UKAS slip testing for
museums and galleries.

Why museums and galleries commission UKAS accredited slip testing

Museum and gallery operators manage high-volume visitor pedestrian flow on often historic or preserved floor surfaces. The design tension between visitor safety and heritage preservation is real. UKAS accredited testing, performed non-invasively, gives the operator defensible evidence without damaging the floor.

Specific issues we see in museums and galleries

• Entrance zones. Wet-weather visitor entry contamination. Matting adequacy at peak visitor days.
• Gallery circulation. Historic parquet, polished stone, listed mosaic — each with specific testing considerations.
• Café and visitor facility areas. Modern commercial spec integrated into historic building. Standard pedestrian testing.
• External approaches and steps. Stone steps and paving with seasonal weather exposure.

Which standards apply

BS EN 16165 Annex C pendulum testing. Non-invasive methodology for listed and heritage floors. 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

Listed floor — non-invasive?

Always. Testing is fully non-invasive — no drilling, marks, or damage.

National museum or private collection?

Same process for either. National museums tend to commission via estates / facilities management; private collections often via their insurer.

Historic parquet and mosaic?

Non-invasive pendulum testing works on any accessible flat surface. Results are comparable across substrate types subject to interpretation.

Post-incident after a visitor slip?

Standard workstream. Museum insurers commission post-incident UKAS testing regularly.