Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-01-23 Origin: Site
Stair-related slips and falls are a persistent public-health and economic problem across environments from homes to commercial and industrial facilities. Stair tread mats—engineered slip-resistant coverings applied to stair nosings and treads—are a simple, cost-effective engineering control that can materially reduce the likelihood and severity of stair-related injuries. This paper synthesizes epidemiological data on fall risk, reviews physical and material mechanisms that govern slip resistance on stairs, examines standard test methods and performance metrics, and provides an evidence-based, practical selection framework for specifying stair tread mats. The final sections offer guidance on installation, maintenance, and measurable outcomes for facilities managers and procurement teams. A short product reference to FXH stair tread solutions is included to illustrate real-world options.
Stairs are concentrated risk points: they force change of elevation, crowding of foot traffic, and frequent interaction with environmental contaminants (water, grease, snow, dust), lighting transitions, and variable user attention. Globally, falls are a leading source of injury and death; millions of falls require medical attention each year, and a meaningful share involve stairs and steps. These events result not only in human suffering but in direct medical costs, indirect productivity losses, and regulatory liabilities for building owners and employers. Reducing stair-related slips and falls is therefore both a public-health priority and a practical facilities-management imperative.
To prioritize interventions, it helps to grasp the scale of fall-related harm:
Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide; roughly 37 millionfalls annually are severe enough to need medical attention. This underlines the magnitude of fall risk in everyday environments.
In high-income countries, older adults account for a substantial fraction of fall-related emergency visits: there are ~3 million emergency department visits annuallyfor older-adult falls in the U.S. and millions more nonfatal fall events across age groups. Because stair users include both older adults and busy working-age populations, preventive measures on stairs protect multiple risk groups.
In occupational settings, slips, trips, and falls remain a leading cause of workplace injuries and lost work days; national occupational datasets consistently show that these incidents account for hundreds of thousands of reported injuries each year. Reducing slip incidents on stairs is therefore a direct way to improve worker safety and reduce costs.
These figures justify investment in targeted environmental controls—one of the most cost-effective categories being properly specified stair tread mats.
Stair tread mats are engineered to meet several overlapping functional goals:
Increase traction— raise friction between shoe and stair surface in both dry and contaminated conditions so the foot does not slip during heel strike or toe-off.
Promote visible step delineation— provide visual contrast on the stair edge (nosing) to reduce missed steps and missteps, especially under suboptimal lighting.
Absorb impact / reduce hard-edge strikes— in some designs, mat thickness or cushioning reduces impact forces, which is particularly relevant in environments where fall severity is a concern.
Resist environmental contaminants— remain slip-resistant when exposed to water, oil, snow, or tracked-in debris and allow easy cleaning or drainage.
Durability and stain/chemical resistance— survive high traffic, abrasive wear, and cleaning chemicals while preserving performance over the mat’s service life.
Performance is often measured by slip resistance metrics (static or dynamic coefficients of friction, Pendulum test values), wear resistance (abrasion ratings), and practical installation attributes (self-adhesive backing, screw-down profiles, or modular design). Choosing a product without reference to these performance dimensions risks buying a mat that looks safe but performs poorly when it matters.
Slip events on stairs are governed by the interplay of three factors: surface geometry and roughness, interfacial contamination, and human biomechanics.
Surface geometry & roughnessdetermine micro-scale interlocking between shoe sole and substrate; engineered textures (micro-nibs, abrasive inserts) create anchoring points that increase traction.
Contamination(water, oils, dust) reduces friction by lubricating the interface; some mat surfaces are designed to channel away contaminants or use hydrophobic profiles to maintain higher friction under wet conditions.
Biomechanics: stair walking produces different force vectors compared with level walking—vertical impact and forward momentum are more pronounced, and the foot placement sequence differs. Traction must therefore be reliable across a range of force vectors and gait phases.
Test methods simulate these conditions to varying degrees; the industry increasingly favors dynamic, contamination-capable tests (e.g., pendulum tests) over static friction tests that only measure dry static grip. Understanding this helps specify mats that perform in real use rather than only under ideal lab conditions.
There are several test methods and standards relevant to stair treads; the most practically relevant include:
Pendulum slip resistance test (BS 7976 / BS-EN variants)— it simulates a sliding shoe sole under dynamic conditions and can be performed with contaminated surfaces to approximate real slip scenarios. This method is widely used in the UK and internationally as a practical metric for likelihood of slipping. Results are expressed as Pendulum Test Values (PTV), with higher values indicating lower slip risk.
Static Coefficient of Friction tests (ASTM D2047 and related methods)— useful for some floor types but criticized because static tests often do not model dynamic walking or contamination; they can be misleading if used alone. Practitioners should therefore favor dynamic tests for stair safety decisions.
Product certifications & construction codes— some countries and building codes reference particular tests or thresholds; procurement teams should check local regulations and any relevant occupational guidelines.
Practical takeaway: prefer products with proven Pendulum-type ratings (or local accepted dynamic test equivalents) and manufacturer test reports showing performance under contaminated/wet conditions.
Pendulum slip resistance test
Static Coefficient of Friction tests
Product certifications & construction codes
Below is a stepwise framework (decision rubric) designed for procurement managers, architects, and facilities directors to select stair tread mats that reduce risk and offer durable value.
Traffic intensity: light (residential), moderate (office, retail), heavy (transit hubs, stadiums).
Contaminants: water, snow, oils, food grease, or dry dust determine surface design.
User population: proportion of elderly, children, or workers with PPE (boots) matters because footwear interacts differently with mat surfaces.
Dynamic slip resistance(Pendulum / PTV or equivalent) for wet/dirty conditions. Set minimal thresholds based on local guidance (for example, PTV ≥ 36 is often treated as acceptable for public walkways in some jurisdictions). Confirm the actual threshold applicable to your region or code.
Abrasion/ wear ratingfor expected footfalls per day; higher abrasion resistance for heavy/industrial traffic.
Chemical & UV resistancefor outdoor exposures.
Flammability or smoke characteristicswhen used in enclosed public spaces (some fire codes require low smoke development materials).
Abrasive inserts / mineral grit: provide excellent traction but can abrade shoe soles and may be uncomfortable (less suitable for barefoot zones).
Rubber and vulcanized composites: durable, cleanable, and often used in industrial stairs.
PVC coil or Carpet surface: can be good for water drainage and moderate traffic. Material like these can be an economical stair matchoice.
Modular vs. fixed: modular treads allow replacement of worn sections; fixed metal nosings with inserts provide structural durability in transit settings.
Attachment: adhesive tape, mechanical anchors (screws), or stair nosing systems. Mechanical anchoring is preferred in high-traffic public spaces for durability.
Beveled edges & drainage: reduce trip hazards and allow contaminants to clear.
Anti-trip height: ensure mats do not create a step hazard—follow local accessibility guidelines for nosing thickness and contrast.
Cleaning protocols: mat surfaces that are easy to clean and drain will retain slip resistance. Define cleaning frequencies and methods compatible with the product (power washing, vacuuming, detergent types).
Replacement plan: estimate expected service life (years of use) and procure warranties and spare sections accordingly to reduce lifecycle cost.
Interventions that change the walking surface at critical points reduce slip incidents. While epidemiological studies often consider multifactorial causes (lighting, behavior, footwear), facility-level audits and before/after interventions show measurable reductions in slip-and-fall reports where stair treads and nosing improvements are made. Given the high baseline incidence of fall injuries (see §2), even modest relative reductions translate into meaningful absolute reductions in injuries and associated costs. To create defensible ROI calculations, pair local incident data (facility injury logs) with manufacturer service-life estimates and local healthcare cost averages.
Clean and prepare substrate; remove old adhesive or contaminants.
Follow manufacturer instructions for temperature ranges and adhesive cure times.
For high-traffic public settings, prefer mechanical anchors or nosing systems to adhesive-only methods.
Measure slip resistance in situ after installation (pendulum or qualified local equivalent) to confirm lab claims translate to real conditions. Keep test certificates on file.
Establish routine cleaning that preserves surface texture (avoid polishing).
Inspect for wear every 3–6 months in medium/high traffic settings; replace sections that fall below friction thresholds.
Keep records of cleaning and inspection to support safety audits and insurance inquiries.
Slip resistance alone is not sufficient. Stair safety is a combination of tactile and visual cues:
Contrast: Provide a high-contrast nosing or visual strip to help users judge the stair edge; this aids both the visually impaired and distracted users.
Tactile cues: For visually impaired users, tactile indicators at landings and top/bottom of stairs complement mat selection.
Noise & comfort tradeoffs: abrasive inserts increase traction but can create higher shoe abrasion and more foot noise; select according to environment (e.g., quiet library vs. busy transit concourse).
Selecting a stair tread mat should be part of an inclusive design strategy that considers the full human experience of the stair, not only the slipperiness under test conditions.
FXH Stair Tread Solutions are available for both commercial and residential environments.
For commercial settings, there are four material options to choose from: velour, carpet, modular tiles, and aluminum alloy.
For residential environments, there are two solutions: striped stair mats and foam stair mats. These options provide a balance of comfort and durability, ensuring that stairs are both safe and stylish for home use.
In addition to the existing solutions, we also offer customizable stair tread mats that can be tailored to specific dimensions or design preferences. Whether it's for high-traffic commercial spaces or cozy residential settings, our products are engineered to provide reliable performance and aesthetic appeal.
Stair tread mats are a focused, measurable, and cost-effective element of a stair safety program. When selected based on dynamic slip-resistance testing, installed with suitable attachment methods, and maintained under a routine plan, stair tread mats reduce the probability of stair-related slips and contribute to safer, more accessible buildings. For procurement teams and safety managers, the highest-value approach is to pair evidence-based product selection (test reports, material specs) with an installation and maintenance plan that commits to long-term performance monitoring.
