High Performing, Aesthetically-pleasing Safety Floor Accessories

In Australia, injuries from trips, slips and falls cost the economy billions of dollars annually in workers’ compensation, productivity loss and insurance claims. To help address this public health problem, designers and specifiers must follow best practice when specifying fit-for-purpose safety floor accessories for commercial and public spaces including offices, retail areas and universities.

Background: The Impact of Unsafe Flooring

Disabled, elderly and vision-impaired users are especially vulnerable to trip, slip and fall accidents. There has been significant regulatory activity addressing safe flooring design for such users. This includes disability access and workplace safety legislation, updates to the National Construction Code (NCC) with respect to slip resistance requirements and Australian Standards such as the AS 1428 Design for access and mobility series.

Several factors contribute to the risk of slips, trips and falls in any environment, including:

• low slip resistance, which may result from poor specification of flooring materials;

• low visibility and contrast, which particularly affect vision-impaired users but may result from poorly lit areas or flooring surfaces that do not sufficiently mark out surface changes or hazards;

• poor maintenance and cleaning; and

• other design factors such as poor spatial design and lack of adequate foot space on stairs.

Addressing Safety Risks: Safety Flooring Accessories

The NCC and the AS 1428 Design for access and mobility series provide for the use TGSIS, such as tactile plates, and stair nosings to assist users navigate potential hazards on floor surfaces. Tactile plates (also known as tactile paving), which are designed to be high contrast with distinctive surface patterns to ensure they are detectable underfoot, are commonly found in public areas and commercial spaces.

Stair nosings are a high contrast, anti-slip solution applied to the toe contact area of stair treads. Nosings are intended to improve the visibility of each separate tread, indicating where each one ends.

Specifying Safety Floor Accessories: Key Considerations

With a broad range of solutions on the market, specifiers should consider the following factors to determine the ideal safety floor accessory for their next project:

• compliance with slip resistance requirements under the relevant Australian Standards;

• durability and weather resistance that is appropriate for the installation context;

• ease-of-cleaning and other relevant material properties, such as corrosion resistance;

• compliance with minimum luminance contrast requirements for TGSIS and nosings;

• features that streamline installation and reduce labour requirements during construction; and

• aesthetic appeal and design flexibility.

As both a design-led flooring company and Australia’s largest flooring accessory distributor, Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) is a total flooring solution. The company offers a wide range of flooring products, from premium laminates, luxury vinyl planks and stylish carpet tiles to renowned floor preparation products, tools and accessories. The AFS range includes high quality tactile plates and stair nosings from reputable manufacturers such as ALLTAC and Tredsafe.

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