Anti-slip floor signage R ratings explained

Anti-slip floor signs and floor-mounted graphics use the R-rating system from DIN 51130. The rating tells you how slip-resistant the surface is in oily conditions: relevant for kitchens, processing plants, and any wet-floor environment.

The R ratings

• R9: slope angle 6° to 10°. Low slip resistance. Suitable for entrance areas, lobbies.
• R10: slope angle 10° to 19°. Medium. Office kitchens, washrooms, retail back-of-house.
• R11: slope angle 19° to 27°. Increased. Industrial production, kitchen prep areas, wet-process zones.
• R12: slope angle 27° to 35°. High. Food processing, dairy, slaughter halls, high-grease environments.
• R13: slope angle over 35°. Very high. Slaughter zones, oil-processing, extreme-grease environments.

What this means for floor signage

Floor-mounted graphics and anti-slip signs need to match (or exceed) the surrounding floor's slip rating. A floor-mounted directional graphic placed in a kitchen pass-through must be at least R11. A pictogram on a slaughter-hall floor must be R12 or R13. Specifying lower than the surrounding floor creates a hazard at exactly the location people are looking down.

Common applications

• Pedestrian walkway markings: R10 minimum for general industrial
• Kitchen and food processing: R11 minimum, R12 for grease-heavy areas
• Industrial production floors: R10-R11 depending on contamination
• Wet-process areas: R12 minimum
• Outdoor pedestrian routes: R10 minimum, R11 in frosty conditions

Direct Signs supplies anti-slip floor signage as part of our materials range. For project-specific specification, our team can advise based on your floor surface, contamination type, and traffic volume.