With water and soap making surfaces slippery, there's a safety element to your bathroom that needs to be considered. This is especially true when building or designing a shower enclosure or looking at flooring options.
Choosing a shower tray or flooring with an anti-slip technology can give you that extra peace of mind, especially for families, older homeowners or anyone prioritising safety.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what it means to have a slip rating in the bathroom and what to look out for when shopping for products like shower trays.
What is a slip rating?
A slip rating measures how resistant a surface is to slipping, especially in wet environments like bathrooms. Since bathrooms naturally have more water, steam and soap residues, surfaces here need higher slip resistance to minimise the risk of accidents.
Anti-slip shower trays have a textured surface designed to reduce the risk of slipping without compromising how it feels underfoot. Many will come with a ‘Class’ rating which helps to determine the level of safety and comfort being provided.
There are also features with some types of bathroom flooring that can help to reduce slip risk. Vinyl flooring, for example, will often have a clear protective coating that goes on top of the design - this can be stain resistant, waterproof and slip resistant all in one.
Why are slip ratings important in bathrooms?
Choosing the right grade for surfaces like your shower tray and flooring are really important as it will reduce the risk of slips and falls. It can also provide extra confidence in walk-in or wetroom style installations where water spreads more across the floor. Here’s a breakdown of the most important benefits:
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Safety: Wet tiles and shower trays can become slippery fast. Anti-slip ratings help you choose products designed to reduce falls
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Reassurance: A safe bathroom is especially important for families, older adults or anyone with reduced mobility
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Quality: Many manufacturers test their products to industry standards, so you can trust that your shower tray is certified for slip resistance
What slip ratings are related to bathrooms?
Slip resistance for floors and coverings is classified under two main industrial standards: DIN 51130, which applies to general work areas, and DIN 51097, which specifically covers barefoot environments such as swimming pools, showers and changing rooms - and it’s this rating to look out for when it comes to the bathroom.
How are products tested according to DIN 51097?
In the test, a floor surface is mounted on a rack and sprayed with water. A person then walks across it barefoot while the surface is gradually tilted. The key measurement is the angle at which they begin to slip or lose secure footing. This angle determines the slip resistance class of the material.
Results are divided into three safety classes:
Class A: Slip resistant at angles of 12° - 18°
Class B: Slip resistant at angles of 18° - 24°
Class C: Slip resistant at angles greater than 24°
Because of its water-based testing method, DIN 51097 is also most commonly applied to anti-slip surfaces in leisure facilities and swimming pool mats, so you can be confident in its classification for the domestic bathroom.
Which anti-slip rating do I need?
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Class A - Suitable for light use, such as guest or secondary bathrooms where slip resistance is less of a concern.
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Class B - A reliable middle ground, offering dependable safety for most family bathrooms and regular, everyday use.
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Class C - The highest level of protection, recommended for walk-in showers, wetrooms, and homes with children, older adults or anyone wanting extra security.
If you’re unsure which class to choose, go for Class C. This will provide the best balance of safety, comfort and long-term reassurance.
Choosing the right shower tray
When shopping for a shower tray, look out for those tested to a DN 51097 standard, offering reliable slip resistance without compromising on design.
Modern anti-slip shower trays now come in a variety of colours, finishes and slimline profile, so safety doesn’t mean sacrificing style. You can find out more about how to choose a shower tray in our detailed blog.
Here’s some of our bestselling shower trays that feature Class C slip resistance, according to DIN 51097 standards.
Slip ratings are a really handy guide to ensuring a safer, more practical bathroom. Choosing an anti-slip shower tray with a strong slip rating means you can enjoy a stylish bathroom that’s safe for everyone. Ready to shop? Browse our full range of shower trays here at Drench.
