Monthly Archives: July 2026

Non slip stair flooring and stair nosing

Commercial staircase with carpet treads and contrasting stair nosings

Non slip stair flooring and stair nosing Key takeaways Commercial stairs need a slip-resistant tread and a defined gripping step edge, which usually means a safety vinyl finish fitted with contrast stair nosings. Stair nosing marks and grips each step edge and a visually contrasting nosing is what building accessibility guidance expects on a public […]

Choosing commercial flooring: safety vinyl, LVT, rubber and resin compared

Flooring in a commercial office reception area

Choosing commercial flooring: safety vinyl, LVT, rubber and resin compared The best commercial floor is the one that suits how an area is used, not the one that wins on any single measure. The main contract options are safety vinyl, luxury vinyl tile, rubber and resin and each is strong in some situations and wrong […]

How safety flooring is installed

Safety flooring installed in an accessible washroom with grab rails and a basin

How safety flooring is installed A safety floor is only as good as the way it is laid, because the slip resistance, the waterproofing and the hygiene all depend on the installation being right. The work runs in a set order. First the subfloor is prepared and moisture-tested, then the sheet is bonded, the seams […]

Safety flooring regulations and the law

Safety flooring finished with coved skirting where the floor meets the wall

Safety flooring regulations and the law There is no single law that says “install safety flooring”, but several do require floors to be safe and slip-resistant, which for many commercial areas amounts to the same thing. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require floors to be suitable and, so far as is reasonably […]

Safety flooring slip ratings explained

Slip resistant safety flooring in a commercial washroom

Safety flooring slip ratings explained Slip resistance is the whole point of a safety floor and it is measured, not guessed. In the UK the headline figure is the Pendulum Test Value, or PTV, from the pendulum test (historically BS 7976, now within BS EN 16165), backed up by the R rating from the German […]

Wood-effect safety flooring: the look of timber with commercial grip

Wood effect safety flooring laid along a commercial corridor

Wood-effect safety flooring: the look of timber with commercial grip Wood-effect safety flooring is slip-resistant commercial vinyl printed with a timber design, so an area can have the warmth of a wood floor while keeping the wet grip and durability of safety flooring. It is chosen where a space needs to look welcoming rather than […]

Stair nosing explained: types, contrast and rules

Close view of stair nosings fitted to carpeted treads on a commercial staircase

Stair nosing explained: types, contrast and rules A stair nosing is the trim fitted to the front edge of each step and on a commercial stair it is one of the most important safety details there is. It grips the point where a foot lands, protects the step edge from wear and, in a contrasting […]

Polyflor vs Gerflor vs Altro: safety flooring brands compared

Polyflor vs Gerflor vs Altro: safety flooring brands compared Polyflor, Gerflor and Altro are three of the best-known names in commercial safety flooring and buyers often ask which is best. The honest answer is that all three manufacture products independently tested and classified to the relevant slip-resistance and product standards, so for most commercial areas […]

Flooring for social housing: a specifier’s guide

Flooring for social housing: a specifier’s guide Flooring for social housing has to be durable, slip-resistant, easy to clean and cost-effective across a lot of space, from communal stairwells and corridors to sheltered and supported schemes and the void properties turned around between tenancies. The priorities are safety, longevity and low maintenance rather than showpiece […]