UKAS slip testing for
cold stores and chill rooms.

Why cold stores and chill rooms commission UKAS accredited slip testing

Cold store operators face a distinct slip-testing challenge: the test itself is validated for standard laboratory conditions, but the operational environment is below zero with condensation and occasional ice formation. UKAS accredited testing of the substrate, combined with documented operational observations of condensation and ice risk, is the defensible approach.

Specific issues we see in cold stores and chill rooms

• Thermal transition zones. The boundary between chilled and ambient is where condensation and ice are most likely. This is typically where slips occur and where testing should focus.
• Blast freezer floors. Extreme low-temperature operation. Testing during warm-up cycles gives baseline data that is extrapolated to operational conditions.
• Chill loading docks. Refrigerated trailer docking points accumulate water from condensation and meltwater. Wet-PTV testing captures this.
• Personnel airlock rooms. Cold-store personnel airlocks see condensation dripping from incoming warmer bodies and pallets. Specific to this zone.

Which standards apply

BS EN 16165 Annex C pendulum testing during maintenance or warm-up cycles. The report includes operational observations of condensation and ice risk that complement the pendulum data. UKSRG Issue 6 operational protocol.

What you get

• UKAS accredited pendulum test report (Lab 7933)
• PTV results for every test location, dry and wet
• Interpretation against BS EN 16165 and UKSRG benchmarks
• Photographic record of test locations
• Measurement uncertainty statements (required for admissibility)
• 5 working day turnaround from site visit to report

Common questions

Can you test in a live freezer?

The pendulum test is validated at standard lab conditions, not below freezing. We test during warm-up cycles or at thermal transition zones that are accessible at testing temperature.

Does the freezer need to be shut down?

Not usually — testing typically runs during a planned maintenance window without shutting down the full facility.

What about ice formation on the floor?

Ice formation itself cannot be tested by pendulum — the test measures the substrate. But the substrate PTV plus documented operational observations of ice formation gives the risk picture.

RIDDOR from a cold store slip?

Call us — post-incident testing even of a cold-store floor is usually possible during a scheduled warm-up. We will coordinate with your operations team.