If you’re looking for an economical way to upgrade the concrete flooring in your restaurant, hospital, customer lobby or manufacturing plant, you may want to consider getting your floor polished to an attractive shine. Polishing concrete actually increases the floor’s hardness, is relatively easy to maintain, and can be enhanced with colors in addition to the glossy texture.
But does the smooth surface of polished concrete make it slippery for your employees or customers? Generally, no. But there are definitely some cases in which you don’t want to use it.
Polished Concrete Is NOT Slippery When Dry
Don’t let the shine fool you. It’s not a slippery coating that creates the gleam of polished concrete, but a series of grindings. Though the process of polishing compresses the surface of the concrete by pushing the molecules closer together, the end product is still slightly porous.
The grinding process also flattens the surface more thoroughly at a microscopic level, letting more of your foot come into contact with the surface. When kept clean, polished concrete has about as much grip as regular concrete and provides better foot traction than marble or even some linoleum surfaces.
Polished Concrete Is Generally NOT Slippery When Wet
A flooring safety test using measurement standards provided by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) found that polished concrete has superior slip resistance, even when wet. The way that water interacts with the porous surface can even provide a bit of extra grip for one’s shoe. (By the same token, though, the porous surface of polished concrete means that water doesn’t wipe up as easily, leaving a temporary damp spot.)
However, as with many types of flooring, spilled oils and chemicals can still pose slip hazards and other safety issues. If you’re looking for flooring for commercial venture or manufacturing plant that deals with oils or harsh chemicals, you’re better off selecting a stronger chemical-resistant floor coating.
What Slip Resistance Testing Shows About Polished Concrete
Polished concrete may look slick, but slip resistance testing tells a more complete story. The Concrete Polishing Council tested polished concrete surfaces across multiple aggregate exposure classes and gloss levels to measure their dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) under wet conditions. DCOF is a ratio used to measure a flat surface’s slip resistance under certain conditions.
The result (see chart) showed that aggregate exposure did not significantly affect slip resistance. Gloss level had more impact, with lower-gloss finishes producing higher DCOF values than very high-gloss finishes. However, all tested polished concrete finishes exceeded the minimum DCOF requirement of 0.42 for level indoor areas that may get wet.
Polished Concrete IS Slippery in Dusty Conditions
The weakness of polished concrete flooring is that it’s exceptionally slippery when exposed to dry powder or fine dust. Powder glides over the surface of the concrete, making it very difficult and even dangerous to walk on.
For this reason, we don’t recommend polished concrete in ceramic labs, for example, or manufacturing plants that produce a large amount of sawdust or other powder. Depending on the type of material your facility handles, we might recommend you install a special slip-resistant floor coating instead.
Is Polished Concrete Right for Your Facility?
Polished concrete can be a durable, attractive, and slip-resistant flooring option for many commercial and industrial facilities. The key is understanding the environment where it will be installed.
If your facility is clean, dry, and high-traffic, polished concrete may be a strong fit. If your facility deals with heavy dust, oils, chemicals, or frequent contaminants, CPC Floor Coatings can help you evaluate whether polished concrete, a slip-resistant coating, or a chemical-resistant coating is the better choice.
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Is Polished Concrete a Good Fit for Your Facility? |
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Facility Condition |
Is Polished Concrete a Good Fit? |
Why |
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Clean, dry high-traffic areas |
Often yes |
It’s durable, easy to maintain, and slip-resistant when clean. |
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Wet indoor area |
Often yes |
Testing showed polished concrete exceeded minimum. DCOF |
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Oil, grease, or chemical exposure |
Maybe |
Depending on level of spill exposure, protective coatings may be more suitable. |
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Heavy fine dust or powder exposure |
Generally no |
Dust can reduce traction and increase slip risk. |
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Food processing or chemical manufacturing |
Generally no |
Specialized coatings may offer better protection. |
To learn more about the benefits of concrete polishing, check out our concrete polishing overview. If your facility is located in the Southeast and you think polished concrete might be a good choice for your business, CPC Floor Coatings would be happy to guide you through the decision process. Give us a call at (864) 855-0600 or reach out online.
