Features of anti-slip tapes, types of products and their properties, advantages of using pads in hazardous areas. Anti-slip belts are special products made of resilient material or coated with abrasive grit that make it easy to move on slippery surfaces. The variety of overlay designs and materials used to manufacture allows users to select samples for any coating. We will talk about the use of different types of ribbons in this article.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Anti-Slip Tapes
Compared to products for a similar purpose (rugs, special coatings), strips have a number of advantages:
- Easy to clean with any cleaning agent.
- They are securely fixed on smooth and rough surfaces.
- The material is resistant to fire, sunlight, temperature extremes.
- Products have a low price.
- Installation is very easy anywhere. It is not necessary to block the passage or stairs for a long time.
- Samples that have fallen into disrepair are rapidly changing.
- They have an excellent appearance, can act as decorative elements.
- They are used indoors and outdoors.
- Operated in a wide temperature range. The surface retains its qualities in any frost and heavy rain.
- They are not afraid of moisture.
- Protects step edges from wear.
- They have a long service life.
- Taking care of them is easy enough. Dirt is removed with a broom or water pressure.
- The devices are capable of withstanding high mechanical loads.
- The tapes do not emit harmful vapors and can be used in childcare facilities and enclosed spaces.
Disadvantages of samples may appear if the requirements of the installation technology or operating conditions have not been met:
- If the material is glued on the outside in front of the entrance doors, protect it from precipitation in winter. Ice and snow will significantly reduce the effectiveness of the device.
- High demands are placed on the surface to be coated. The material must be completely dry, free from cracks, not porous.
- Installation is carried out only at positive temperatures.
- After gluing, it is necessary to protect the strip from moisture penetration during the entire period of hardening.
- Do not glue to the substrate where moisture can escape.
The main types of anti-slip tapes
The products are used in residential, commercial and government facilities (apartments, schools, sports facilities, offices, warehouses, etc.) to prevent falls in problem areas. In addition to the main purpose, the material can be used for decorative purposes. There are two groups of anti-slip devices - for use in places where they move in shoes (abrasive) and without them (non-abrasive).
Abrasive anti-slip tapes
They are made using crushed carborundum - a strong material that is used in mechanical engineering for grinding parts. The grains are glued to the polymer base.
Outside the building, anti-slip elements are glued to the stairs in front of the entrance to the house and other areas of the entrance group. They are securely attached to any base - wood, tile, marble. The materials are painted in different colors, which allows you to select samples to match the color of the floors.
Temperature range - from -30 to +70 degrees. The product does not deteriorate under the influence of water and various lubricants.
Outside, ribbons with coarse grains are used. The purpose of the samples depends on the size of the grains.
Stripes with extra-coarse, coarse and standard grain size are distinguished:
- The first option is intended for premises where good durable anti-slip protection is required under high operating loads (in warehouses, storage facilities, hangars). They are available in widths of 25 and 50 mm. Samples of large sizes can be ordered if required.
- Coarse-grain belts are used in places of heavy traffic (corridors, staircases, playgrounds). On sale there are products with a width of 25 and 50 mm.
- Standard ones are used in rooms with normal traffic: on stairs with low lighting, in public premises, on playgrounds, etc. Their widths are 25, 50 and 100 mm.
Non-abrasive anti-slip tapes
Such samples are made on the basis of PVC and are distinguished by their resilience and elasticity. The absence of abrasive particles allows you to walk on them barefoot.
Such requirements, for example, apply to anti-slip tapes for swimming pools, showers and other wet areas. They are also used in the field of production, sports and recreation.
Outside, it is allowed to install such devices in places protected from atmospheric precipitation. Some samples have additional functions, for example, for warning of dangerous areas or for orientation at night.
Popular colors are transparent, white, black, yellow. The width of the products is 25, 50 and 100 mm. Permissible operating temperature - + 30-70 ° С. Depending on the design of the tape, it can be fixed both at the stage of floor installation and on finished coatings.
There are several groups of non-abrasive tapes with special properties:
- Anti-slip strips … They are made of rubber or other elastic material. They are versatile products that ensure safe operation anywhere. Very often they are mounted on marble, granite, ceramic, wooden stairs during facing work in order to provide an additional safety element.
- Vinyl anti-slip tapes … Available in rolls up to 25 m long, 29 to 50 mm wide. Profile height - 3.2 mm. They are often made in the form of overlays. They are attached to the surface with double-sided tape or factory fixing. They have excellent performance characteristics: they can withstand temperatures from -35 to +50 degrees, heavy mechanical stress, are not afraid of sunlight and atmospheric precipitation. The service life of the product is 4 years. Ease of installation, a large selection of colors made this tape the most popular means for protecting people on slippery surfaces. The most common models are self-adhesive anti-slip tapes. They are distinguished by the presence of a powerful adhesive layer, which reliably fixes the product to the surface. In addition to the main function of ensuring human safety, they also perform other functions: they reduce the amount of dirt that enters the room, act as decorative elements of the stairs.
- Tactile … Made of soft elastic PVC. On the bottom there is an adhesive for fixing to the base. The surface is perforated or with spherical holes, it looks very impressive and beautiful. Possesses excellent anti-slip properties. The absence of abrasive elements ensures a soft contact with the feet. Samples are glued on slippery floors in barefoot areas and under door mats to prevent slipping. They are used in bath complexes, swimming pools, showers - where there is a need to increase the comfort of walking on a wet floor.
- Elastic … They have a high coefficient of friction. They are made on the basis of plastic, but have the properties of rubber. When walking on them, the effect of springiness occurs. They are used in case of high requirements to the surface.
- Damping … They are made of a special grade of polyurethane and are particularly soft. They are used in damp rooms and in cases where special requirements are imposed on the safety of movement.
- Nautical ribbon … This is the name given to products that are installed in wet rooms and in kitchens. These are unique models made of vinyl material with abrasive ridges and indentations that will not damage skin or materials.
- Textured … They have a granular elastic layer. They are produced with relief of various degrees. The soft, comfortable flooring is adhered to floors in water sports facilities. Can be used in swimming pools and showers.
Special varieties of anti-slip tapes
Some models are used only in certain places, for example, to ensure the safety of people on stairs. All of them have the same device - a vinyl base, on which a special coating is applied on one side, and on the other, an adhesive composition for fixing to the surface. The products are available in various designs and may have a metal base.
Aluminum based belts
The design is an aluminum base with grooves in which rubber anti-slip bands are installed. The device is installed on the top of the step (sometimes on the sidewall). The tape protrudes only 5.5 mm above the surface, which does not interfere with the movement of pedestrians.
The pads have the highest grip area of any safety strip. The method of fastening depends on the material of the base; self-tapping screws or dowels are often used. To increase reliability, the lower part of the product is covered with silicone glue before installation. There are no temperature limits.
Several modifications of such devices can be found on the market. One of the most popular is the profile with two removable rubber inserts. It differs from similar devices by the ability to quickly replace rubber elements without dismantling the metal profile.
Anti-slip tapes for stairs, fixed on a thin aluminum foil with a thickness of 1, 2 mm, which take the form of a complex surface, are in great demand. An abrasive silicon crumb is glued to one side with the help of a durable polymer, and a rubber glue with a protective foil is applied to the other.
The strip is intended for application on embossed, corrugated and other uneven surfaces, it is well fixed on metal sheets with welded seams, as well as on floors with protruding bolt heads. It can be bent in any planes (along and across), glued even on rounded and oval surfaces. The ribbons are available in black, yellow and black-yellow colors.
Colored ribbons
Samples are available in various colors, which allows them to be matched to any shade of the floor. Colored models are often used on the floors of business centers and shops.
There are a number of colored models that alert visitors to the specifics of the flooring. Red and white stripes indicate a temporary hazard. Yellow-blacks warn of constant danger.
Luminescent tapes accumulate energy during the day, and glow for several hours in the evening and make it possible to navigate in the dark. They are poorly visible during the daytime, therefore they fit well into the interior of the room. They are produced in a wide range of colors, which allows them to be used for decorative purposes. Yellow and black elements look good.
On expensive coatings, for example, on marble stairs, colorless samples are glued that do not disturb the interior of the room. Multi-colored are used if they want to draw attention to areas dangerous for pedestrians. For example, the anti-slip tapes on the tiles are yellow-black.
A special anti-slip tape on the steps is L-shaped and attached at the corners to prevent slipping. It can be used as a decorative element. Made of highly elastic rubber. It is fixed in place with special glue, a layer of which is applied at the factory to the lower side. It is packaged in bays of 10-15 m. Provided that the corner is properly installed, its service life exceeds 5 years. How to choose an anti-slip tape - watch the video:
The problem of safe movement on slippery areas is easy to solve with the help of special devices that are sold on any construction market. Today the choice of anti-slip tapes is very large, and the user can choose a product of any size, color and purpose.
