Petition for Slip Resistance Testing and Labeling
The NFSI believes that it is important for consumers to be aware of the slip resistance of the floors they are interested in purchasing and kindly requests your support by submitting a comment to the CPSC.
We are asking anyone involved in Floor Safety to comment to additional floor safety standards requiring flooring manufactures to mandate traction levels on floors. We need your help, please leave your comment showing your support!
The deadline for comments is April 22, 2024.
The NFSI wants the CPSC to create rules that make it necessary for different types of floor coverings, coatings, treatments, cleaning agents, and footwear to be tested and labeled for slip resistance. This would apply to both commercial and residential use. Consumers will be informed about the traction levels of the products they are thinking of buying through the label. “It’s important that the consumer knows what they’re buying. Russell Kendzior, President and Founder of the National Floor Safety Institute, said that it's similar to food product labeling, like the nutrition label on potato chips, candy bars, and even bottles of water. The label will clearly indicate whether a product possesses high, moderate, or low traction, in compliance with the NFSI B101.5 Standard Guide for Uniform Labeling Method. This standard identifies the wet coefficient of friction of floor coverings, floor coatings, treatments, chemicals for commercial and residential floors, and consumer footwear. If the petition is approved, consumers can know how slippery a floor, shoe, or floor cleaning product is before buying.
Most accidents involving the elderly occur in their own homes, making falls the primary cause of accidental injury and death in our nation.
Research shows that 50% of slip and fall injuries happen because of unsafe floors, including cleaning products and footwear used by people. The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) asserts that by providing a label, consumers can make more informed decisions and minimize the risk of accidental falls. This would benefit both residential homes and businesses.
"Established in 1997, the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is: 'to aid in the prevention of slips, trips, and falls through education, research, and standards development.Since 2006, the NFSI has established safety standards for slip, trip, and fall prevention. The NFSI conducts testing and certification for the level of traction on products like floor coverings, floor mats, chemical floor cleaners, and equipment.For more information on NFSI product certification, go to: https://nfsi.org/certifications/certified-products/
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