Despite there being numerous steps put in place by the health and safety executive, there still remains a high amount of slips and trips in the workplace, causing people to be absent from work due to personal injury. For every accidental trip that happens resulting in an injury, it is so easy for someone to pick up the phone and call a personal injury lawyer. Will your floors stand up to the scrutiny in the event of a claim? The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) requires businesses to take preventative measures to minimize the risk of slips and trips in the workplace. In order to pass a health and safety inspection in new businesses, there is a chance that a planning officer may test the floor surface to get an accurate reading of slip resistance. The tests used to ensure your floors pose minimum risk include: 1. Pendulum test This is also known as a portable skid resistance tester and it is subject to British Standards: BS 7976: Parts1-3, 2002. Using an imitation heel, the device will swing over a sampling of the floor surface to record the Pendulum Test Values (PTV). The Pendulum test has proved to be a reliable and efficient method of floor testing, however a flooring technician trained to use the Pendulum must use the device. The preparation of the rubber slider must be set up accurately to test the conditions of both dry floors and contaminated floors. When water is on the floor surface, that’s when slips are likely to happen. To minimise the risk of slips happening on wet floors, commercial premises must have a PTV of 36+ minimum. 2. Surface Roughness Testing A surface roughness meter can be used to supplement the data obtained in the Pendulum test. It is a quick and efficient method to test solid hardwood flooring. Ideally, the test results would be over 20 µm, meaning it has low slip potential. If your score indicates a moderate or high slip potential, then a higher level of floor roughness will be required to minimize the risk. A thicker veneer coat may also help increase the surface roughness score, lowering the slip risk. Manufacturers Data Sheets All flooring manufacturers will provide product data sheets, safety information sheets, and technical data sheets in compliance with European Directives. The flooring data sheets are what every business owner should have in their business records, providing details that they have in fact, installed non-slip flooring in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Accidents do and will happen, but when they do, they will be just that. An accident! It may be due to human error, carelessness, or an untied shoelace. But the fact remains that if you have your surface roughness test showing a low slip risk, combined with a PTV of over 36, and follow the safety advice for the cleaning and maintenance of solid wood flooring (or engineered), then you will have done everything in your power to protect your employees from the risks of slippery floors.

Nope going to look at worktops tomorrow. I like Silestone Snowy Ibiza, Lagoon, Bianco River. I've spent the whole afternoon painting 13 white cu board size samples and i'm liking F&B Wimborne White, Dulux Moon Shimmer and Valspar White Hot. The sun has been in and out all afternoon in our west facing room so it's really testing them out! I'll have plenty of samples & pics tomorrow as heading off to the Silestone warehouse (with all my painted samples!!). Thanks minnie, I'll pop over to the floor one now - lots of decisions to make!

I’d have thought that a good architect would obviate the need for a concept person, but perhaps it helps but to feel like you’re committed to something afterwards? Regardless, spending time on Houzz / Pinterest / etc. assembling pictures of what you both like and really spending time talking about why you like X or Y will help you to make the most of what a professional had to offer. It will also help you to recognise when a professional is not a good fit. We rejected one highly recommended local architect because they clearly weren’t listening to what we wanted and found another local who not only ‘got’ is but with whom we got along so well that we’re looking forward to having her and her family round for a drink once the project is complete and distancing is over. 🤞But e we only had the confidence to reject the first one because we knew they weren’t headed in the right direction for us. Your architect should really want to know you in some sense so that they can design a space that suits your needs. Rethinking things in light of likely post-pandemic working patterns seems very sensible but also be realistic: a room that is used two days/week as an office kind of needs other functions or it is big waste of space. I’ve seen some neat foldaway offices on Houzz where a room could cover from office to lounge fairly quickly if you’ve successfully gone paperless.

Hello Devlin, I think your venture sounds very interesting – i visited Tokyo a few years ago and found it absolutely fascinating. I see from your plan you have separated the 'wet area' from the 'washing machine/ basin area' by a door – that works perfectly well. There is no problem with electrics since the areas are separated – the shower room will have its own pull-string to work the shower room lights. Your design also talks about a new window – that is fine too. A builder will be able to sort that out for you and put a lintel above the top of the window. You might want to start thinking about what you want for the floor finish – same floor finish for both rooms? Last week I bought a book (£15.99) which I think your would find very useful. It is user friendly, written by an architect and called: Home Improvements ideas from an architect. Details as follows: https://www.keithjamesclarke.com It has a Case Study, CS7, which inlcludes the design of a bathroom, details of stud walls and alot of really useful staff about home improvements. I hope you find my thoughts useful... good luck with your project. Best wishes, BBSB_2