Non slip coating, specified from a real slip test
A non-slip coating only earns its keep if the finished floor hits the slip rating the area needs. We test first, Premrest applies the coating, and we slip test again across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
What a non slip coating actually does
A non slip coating is a film applied over the existing floor. Clear systems such as Swiss Grip and Stellmann coatings are designed to add grip while keeping the look of the tile, stone or vinyl. Aggregate or coloured coatings are the usual answer on concrete, steel, ramps and plant rooms.
That is different from a chemical slip treatment, which etches mineral surfaces. Coatings do not rely on damaging the glaze, which is why they are often preferred on expensive stone, printed tiles and floors that still need to look like the original finish.
- Clear or visible. Choose a transparent film where appearance matters, or a textured coating where grip is the only brief.
- Specified to a P rating. Manufacturers publish P3, P4 and P5 systems. Your installed result still has to be proven with a slip test.
- Maintained, not forgotten. Coatings wear. They belong on a cleaning brief and a periodic retest cycle.
Systems we are commonly asked to apply
- Swiss Grip (SWISS GriP): transparent film-forming non-slip coating, often specified at P3, P4 or P5
- Stellmann coatings (often searched as Stellman): Australian clear and coloured systems with published P classifications
- Dr Schutz PU sealer with anti-slip additive: a slip treatment for vinyl and other resilient floors
- Aggregate coatings for concrete, ramps, stairs and back-of-house steel or timber
We specify the system after the slip test. A brand name is a useful starting point, not a finished specification.
Non slip coating for the areas that fail first
Entries and lobbies
Polished stone and tile that look fine dry and fail a wet pendulum slip test the first time it rains.
Bathrooms and wet areas
Showers, change rooms and ensuites where a clear coating is preferred over a visible grit finish.
Kitchens and hospitality
Grease and water demand a higher slip rating. The coating has to survive the cleaning regime, not just day one.
Ramps, stairs and concrete
External walkways and plant areas where a textured or coloured anti-slip coating is the practical fix.
A coating datasheet is not a slip test
Swiss Grip, Stellmann and similar systems publish CSIRO wet pendulum classifications for specific products. That is useful for specification. It is not evidence that your installed floor now meets HB 198:2014 for that location.
Application thickness, surface preparation, contamination and traffic all change the result. The only classification that describes your floor is the one from an on-site slip test to AS 4663:2013. That is why every coating job we stand behind is tested before and after.
What you receive
- Baseline slip test and target slip rating per location
- A specified coating or treatment, with a Premrest scope and quote
- Application by commercial floor care specialists
- Retest and a documented after rating
- The option to put the surface on a compliance program
Non slip coating questions
What is a non slip coating?
A non slip coating is a film applied to an existing floor to increase grip, usually without replacing the surface. Clear systems such as Swiss Grip and Stellmann coatings are designed to stay close to the original appearance. Coloured or aggregate coatings are used on concrete, ramps and back-of-house areas where a visible texture is acceptable. A coating is different from an etching slip treatment, which changes the mineral surface itself.
Which non slip coating do I need, P3, P4 or P5?
That depends on the location, not the product brochure. HB 198:2014 recommends minimum slip ratings by area type. Many bathrooms and internal wet areas are specified around P3, external walkways and ramps often need P4 or P5, and commercial kitchens sit at the high end. The only way to know what your floor currently achieves, and whether a coating closed the gap, is an on-site slip test. Our slip rating guide explains the scale.
Is a non slip coating better than an anti-slip treatment?
Neither is universally better. Etching treatments can be the right answer on some tiles and stone. Film-forming coatings protect the glaze and can be specified to a published P classification, which is why Swiss Grip and Stellmann are searched for so often. The substrate, traffic, cleaning regime and target slip rating decide the pathway, which is why Premrest specifies after the slip test.
Do you apply Swiss Grip and Stellmann coatings?
Yes, where those systems are the right match for the floor and the required slip rating. Premrest also applies other commercial coatings, including Dr Schutz PU systems with anti-slip additive on resilient floors. Brand names are a starting point for a conversation, not a specification on their own.