We test new and refurbished floors before practical completion to confirm they meet the slip resistance specifications set out in the project specification, the architect's design intent, and the relevant guidance from the UK Slip Resistance Group.
Pre-handover (or pre-completion) slip resistance testing is the testing of new or refurbished floor surfaces before practical completion of a construction or fit-out project. The purpose is to verify that the installed floor meets the slip resistance specification set out in the project documents, and to identify any underperforming areas before the building is handed over to the client.
Once a floor has been handed over and the client has taken occupation, any subsequent slip resistance issues become commercial disputes. Identifying a non-compliant floor at pre-handover stage allows the contractor and the flooring sub-contractor to remedy the issue under warranty, before the building is in use. It also gives the client a documented evidential baseline for the future.
We test against whatever specification the project has set — typically:
Pre-handover testing is most effective when scheduled to allow a buffer for remedial work. We typically attend two to three weeks before the planned practical completion date, which gives the contractor enough time to address any failed zones — by re-treating, re-finishing, or replacing — and for those remediated zones to be retested before handover.
Pre-handover testing is normally commissioned by the main contractor, the project architect, or the client's project manager. We work directly with all three, and our reports are routinely submitted as part of the project handover documentation pack.
To request a quote for pre-handover floor testing at a specific site, call us on 0208 246 5562, email info@surfaceperformance.com, or use the enquiry form. We typically issue fixed-price quotes within the same working day.