There’s no doubt that nearly every home in the UK has some sort of tiles installed, whether they be outdoor paving tiles or indoor porcelain tiles. Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or garden, the majority of homes use tiles as an effective, fashionable way to style a floor.
Whilst it’s understandable that homeowners choose tiles based solely on aesthetic reasons, it’s important to realise that most floor tiles are assigned a slip rating, known as an R-value, in accordance with the environment in which they should be installed. Tiles that aren’t assigned slip ratings are graded to a specific minimum standard regardless. R values span a scale from R9 (minimum standard) through to R13 (greatest slip resistance), which can be understood further in our handy graphic below.
The tile industry uses the draft informative index (ISO 10545) classification of ceramic tiles according to their slip resistance. This classification is chosen by examining tiles in both wet and dry conditions before they’re installed. An understanding of the measurement of the coefficient of friction and the importance of slip resistance for various types of slip-resistant tiles is vital to prevent and reduce the risk of slip-related accidents.
The Two Classes Within the ISO Standard:
- CLASS 1 - <0.4 dynamic Coefficient of Friction
- CLASS 2 - >0.4 dynamic Coefficient of Friction
Here is a breakdown of how the ‘R’ ratings explained in the graphic above fit into the COF classification.
R9 <0.2 COF
Mainly smooth, glazed tiles will record this low value when they are wet. Ideally, these tiles should only be used in dry areas and kept away from environments exposed to moisture.
R10 >0.2 COF <0.4 COF
Generally, only glazed tiles which are wet will show these values. Tiles with this classification can be installed in a variety of domestic spaces such as kitchens and living rooms.
R11 + R12 >0.4 COF <0.7 COF
Some glazed will fall into this category. If a tile has been assigned this COF as a minimum, dry and wet, it may be regarded as safe to be installed in domestic spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, porches and living rooms, as well as public spaces such as swimming pools, shopping centres and airports.
So, if you’re on the hunt for new outdoor tiles for your garden, all our 20mm porcelain ranges are a perfect choice with an R rating of 11. For internal areas such as living spaces that flow into dining areas, all of our ranges that include 8/10/11mm tile options will make a fantastic addition with an R rating of 9/10. You can view our full range of porcelain tiles below.
Browse 8/10/11mm Tiles > Browse 20mm Tiles >
For more information on our tile slip rating or to find out which one of our products is suitable for your living space, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our porcelain tile experts today!
We now offer large and small porcelain tile samples so you can see the texture of our porcelain paving up close before making a purchase. Once you've picked your favourite porcelain paving, use our paving calculator to work out how many pavers you need & order directly through our website.
