Home / Myths / Myth 3
Myth 03 of 6 · busted
“The R-rating proves the floor is safe.”
The reality: R-ratings aren’t the UK measure.
Why it’s tempting to believe
Flooring is often sold with an ‘R9 to R13’ rating, so it looks like solid proof of slip resistance.
What’s actually true
The R-rating comes from a German ramp test on the product before it’s installed — not the laid, sealed, cleaned floor in your building. In the UK, the HSE relies on the pendulum and the Pendulum Test Value, and the two don’t map neatly onto one another.
What to do
R-ratings aren’t the UK measure.
Get the installed floor pendulum-tested. The PTV is the figure that counts here, not the box it came in.
Don’t guess — measure
A fixed quote, a quick visit and a UKAS-accredited report that settles it.
Get a quote