UKAS slip testing for
local authority and council.

Why local authority and council commission UKAS accredited slip testing

Local authorities carry Section 41 Highways Act duty on maintained highway and footway, plus public-liability exposure for civic estate and managed public realm. UKAS accredited slip testing forms part of the Section 58 defence framework — the documented evidence that the authority took reasonable care to maintain the surface in a safe condition.

Specific issues we see in local authority and council

• Town centre pedestrianised zones. Reconstituted stone paviors and setts that polish under footfall. Annual condition combined with weather exposure.
• Civic building receptions. Town halls, municipal buildings — high-footfall public entrance zones.
• Swimming pool and leisure estate. Pool surrounds require barefoot-protocol PWTAG testing.
• Parks and public realm access. Wooden walkways, paved routes, step access. Seasonal algae affects all of these.

Which standards apply

BS EN 16165 Annex C for civic-building pedestrian areas. EN 13036-4 for highway/footway surfaces. UKSRG Issue 6 operational protocol. Section 41 Highways Act interpretation where council acts as maintaining authority.

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

Section 58 defence — what do you need?

A UKAS accredited baseline survey of the specific surface, plus documented maintenance and inspection records. Together these form the evidential backbone of a Section 58 defence.

Highway vs estate — different testing?

EN 13036-4 vs EN 16165. Same pendulum, subtly different interpretive framework. We apply the correct protocol for the surface type.

Borough-wide audit?

Yes. Several councils commission phased borough-wide surveys of paved public realm — typically 50-200 test locations per annual phase.

What if we find a failure?

Report documents the specific failure locations. Remediation options: cleaning regime change, targeted treatment, or full replacement. The documented response forms part of the Section 58 record.