A few months ago, we touched on the subject of slippery boardwalks and the perils of using chicken wire mesh as a method of slip resistance when it’s a hazard in itself.
As well as boardwalks, countryside stiles also have their problems. These get slimy with a build-up of algae and moss and are extremely hazardous when constantly wet through constant rainfall of late. Muddy ramblers’ boots won’t prevent slipping and since you have to ascend and descend, you are more likely to slip and lose your balance causing yourself an injury.
What to do to ensure slippery stiles are safe
Local authorities, parks departments, open spaces, country parks, forestry and environment management teams try all kinds of solutions from chicken wire, sand, salt, belting, nails, even cutting grooves into the actual stile, but none of these methods actually work and so many are left untreated.
For anyone working in the countryside, we can help you make your stiles better and safer. GripClad ® GRP solid preformed 4.0mm thick anti-slip plates offer the correct traction that is needed for these outdoor areas. Simply screw them down and forget about them, they won’t even need maintenance.
The design life of this product is 15 to 20 years once set down with zero maintenance. It is neat and tidy and will provide 100% total safeguard against slip and trip incidences.
The product is constructed from a base mix of fire-retardant polyester resins interspersed with layers of immensely strong interwoven glass fibre. The colour pigmentation is floated right through the full thickness of the material so that it is impossible to wear the colour off and become unsightly. The fused alumina anti-slip grain is then forced under pressure into the base mix while it is still wet, followed by a final resin layer laid over the top of it all. This entire composite mix is then cured at optimum temperatures until fully hard.
This means no layering, no bonding, no weak spots, just one immensely strong composite, solid product.
Anti-slip solutions
With GripClad® products the anti-slip grit cannot be knocked out as happens with over-coating methods, no peel back or chipping can occur around localised damage points, the colour cannot be worn off, flexing and movement will have no effect on them and with the FRP material, there is a 100% guarantee that it cannot rust or corrode.
- Easy to install
- Avoids high cost of replacement while significantly improving both the safety & indefinite lifespan of your stiles
- Non-magnetic
- Non-conductive
- Non-denting
- It is extremely fire retardant and has low smoke emission characteristics
- 100% rust and corrosion resistant
- High impact and wear resistance
- Extreme environmental and UV resistance
- Highly resistant to chemical attack
- Flame retardant
- Colour fast
- Lightweight
Product testing
Our product is tested with a recorded value of 65 or above for dry conditions. Even when wet conditions were introduced, the products still performed to a very high standard.
The Health & Safety Executive use The Pendulum Test Value in accordance with British & European Standard.
Slip resistance properties of flooring materials are covered by various standards with Europe. BS7976 Describes the specification, operation and calibration of the Pendulum test, used for assessment of floor surface slipperiness under both dry and contaminated conditions. The results are reported as Pendulum Test Value or Slip Resistance Value and are approximately 100 times the coefficient of friction. The Pendulum test is used routinely by the Health & Safety Laboratory on behalf of HSE.
To find out more about our anti-slip solutions, click here, or for more information on the variety of products we provide, give us a call on 02380 406796 or contact us here.