.
Check what happens after a failed result
A surface that falls short of guidance does not fix itself, and the fix is not always a new floor. Sometimes it is a changed cleaning regime, better entry matting, or an anti-slip treatment. A provider who can point you toward practical rectification options, and then retest afterwards to document the improvement, saves you from being handed a problem with no path forward. Ask whether retesting to verify a repair is part of what they offer.
Practical things that matter on the day
- Coverage where you need it. A provider who services your city and can handle multiple sites gives you consistent methodology and reporting across a portfolio.
- Working around your operations. Testing in a trading shop, a working kitchen or an occupied care home needs scheduling around your day, including after hours where necessary, with minimal disruption.
- A clear point of contact. Someone who will talk you through the findings afterwards is worth more than a report that lands in your inbox with no explanation.
- A quote you can understand. Look for an itemised quote that reflects your site. Our guide on what slip testing costs explains the factors that drive the price.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which standard will you test to, and which method will you use for each area?
- How will you decide where to test in my building?
- Can I see a sample report? Does it interpret and prioritise results, or just list numbers?
- What guidance will you compare my results against?
- If a surface falls short, what are my options, and can you retest after a repair?
- Can you work around our trading or operating hours?
Clear, specific answers are a good sign. Vague ones tell you something too.
Slip testing providers in Australia
Slip resistance testing is carried out by a range of companies around the country, from specialist testers to broader materials and safety consultancies. The following providers offer slip resistance testing services in Australia. This list is provided for reference and is not a ranking or endorsement; it is simply a starting point if you want to compare a few options.
- Slip Audit, wet pendulum and dry floor friction testing to AS 4663:2013 with plain-English, prioritised reporting and rectification referrals, servicing Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Operated by Premrest.
- ATTAR, an independent materials and engineering testing organisation that offers slip resistance testing.
- Australian Slip Testing, an independent provider of slip resistance testing across Australia.
- Floor Compliance Solutions, a provider of slip resistance testing services.
- Floor Slip Test, an independent floor slip testing service.
- Safe Environments, a consultancy offering slip resistance testing in Sydney and Melbourne.
- Safetech Consult, a provider of slip resistance testing services.
- SESA, which offers wet pendulum and dry floor friction floor slip testing.
- Slip Control Australia, which provides slip testing along with anti-slip treatments.
- Sliptest Australia, an independent slip resistance testing company.
- Stone Initiatives, an Adelaide-based testing laboratory that carries out slip resistance testing.
- Zerofal Slip Test Specialists, a specialist slip testing provider.
Company details change over time. Confirm current services, coverage and credentials directly with any provider before engaging them.
Talk to us about your site
If you want testing that comes with a report you can act on, not just a table of numbers, tell us about your facility and the areas you are concerned about. We will scope the right test locations and give you a clear picture of where you stand.