UKAS · ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Slip Testing Laboratory
UKAS-accredited car park slip testing & pendulum slip test

Slip testing for car parks across the UK & Ireland.

The only specialist slip testing programme in the UK built around car park operations — from a single supermarket apron to a 28-deck multi-storey portfolio. UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accredited pendulum slip test methodology, evidence-grade slip testing, court-admissible reports.

17025UKAS Slip Testing
1,400+Pendulum tests · 2025
5dSlip test report
UK · IESingle contract
FIG. 01 · Pendulum slip test schematic DECK 7 DECK 6 DECK 5 DECK 4 DECK 3 DECK 2 DECK 1 PTV 36+
Pendulum slip test · BS 7976-2 UKSRG Issue 6
/ 01Car-park-specialist slip testing

Slip testing built around car park operations.

Our pendulum slip test programmes are designed for car parks, by people who understand car parks. Generic slip testing providers send the same scope of works to a multi-storey as they'd send to a hotel lobby. We don't — every car park slip test we run is calibrated to the specific surfaces, traffic patterns and risk register of the asset in front of us.

UKAS · ISO/IEC 17025

One of three UK slip testing labs holding UKAS accreditation.

Many providers describe themselves as offering "pendulum slip test" services. Only UKAS-accredited slip testing reports survive scrutiny in court, in HSE investigation, and at insurer claim review. Surface Performance is one of just three UK pendulum slip test laboratories holding live UKAS accreditation.

S
Surface Performance Ltd
Slip Testing Schedule 4101
/ 02Slip testing surfaces

The surfaces we slip test in car parks.

Car parks present a uniquely varied surface vocabulary in a single asset — power-floated concrete on the structural decks, mastic asphalt on the roof, polymer-modified resin on the helical ramps, polished porcelain at the lift-lobby thresholds, and painted line markings everywhere. Each surface needs its own pendulum slip test methodology and its own slip testing slider rubber, with a distinct PTV profile under wet, contaminated and frost conditions.

01STRUCTURAL DECK

Pendulum slip test on power-floated concrete deck slabs

Standard intermediate-deck finish across most UK multi-storeys — dry pendulum slip test values are usually compliant, but a sustained wet-shoe-carry-in pattern from inclement weather pushes wet PTV below the 36 threshold at column bases and bay-line intersections. Our pendulum slip testing is performed under realistic wet conditions, not the manufacturer's idealised baseline.

02HELICAL RAMP

Slip testing of polymer-modified anti-slip resin ramps

Spiral and split-level ramps are the single highest-incident pedestrian zone in most multi-storeys. Anti-slip resin coatings degrade at predictable rates, and pendulum slip test programmes should run on an 18-month cycle rather than annually. Slip testing at the actual ramp gradient, not as a flat-surface assumption.

03ROOF DECK

Pendulum slip test on mastic asphalt & bituminous top decks

The roof-deck environment is the worst surface exposure in any car park — full weather, oil drips, painted line markings, bird fouling, ponding. Wet-condition pendulum slip testing is non-negotiable, and seasonal slip testing (summer baseline + winter contaminated pendulum slip test) is the only credible programme.

04STAIRCORE

Slip testing of stair treads, nosings & lift-lobby thresholds

The defined high-claim zone in any car park. Stair treads, polished-porcelain lobby floors and the rubber-mat threshold all generate distinct slip patterns and need separate pendulum slip test scope. UKSRG slider 96 testing for stair treads, slider 55 for lobby finishes — different pendulum slip test regimes, separately reported.

05EV CHARGING

Slip testing of EV bay surfaces & charger surrounds

EV charging bays generate distinct exposure — extended dwell times, cable-runout zones, post-charge condensation drips. Newly-installed EV bay surfaces (typically a thermoplastic anti-slip overlay) need first-12-month verification by pendulum slip test as a minimum for any defensible slip testing record.

06PEDESTRIAN ROUTE

Pendulum slip testing on painted walkways, crossings & bay-line markings

Painted line markings are inherently lower PTV than the surrounding deck — the line itself is a slip exposure. Targeted pendulum slip test points on line paint alongside the surrounding surface, and re-testing after every line-marking refresh, are essential elements of a credible car park slip testing programme.

/ 03Sector-specific slip risk

Why car park slip testing differs from any other commercial brief.

Generic slip testing providers send the same pendulum slip test report regardless of asset class. Car parks face exposure conditions that simply don't exist in retail, hospitality or healthcare interiors — and they need pendulum slip testing scoped accordingly.

Risk · 01

Engine oil & brake-fluid drips

Every parked vehicle is a contamination source. Bay-centre drip patterns generate a wet-equivalent PTV exposure even on dry decks — pendulum slip testing using slider 55 (4S rubber) is the correct slip test protocol for these zones.

Risk · 02

Wet-shoe carry-in

Pedestrians entering from rain saturate the entry pedestrian-route zone for up to 6 metres. Lift-lobby and stair-core thresholds are the primary residual-wetness zones in the entire structure and the highest-priority pendulum slip test points.

Risk · 03

Helical ramp gradient + surface

Ramp surfaces face combined gradient-and-surface risk. UKSRG 36 PTV applies on flat surfaces — ramps require uplift to PTV 50+ on a 1:10 gradient. Pendulum slip testing performed at the actual ramp gradient is the only credible methodology.

Risk · 04

Frost & ice on top decks

Roof-deck surfaces drop below freezing 40+ nights per year in most UK regions. Frost-condition pendulum slip test evidence is a documented winter requirement for any open-deck or top-deck risk register.

Risk · 05

Stair-tread nosing wear

Stair-tread nosings degrade at 5–10× the rate of the tread surface itself. A compliant tread does not equal a compliant nosing — separate slip test points and separate pendulum slip test reporting are required.

Risk · 06

Painted line marking slip exposure

Standard chlorinated-rubber bay-line paint has a wet pendulum slip test value in the high teens. Anti-slip-additive line paint must be specified and verified by post-application slip testing — line paint is a recurring failure mode in car park slip testing programmes.

Risk · 07

EV cable runout zones

Charging-cable runout zones are pedestrian routes with their own exposure — cable drape patterns create combined trip-and-slip risk that needs documented slip testing as EV provision expands across UK estates.

Risk · 08

Disabled bay & M&B surfaces

Disabled and Mother-and-Baby bays carry elevated duty-of-care expectations. Disabled-bay pendulum slip test results are now expected in any post-incident defence — assume separate slip testing reporting line.

Risk · 09

Anti-slip coating service life

Polymer anti-slip coatings on ramps and pedestrian routes degrade visibly within 18–36 months. Specifying the coating is the easy part — verifying it still performs by pendulum slip test after two winters is the slip testing programme that matters.

/ 04Slip testing process

How a car park pendulum slip test programme actually runs.

01
BRIEF

Slip test scoping & site walk

We agree the slip testing scope (decks in scope, ramp inclusions, stair-cores, EV provision, roof deck) and pendulum slip test target zones. Slip test quotation issued within one working day.

02
ACCESS

Bay closures & H&S induction

We coordinate with site management on bay closures — typically 4–6 bays at a time for 90 minutes each — and complete site H&S induction in advance. Out-of-hours pendulum slip test visits arranged where revenue protection requires it.

03
TEST

On-site pendulum slip testing

Pendulum slip test performed under BS 7976-2 / BS EN 16165:2021 / UKSRG Issue 6. Wet and dry PTV recorded at every slip test point. Photographic pendulum slip test register maintained throughout.

04
REPORT

UKAS-accredited slip test report

Slip testing report delivered within five working days. Pendulum slip test point register, photographic evidence, PTV values per zone, conformity statement against UKSRG guidance, and remediation recommendations where required.

05
ONGOING

Annual or 6-monthly slip testing cycle

Most car park clients move to a rolling slip testing programme — single contract, scheduled pendulum slip test visits, portfolio-level dashboard for multi-site operators.

/ 05Slip testing sectors

Car park operators & estate owners.

We deliver slip testing for every type of car park operator and asset owner in the UK. Each sector has its own pendulum slip test scope, slip testing frequency norms, and incident risk profile — and we calibrate our slip testing programmes accordingly.

Multi-storey
National & independent operators
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Super-market
Supermarket estate slip testing
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Retail Park
Retail park & landlord slip testing
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NHS Trust
Slip testing for Trust & PFI estates
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Local Authority
Council car park slip testing
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Airport
Slip testing · short, long & meet-greet
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Station
Rail station car park slip testing
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Office & HQ
Corporate estate slip testing
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/ Geographic coverage

Slip testing in 47+ UK & Irish cities.

From central London's premium multi-storeys to Inverness's severe-weather decks — UKAS-accredited car park pendulum slip test coverage across every major UK and Irish city. Single contract, single point of contact, single quarterly report.

View All Slip Testing Locations →
/ 06Slip testing FAQ

Slip testing & pendulum slip test questions from car park operators.

How much does car park slip testing cost?

Slip testing pricing for car parks depends on scope — a single-deck post-incident pendulum slip test typically falls in the £500–£900 range, while a comprehensive multi-deck slip testing programme covering all decks, ramps, stair-cores and the roof deck is usually in the £1,800–£4,500 range per visit. Multi-site portfolio slip testing programmes (10+ car parks) attract negotiated rates.

Fixed-price written slip test quotations are issued within one working day. No per-test charges, no hidden access surcharges, no slip testing surprises on the invoice.

How often should a car park be slip tested?

Annual pendulum slip testing is the recommended baseline for most UK car parks, with high-risk zones (helical ramps, stair-tread nosings, lift-lobby thresholds, top decks) slip tested every 6–12 months. Roof and top decks benefit from summer-baseline and winter-contaminated separate slip testing rather than annual averaging.

Additional pendulum slip test visits should be triggered after a reportable slip incident, refurbishment, change of cleaning chemistry, line-marking refresh or anti-slip coating renewal. Continuous slip testing evidence is the strongest defence in any subsequent claim.

Will slip testing close revenue bays?

A typical pendulum slip test takes 15–20 minutes per test point and requires only a single-bay closure during the actual measurement. We rotate slip testing through 4–6 bays at a time using cones, completing a full deck pendulum slip test assessment in 90–120 minutes with minimal revenue impact.

For high-occupancy assets — airport long-stay, supermarket peak hours, central-zone city multi-storeys — we run pendulum slip test visits between 22:00–05:00 to eliminate revenue disruption entirely. Out-of-hours slip testing is included in the standard rate card; no surcharge.

What slip testing standards are followed?

Car park pendulum slip testing is performed under BS 7976-2 / BS EN 16165:2021 (the British and European pendulum slip test standard), UKSRG Issue 6 (2024) (UK Slip Resistance Group slip testing guidelines), and UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 (slip testing laboratory accreditation). For pedestrian routes within the structure we additionally apply PAS 13 walkway code of practice and BS 8300-1 for accessible-route slip testing.

Are pendulum slip test reports admissible in slip-and-fall claims?

UKAS-accredited slip testing reports under BS 7976-2 are the highest evidential standard available in UK personal injury work. Our pendulum slip test reports are routinely cited in claims defence work for car park operators, retained by insurers as the documentary basis for liability decisions, and accepted as expert evidence in County Court and High Court proceedings.

Many operators retain us specifically to maintain a continuous pendulum slip test evidence record across the asset — a defensible slip testing audit trail that pre-dates the next incident, not a reactive slip test commissioned afterwards.

Are you UKAS-accredited or just ISO-certified for slip testing?

We hold UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 slip testing accreditation, issued and audited by UKAS — the only national accreditation body recognised by the UK Government for slip testing laboratories. The difference matters: many slip testing providers display ISO logos but are not UKAS-accredited, which makes a decisive difference when pendulum slip test data is presented to a court, insurer or HSE inspector.

What is a pendulum slip test?

The pendulum slip test (also called the BS 7976 pendulum test, the TRRL pendulum, or the British Pendulum Tester) is the HSE's preferred in-situ slip testing method. A pendulum slip test simulates a heel strike on a wet or dry surface and measures the friction between a standardised slider rubber and the floor — producing a Pendulum Test Value (PTV).

Under UKSRG guidance, a pendulum slip test result of PTV 36 or above indicates low slip risk. The pendulum slip test is the only slip testing method consistently accepted by UK courts and the HSE as evidence of slip resistance — which is why every slip test we deliver is performed using a UKAS-calibrated pendulum slip test instrument.

/ 07Slip test quote

Tell us about your car park.

Whether you operate a single multi-storey, a regional supermarket estate or a national portfolio, we'll return a fully-costed, no-obligation slip testing quotation within one working day. Every quote covers UKAS-accredited pendulum slip test scope, report turnaround, and ongoing slip testing programme options.

Speak to our slip testing team
020 8246 5562
Email
info@surfaceperformance.com
Out-of-hours slip testing

22:00–05:00 pendulum slip test visits scheduled by arrangement. Operator-cleared slip testing technicians.

Multi-site slip testing portfolios

Single-contract pendulum slip test programmes for operators of 10+ assets. Annual slip testing rate-card pricing.