Material Testing

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AS 4586 is the Australian Standard used when testing new pedestrian surface materials. 

Slip testing to this Standard provides you with a Classification/ Rating. 

There are four (4) different test methods in this Standard - all unique, 

• Appendix A - Wet Pendulum, where water is the contaminant used during testing

Note: Appendix A tests can be conducted with either Slider 96 (representative of shoe interactions with the surface), or Slider 55 (representative of barefoot or vehicular interactions with the surface). 

• Appendix B - Dry Floor Friction, where testing is conducted in the dry condition
• Appendix C - Wet-barefoot incline platform, where soapy water is used during testing
• Appendix D - Oil-wet incline platform, where motor oil is used during testing

At Safetech Consult, we focus our efforts on testing to Appendix A and Appendix B (the test methods which best represent many of the potential uses of materials after installation). These tests provide a P-rating (through AS 4586, Appendix A) and D-rating (through AS 4586, Appendix B). 

At Safetech Consult, we are not limited to testing to Australian Standards, we also have experience testing to other International Standards - such as CEN 16165, BS 7976 and ASTM E303. Should these be of interest to you, contact our team. 

After surfaces have been installed, they are essentially deemed "existing surfaces", and as such, need to be tested to AS 4663. This Standard is used for testing existing pedestrian surface materials, with results expressed as a numerical value. 

There are only two (2) test methods in this Standard, 

• Appendix A - Wet Pendulum, where water is the contaminant used during testing

Note: Appendix A slip testing can be conducted with either Slider 96 (representative of shoe interactions with the surface), or Slider 55 (representative of barefoot or vehicular interactions with the surface). 

• Appendix B - Dry Floor Friction, where testing is conducted in the dry condition

Additional information is usually required to understand how the surface is performing, please refer to our Onsite Assessment page for more details. 

Disability access requires combinations of materials to meet certain luminance contrast testing requirements. These requirements depend on the type of materials that are installed, categorised either as,

• Building Elements (BEs)
• Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs)

Prior to determining the luminance contrast of materials, all materials need to first be tested for their luminous reflectance value (LRV). This is achieved through the testing methods outlined in AS 1428.1 and AS 1428.4.1. 

• BEs are tested for their LRV, inline with Appendix B of AS 1428.1
• TGSIs are tested for their LRV, inline with Appendix E of AS 1428.4.1

To be compliant for disability access, properties must have specific materials installed that meet the Luminance Contrast testing requirements set out by AS 1428 and the National Construction Code (NCC). Luminance Contrast determination is performed after two (2) materials have been tested for their LRVs, these values are compared against one-another, with the result represented as a percentage contrast. 

BEs can be contrasted in accordance with Appendix B of AS 1428.1. These are materials like stair nosings, doorways, disability toilets. All BEs must meet a 30% luminance contrast to comply with the NCC and AS 1428.1. 

TGSIs can be contrasted in accordance with Appendix E of AS 1428.4.1. TGSIs are categorised into three (3) different types, each with their own luminance contrast requirements.

• Integrated TGSIs, require a 30% luminance contrast
• Discrete TGSIs, require a 45% luminance contrast
• Composite Discrete TGSIs, require a 60% luminance contrast

Tile defects can appear in many forms, one of the most common is colour or shade variation between batches. Even small differences can impact the visual consistency of a project, leading to disputes or concerns about quality.

A simple and reliable way to check whether your tiles meet the criteria outlined in AS ISO 10545.16 is through independent testing.

At Safetech Consult, we provide testing services to determine whether there are measurable differences in tile colour or shade between batches. Our expert team can help you:

• Verify consistency between tile deliveries.
• Confirm whether tiles supplied by a manufacturer have changed over time.
• Assess visual variations in tiles already installed on your project.

If you’re a tile supplier, builder, or project manager and have concerns about tile appearance, we can provide clear, independent results to support your next steps.

 In Australia, roads, pavements, and paints are tested under standards such as AS 4049 and AS 1142.42. At Safetech Consult, we specialise in independent skid resistance testing and luminance flux testing, ensuring transport vehicle safety and enhanced awareness.

Certain Australian States mandate specific skid resistance testing methods, including T231 in NSW, Q704 in QLD, TP345 in SA, and 310.1 in WA. At Safetech Consult, we offer comprehensive testing services and are not limited to these methods, providing tailored solutions to meet your needs.

At Safetech Consult, we also provide independent dimensional testing and assessments on a range of building materials - including stair nosings, visual indicators on glazing, grates, tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs), and more.

Please contact the team for more information. 

At Safetech Consult, we conduct colour testing on materials for industries like, 

• Paints and Coatings
• Textiles and Apparel
• Cosmetics
• Plastics
• Printing and Packaging
• Automotive
• Medical Diagnostics

If this is of interest to you, please contact the team for more information. 

At Safetech Consult, we conduct Mohs hardness testing on tiles in accordance with ISO 6769 and CEN EN 101. This test involves using reference minerals of known hardness to determine the scratch resistance of the tile surface. 

Understanding a tile’s scratch hardness is useful in assessing its durability, suitability for specific applications, and resistance to everyday wear, as well as providing clear, independent evidence in the event of disputes over tile quality or performance of the tile. For suppliers, builders, and project managers, Mohs testing provides confidence that tiles meet performance expectations and are appropriate for their intended use.

If this is of interest to you, please contact the team for more information.