Slip resistance is rarely decided on at the building site. It is decided on the drawing board, often without anyone realising it.

Max Deckers spoke about this at this year’s ISER course leader training event in Aachen from 21 to 23 September. The audience comprised 47 course leaders from craft trade training centres across Germany, who train apprentices and master craftsman trainees in stainless steel fabrication. An audience that knows exactly where the problems arise in practice.

The questions raised by Max’s presentation apply to any project involving walkable stainless steel surfaces, whether stairs, ramps, lift floors or industrial platforms: What needs to be taken into account right from the planning stage? What requirements apply at the specific site? And how does a slip resistance class translate into a specific choice of surface? Once a floor panel has been installed, its classification is fixed. Making changes afterwards is either time-consuming or no longer possible at all.

Max had to leave straight after his presentation, and there would likely have been further discussions during the break. If you were there in Aachen, we’d be happy to catch up with you. And if you’re currently planning a project where slip resistance is a factor, the same applies: please write to Max directly.

Many thanks to the Stainless Steel Information Centre and Dr Sebastian Heimann for the invitation, and to the Aachen Chamber of Crafts for their hospitality.