Superior alternatives to Bath Mats: hygienic and durable non-slip solution

August 28, 2020

Tripping and slipping are common problems, with bathrooms being particularly high-risk areas. Thousands of injuries occur in bathrooms each year, and most of these accidents have long-term, negative effects on the mobility and quality of life of those affected.

Shower and bath mats are often used to reduce the risk of slipping, but they rarely provide effective slip resistance in wet and soapy conditions. Additionally, these mats can create hygiene issues, as they are notoriously difficult to keep clean.

Olivet Aged Care in Ringwood, Victoria, recognized these risks for their residents, especially for Irene (85), who requires daily care and support from a professional carer. Despite the presence of support rails, a shower mat, and a seat, the level of protection was inadequate, leaving Irene at risk of slipping.

To enhance safety, Olivet Aged Care chose to install Stellmann Non-Slip on her acrylic shower base. Stellmann offers CSIRO-certified slip resistance in wet and soapy conditions. The transparent coating requires no special cleaning procedures, thanks to its water and dirt-repelling characteristics, and can be applied to tiles, baths and shower trays.

Before and After. Left: shower mat. Right: Stellmann Non-Slip Bathroom

The coating has greatly benefited both Irene and her carer. “Installing Stellmann Non-Slip has had a direct positive impact on the safety and well-being” says Jelmer Stellingwerf, Managing Director at Stellmann. “Our non-slip coating provides peace of mind in the bathroom.”

A 2019 study under carers in Australia highlights that people experience long-term psychological distress due to the fear of falling. A majority of carers see slipping and falling risks as a major safety risk for their patients and themselves. One of the conclusions of the study was to promote the use of non-slip surfaces.

The reality is that many showers and bathrooms remain slippery in wet and soapy conditions. ”Most of the tiles and tubs on the market only get tested for slip-resistance in dry conditions,” explains Jelmer. ”This gives a false sense of safety and is one of the reasons why so many slipping incidents still happen.”

Stellmann Non-Slip is the only aftermarket non-slip solution which has been certified for slip-resistance in wet conditions. It scores a P3, P4 and P5 slip rating for barefoot areas. Therefore, it can upgrade any surface to the required slip-rating. The coating can be installed by end customers with the Stellmann Non-Slip Application Kit or by one of Stellmann Australia’s certified technicians.

‘The feedback from our customers is often overwhelming. The simple step of having our non-slip coating installed can make a huge difference,’ says Jelmer. ‘Giving back a bit of independence and peace of mind to our customers makes our job very worthwhile.’

Stellmann Non-Slip is available via National Tiles. Installation service is available via our certified installers. Contact us via the form below for a quote.