How To Apply Non-Slip Granules Into Coatings

QUICK REFRESHER ON NON-SLIP COATINGS

At times, commercial and industrial facilities require a commercial painter to deliver a non-slip surface. The process is simple enough, but there are practical considerations to consider.

TWO CONSIDERATIONS
1) Material used
2) Size used

1) MATERIAL USED

As the surface will encounter weight and downward pressure from either foot traffic or possibly vehicles, it is essential to use the hardest, most crush-resistant media possible.

What To Use:
• Aluminum Oxide
• Alluvial Garnet
• Glass Beads

Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each to help you determine which is right for your particular application.

➤  Aluminum Oxide Pros:
➭ Extremely hard and highly resistant toward crushing
➭ Primarily used in applications like entrances to emergency services, access to power plants, and similar environments

➤  Aluminum Oxide Cons:
➭ Very sharp
➭ Not suitable for pedestrian areas where people may be barefoot or can possibly trip and fall

➤  Alluvial Garnet Pros:
➭ Extremely hard and highly resistant toward crushing
➭ Rounded grain, less sharp, primarily used in high foot-traffic or public environments where people may be barefoot or children could trip and fall

➤  Alluvial Garnet Cons:
➭ Being less angular, it is less effective than aluminum oxide for applications needing absolute maximum traction.

➤  Glass Bead Pros:
➭ Transparent – so best choice for clear decorative coatings
➭ Rounded shape – gentle on bare feet

➤  Glass Bead Cons:
➭ Crushed easily – not for industrial applications
➭ Hard to distribute evenly across surfaces

2) SIZE OF GRAIN

The most important consideration when choosing the size of the granules is to identify the particular challenge of the environment we must overcome.

• With lesser challenges like light pedestrian traffic, moderate incline ramps, or contamination such as water spillage, an 80 mesh media is most likely sufficient.
• For greater challenges like oil or grease spillage, using a larger grain like 24 mesh is a good rule of thumb.
• For high performance, maximum traction like driveways of Fire Departments at airports or military bases, we recommend using 16 mesh aluminum oxide. Very coarse, very hard, very sharp. Falling on such a surface can cut up your skin pretty badly, but such a surface prevents slippage no matter what contaminate spills onto it.