As a facility manager, your WHS obligations don't end at putting up a "wet floor" sign. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 19, your primary duty of care requires you to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety — so far as is reasonably practicable. For floors, that means knowing their slip resistance classification, not guessing it.

A one-off test at construction completion tells you what the surface achieved on day one. A systematic audit tells you what it achieves today — after cleaning chemicals, foot traffic, resurfacing, and time have done their work. The difference matters. A floor that passed AS4586 testing three years ago may now be borderline. In a wet zone, borderline is a liability.

This checklist gives you a zone-by-zone audit framework you can use today, with the exact P-rating requirements, correct test standards, recommended frequencies, and pass/fail indicators for every area of your facility.

What Does a Slip Resistance Audit Actually Cover?

A slip resistance audit is not the same as a single slip test. Understanding the scope is the first step to running one properly.

Scope of a Proper Audit

A full audit covers:

• Identifying every high-risk zone in your facility (wet areas, entry points, staircases, external areas)
• Confirming the current P-rating or R-rating of each zone against its required classification
• Documenting any degradation, contamination, or maintenance issues that affect slip resistance
• Reviewing existing test certificates for currency (most are valid for 2–3 years before retest is recommended)
• Producing a risk-rated report that prioritises remediation where floors are non-compliant or marginal

AS4586:2013 vs AS4663:2013 — When Each Applies

These are two different standards for two different contexts:

• AS4586:2013 (Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials) governs testing of new or unused surfaces, typically performed in a laboratory under controlled conditions. This is the standard applied at the point of specification and installation.
• AS4663:2013 (Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces) governs on-site testing of surfaces already in service. It uses the wet pendulum test or the dry-floor pendulum test and accounts for real-world conditions including contamination, wear, and cleaning history.

If you're auditing an existing facility, you are always operating under AS4663. AS4586 is the standard that tiles or coatings were certified to before installation — it tells you what they should achieve. AS4663 is the standard that tells you what they achieve now.

The Difference Between a Slip Test and a Full Audit

A slip test is a single measurement at a specific point. A full audit uses multiple tests across a zone, cross-references against required P-ratings for that space type, documents maintenance and cleaning protocols, identifies degradation factors, and produces actionable remediation priorities. A slip test is one input into an audit — not a substitute for it.

Zone-by-Zone Audit Checklist

1. Wet Areas — Bathrooms, Amenities, Change Rooms

Required P-rating: P4 minimum (equivalent to 55+ BPN in wet pendulum test)

Test standard: AS4663:2013 — wet pendulum on-site test

Recommended frequency: Annual minimum; post any surface treatment or renovation

• ✓ Pass: Wet pendulum result ≥ 55 BPN (P4) across all test points
• ✓ Pass: No visible grout deterioration, tile cracking, or surface film build-up
• ✓ Pass: Non-slip mats in place at shower exits and basin areas (mats themselves must be slip-resistant)
• ✗ Fail: Any single test point below 45 BPN (P3) in a wet zone
• ✗ Fail: Evidence of sealant or wax coating reducing surface texture
• ✗ Fail: Tiles that have been polished or buffed without retesting

Auditor notes: Cleaning products are a significant degradation factor in amenities. Alkaline cleaners strip surface texture from unglazed tiles over time. Review your cleaning specification as part of the audit — not just the floor condition.

2. Commercial Kitchens and Food Preparation Areas

Required P-rating: P5 minimum (≥ 64 BPN under wet pendulum with oil contamination)

Test standard: AS4663:2013 — wet pendulum test, ideally with an oil/grease contamination simulation

Recommended frequency: Every 6 months in high-use kitchens; immediately following any deep clean involving degreaser chemicals

• ✓ Pass: Wet pendulum ≥ 64 BPN with cooking oil applied (P5 condition)
• ✓ Pass: Floor drains clear and graded — standing water must not form
• ✓ Pass: Anti-fatigue matting in static work zones does not create trip hazards
• ✗ Fail: Grease contamination has saturated unglazed tile pores — surface feels smooth when oily
• ✗ Fail: Post-degreaser test drops below P4 threshold (50 BPN)
• ✗ Fail: Coating applied to kitchen floor that has not been retested under oil contamination conditions

Auditor notes: P5 is mandatory for commercial kitchens under the model WHS framework. Oil and fat contamination is the primary degradation factor — not wear. A kitchen floor that tests P5 dry may test P3 under oil contamination. Your audit must test under contaminated conditions to reflect real operating risk. See commercial kitchen slip compliance for kitchen-specific requirements.

3. Building Entries and Lobbies

Required P-rating: P3 minimum (dry); P4 where weather-exposed or where rain ingress occurs

Test standard: AS4663:2013 — wet pendulum where rain exposure is present; visual and dry pendulum where fully covered

Recommended frequency: Annual; additional inspection after heavy rain events or seasonal changes

• ✓ Pass: Transition mat is ≥ 900mm deep (adequate to capture wet from footwear), anchored, and slip-resistant
• ✓ Pass: Transition zone between mat and hard floor does not create a tripping hazard
• ✓ Pass: Weather-exposed section tests ≥ P4 under wet conditions
• ✗ Fail: Polished marble or granite at entry tests below P3 when wet
• ✗ Fail: Transition mat is inadequate depth or shows signs of bunching or lifting
• ✗ Fail: No wet weather protocol in place (no wet floor signage system, no additional matting strategy)

Auditor notes: Entry areas are disproportionately high-risk during rain events. A P3 rating on a dry-rated entry tile becomes non-compliant the moment rain tracking occurs. Your audit must include wet-condition testing for any entry zone that is weather-exposed or has less than a full weather protection overhang.

4. Corridors and General Walkways

Required P-rating: P3 minimum for dry corridors; P4 where regular wet contamination is possible

Test standard: AS4663:2013 — visual inspection supplemented by pendulum testing at wear points

Recommended frequency: Visual inspection quarterly; pendulum test every 2 years minimum, or following resurfacing

• ✓ Pass: No visible surface abrasion that has polished the tile finish
• ✓ Pass: Slip resistance consistent across high-traffic paths (centre of corridor at risk of uneven wear)
• ✓ Pass: Transition strips between floor types are flush and secure
• ✗ Fail: Centre-line wear visible — tile centre shinier than edges, indicating surface texture loss
• ✗ Fail: Vinyl or resilient flooring shows delamination or surface film
• ✗ Fail: Floor polish applied without post-polish slip testing

Auditor notes: Abrasive wear is the primary degradation factor in corridors. High-heeled foot traffic, trolley traffic, and cleaning machines all contribute to surface polishing over time. Focus visual inspection on the centre of primary walkways — this is where wear concentrates and where test results diverge from less-trafficked zones.

5. Staircases and Ramps

Required P-rating: P3 minimum (NCC requirement); P4 recommended for wet or outdoor stairways

Test standard: AS4663:2013 for surface slip resistance; AS1428.1 for nosing visibility compliance

Recommended frequency: Annual; immediate inspection following any trip or fall incident

• ✓ Pass: Stair nosing achieves ≥ 30% luminance contrast with adjacent tread surface (AS1428.1 requirement)
• ✓ Pass: Anti-slip nosing strip is flush, secure, and shows no delamination
• ✓ Pass: Tread depth ≥ 250mm, riser height consistent (NCC Section D)
• ✓ Pass: No wet pendulum result below P3 on any tread surface
• ✗ Fail: Nosing contrast below 30% luminance — typically occurs when nosing fades or tread darkens
• ✗ Fail: Anti-slip nosing strip lifting at edges — creates compound trip and slip hazard
• ✗ Fail: Surface test below P3 on any tread, particularly at the leading edge

Auditor notes: Staircase compliance has two distinct elements: slip resistance (AS4663) and visual contrast (AS1428.1). Both are separately measurable and both are separately enforceable. A stair tread that passes the pendulum test may still fail if the nosing contrast is inadequate. Test both. For ramps, gradient must comply with NCC D2.14 (1:14 maximum gradient) and the surface must achieve P4 minimum.

6. Car Parks and External Areas

Required classification: R10 minimum for pedestrian areas; R11 for ramps (ramp test method, not pendulum)

Test standard: AS4663:2013 ramp angle test for R-rating determination; AS4586 for specification reference

Recommended frequency: Annual; post-sealing or resurfacing; after oil spill events

• ✓ Pass: Drainage adequate — no standing water on pedestrian paths after rain
• ✓ Pass: Line marking complies with AS1742 (white lines at least 100mm wide, retroreflective in internal car parks)
• ✓ Pass: Ramp test result ≥ R11 on vehicle ramp pedestrian paths
• ✗ Fail: Painted surfaces tested below R10 — standard traffic paint provides near-zero slip resistance when wet
• ✗ Fail: Standing water pooling on any pedestrian route (drainage failure = ongoing slip risk regardless of surface rating)
• ✗ Fail: Expansion joints or kerb edges creating uneven surfaces or trip points

Auditor notes: Car parks use R-ratings, not P-ratings. R-ratings are determined by a ramp angle test, not the wet pendulum. Do not apply P-rating results to car park surfaces — the methods are not interchangeable. R10 is the minimum for pedestrian-accessible areas; ramps used by pedestrians require R11.

How to Read Your Slip Test Results

The Full P-Rating Scale

P-Rating	BPN (Wet Pendulum)	Typical Commercial Application
P0	< 12	Unsafe — no compliant use case
P1	12–24	Dry pedestrian only — purely aesthetic surfaces
P2	25–34	Low-risk dry indoor areas only
P3	35–44	General interior dry areas, corridors, lobbies
P4	45–54	Wet areas, amenities, entries with weather exposure
P5	≥ 55	High-contamination environments — commercial kitchens, food processing

For aged care and healthcare facilities, AS4586 guidance recommends P4 as a minimum in all areas, including dry corridors, due to the elevated fall risk of the population. See P4 vs P5 rating guide for a full breakdown of rating requirements by facility type.

What a CSIRO-Certified Compliance Certificate Includes

A valid compliance certificate from a NATA-accredited laboratory or certified tester must include:

• Date of test
• Test method (AS4663:2013 wet pendulum, ramp test, etc.)
• Location(s) tested within the facility
• Individual test results (BPN values for pendulum tests, angle for ramp tests)
• P-rating or R-rating classification derived from results
• Name and accreditation number of the tester
• Statement of compliance or non-compliance against the relevant standard

A certificate without individual test point results is inadequate. You need the raw data, not just the summary classification.

The Difference Between a Pass and a Marginal Pass

A P4 classification requires ≥ 45 BPN. A result of 46 BPN is technically a pass. A result of 53 BPN is a comfortable pass with margin. In a wet zone, a marginal pass requires more frequent retesting (every 6 months rather than annually), documentation of the marginal result as a monitored risk, and a surface treatment plan in the event the next test returns a fail. Marginal passes are not failures — but treating them as clean passes is a liability risk. Document them explicitly.

What to Do Within 30 Days of a Fail Result

1. Immediate action: Place wet floor signage in the failed zone. Do not remove until remediation is complete and retest is passed.
2. Within 48 hours: Engage a remediation contractor to assess options (coating, grinding, or replacement).
3. Within 7 days: Document the fail result, the immediate response, and the remediation plan in your WHS register.
4. Within 30 days: Complete remediation and obtain a new compliance certificate under AS4663:2013.
5. Archive: Retain the original fail certificate alongside the remediation certificate. This document trail demonstrates due diligence if a claim arises.

WHS Documentation Requirements

Mandatory Records

Every facility manager must maintain:

• Test certificates: Originals (or certified copies) of all AS4663 compliance certificates for the facility, organised by zone and date.
• Risk assessments: Formal slip/trip hazard risk assessments for each identified high-risk zone, reviewed after any slip incident, surface change, or significant cleaning protocol change.
• Maintenance logs: Cleaning schedules, surface treatment records, and inspection logs. Undocumented maintenance provides no legal protection — if it's not in writing, it didn't happen.
• Incident records: Any slip/trip incident, near miss, or WHS inspection related to floor surfaces must be recorded within 24 hours.

Retention Period

Under the model WHS Regulations, WHS records must be retained for a minimum of 5 years from the date of the record. For incidents that result in injury, the period extends to the duration of any related claim or litigation plus 5 years. Store these records in a format that cannot be accidentally deleted or overwritten.

Incident Reporting Obligations Under WHS Act s.38

Section 38 of the WHS Act requires immediate notification to the relevant regulator (SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, etc.) for any notifiable incident. For floors, this applies when a slip results in serious injury (fracture, hospitalisation, amputation) or death. Notification must be made immediately by fastest means, followed by written notification within 48 hours. The site must be preserved for inspection unless doing so creates further risk.

How a Documented Audit Trail Protects You

SafeWork NSW enforcement actions on slip/fall incidents consistently distinguish between facilities with documented audit histories and those without. A facility that can produce a current compliance certificate tested within 12 months, a risk assessment identifying the zone as high-risk, a maintenance log demonstrating regular inspection, and an incident response record showing immediate corrective action is in a fundamentally different legal position to one that cannot. The documented trail demonstrates that risks were identified, assessed, and controlled — meeting the "so far as is reasonably practicable" test under s.19.

When to Call a Certified Tester vs Self-Assess

Self-Assessment Criteria

Self-assessment (visual inspection, no instrumented testing) is appropriate for routine condition monitoring between professional tests, post-cleaning checks for obvious contamination or surface change, and documenting observations in the maintenance log. Self-assessment must be documented. Record the date, inspector, zones checked, and any observations. A visual inspection that goes undocumented provides no legal protection.

When Professional Testing Is Mandatory vs Recommended

Mandatory professional testing:

• Initial compliance certification (new installations or post-renovation)
• Following any slip-and-fall incident requiring first aid or hospitalisation
• Where visual inspection reveals degradation that cannot be assessed without instrumentation
• As part of a WHS improvement notice issued by a regulator

Strongly recommended:

• Annual cycle for all wet areas
• Following surface treatment (coatings, polishing, grinding)
• Prior to significant contract renewals where floor compliance is a condition of certification

Cost Range

• Single wet pendulum test (one zone): $300–$600
• Multi-zone site visit (up to 5 zones): $800–$1,200
• Full-facility audit (report, all zones, certificate): $1,200–$2,500
• NATA-accredited laboratory testing of removed sample: $150–$400 per sample

How to Find an Accredited Tester

• NATA-accredited labs: Search the NATA register at nata.com.au — filter by "slip resistance" testing
• SafeWork directories: SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Victoria maintain lists of WHS consultants
• Confirm the tester can issue certificates referencing AS4663:2013 for in-use surfaces

Remediation Options When You Fail

When a zone fails an AS4663 test, you have three practical options. Choose based on the surface type, operational constraints, and budget.

1. Non-Slip Chemical Coatings

Cost: $20–$40/m²
Disruption: 24–48 hours (application + cure time)
Process: A chemical compound is applied to the existing tile surface, creating a micro-etched profile that increases surface texture without changing appearance. No tile removal required.
Recertification: New AS4663 test conducted after full cure. Certificate typically issued within 24–48 hours of treatment.
Suitable for: Ceramic tile, porcelain tile, natural stone — most wet area surfaces

Stellmann Non-Slip coatings are CSIRO-certified to AS4586 P4/P5 compliance, making them a documented compliant solution for facilities requiring certified remediation with minimal operational downtime.

2. Mechanical Grinding or Shot Blasting

Cost: $40–$60/m²
Disruption: 1–3 days depending on area size; potential for dust and noise
Process: Surface texture is mechanically restored by removing the top layer of the tile or concrete. Permanent solution — the texture is part of the substrate, not a coating.
Recertification: Full AS4663 retest required before the area returns to service.
Suitable for: Concrete floors, heavily worn tiles, car parks

3. Full Tile Replacement

Cost: $100–$200/m²+ depending on tile specification and subfloor condition
Disruption: 3–10 days minimum per zone
Process: Tile removal, subfloor preparation, re-tiling with AS4586-certified slip-resistant tiles, grouting, and curing.
When required: Where the substrate is irreparably damaged, where the tile specification is fundamentally wrong for the zone (e.g., polished marble in a wet area), or where mechanical grinding would compromise tile integrity.

Recertification After Remediation

1. Wait for full cure/settling (follow contractor specification)
2. Arrange AS4663:2013 wet pendulum test with a NATA-accredited tester
3. Ensure the tester tests under the contamination condition appropriate for the zone (clean water for amenities; oil for kitchens)
4. Receive new compliance certificate
5. File against the original fail certificate — do not discard the fail documentation

For a deeper look at this topic, see our complete guide: Warehouse Floor Anti-slip Compliance AU WHS Requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I run a slip resistance audit on my facility?

The minimum recommended frequency depends on zone type. Wet areas (bathrooms, change rooms, amenities) should be tested annually at minimum. Commercial kitchens carrying grease or oil contamination risk should be tested every six months. Dry corridors and general walkways can typically be maintained on a two-year cycle supplemented by quarterly visual inspection. Staircases should be audited annually, with additional inspections following any incident. Car parks and external areas should be audited annually and following any sealing or resurfacing. Any surface treatment — cleaning product change, coating application, mechanical maintenance — should trigger a targeted retest of the affected zones before they return to normal service.

What happens if a WHS inspector finds non-compliant floors at my facility?

A WHS inspector who identifies non-compliant floor surfaces can issue an improvement notice requiring remediation within a specified timeframe, typically 8–30 days. If the risk is assessed as immediate and serious, a prohibition notice may be issued, requiring the zone to be shut down until compliance is achieved. Inspectors from SafeWork NSW have the authority to take photographic evidence, collect surface samples, and request your test certificate history. Failure to produce documentation of prior testing or a remediation plan can escalate the matter to an enforceable undertaking or prosecution. Financial penalties for serious WHS breaches can reach $150,000 for an individual and $1.5 million for a corporation. Beyond penalties, a documented non-compliance finding strengthens any civil claim arising from a subsequent slip injury.

Is a P3 rating sufficient for aged care facilities in Australia?

Generally no. While P3 is the minimum standard for general dry interior areas under AS4586, aged care facilities are subject to the Aged Care Quality Standards (Standard 8) and ACQSC guidance that requires providers to manage environmental risks for a high-risk population. Falls are the leading cause of injury in residential aged care, and regulatory guidance from both ACQSC and SafeWork recommends P4 as a minimum across all pedestrian areas in aged care, including dry corridors. Wet areas in aged care require P4–P5 — the same as any commercial facility. If your aged care facility has any zones at P3 in an area where residents walk, you should obtain a formal risk assessment and consider treatment. A P3 result in a dry corridor of a general office building is compliant. The same result in an aged care corridor presents a documented liability.

What is the difference between P-ratings and R-ratings?

P-ratings (P0–P5) are derived from the wet pendulum test under AS4586/AS4663 and express slip resistance in terms of Pendulum Test Value (PTV) measured in British Pendulum Number (BPN). They are applied to pedestrian surfaces tested in a laboratory or on-site. R-ratings (R9–R13) are derived from a ramp angle test where a test person walks on the surface coated in oil at increasing angles until they can no longer maintain their footing. R-ratings are typically applied to industrial and external surfaces. R10 is the general minimum for pedestrian areas in car parks and external circulation zones. The two systems measure different physical phenomena using different methods — a P4 surface and an R10 surface cannot be directly compared.

Do I need to test every single room in my facility?

No — but you need to test every high-risk zone and every zone type. The approach is risk-based, not room-by-room. A large office building might have 60 individual rooms but only 8 distinct surface types in distinct risk categories: external entry, lobby, lift lobby, wet amenities, kitchen, staircase, general corridor, and car park. A representative number of test points in each zone type, selected at the highest-traffic and highest-wear locations, satisfies AS4663 methodology. Where a zone is large, multiple test points should be distributed to capture wear variation. The test report must document which zones were tested, the test point locations, and the basis for the sampling strategy.

How long does slip resistance remediation typically take before I can reopen?

For non-slip chemical coatings — the most common remediation method for compliant tile surfaces — the application itself takes 2–4 hours per 50m², with a cure period of 24–48 hours before the zone can return to full service. The NATA-accredited tester can typically conduct the post-treatment AS4663 retest on the second day after treatment, and the certificate is usually issued within 24 hours of the test. In practice, most wet-area remediations using chemical coating are complete — application, cure, retest, certificate — within 72 hours. Mechanical grinding and shot blasting typically require 3–5 days per zone. Full tile replacement is 7–14 days depending on zone size. During remediation, the zone must remain cordoned off with appropriate WHS signage.