By Nick Horell, SlipFix Australia · 24 May 2026 · 5 min read
Don't Panic — This Is Fixable
A slip resistance test fail is more common than most people expect. Polished porcelain tiles, honed marble, smooth concrete and many natural stone surfaces regularly return P ratings below the requirements specified in the NCC and AS 4586. The good news: in most cases it is fixable, fast and does not require replacing the floor.
What Does a Fail Result Actually Mean?
A slip resistance test under AS 4586 or AS 4663 returns a P rating for your surface in wet conditions. If that P rating is below the minimum requirement for your surface type and location, the floor has failed. Common minimum requirements include:
- Residential bathrooms — minimum P3
- Pool surrounds — minimum P4
- External ramps — minimum P4 or P5 depending on gradient
- Internal commercial floors in wet conditions — minimum P3
- Stair treads — specific requirements under NCC and AS 1428.1
A fail result does not mean the floor is unusable immediately — it means it is not compliant and remediation is required. In a construction handover context, a fail result typically means the certifier cannot sign off on that element of the building until the result is brought into compliance.
Your Options After a Fail Result
Option 1 — Anti-Slip Chemical Treatment (Recommended)
Anti-slip chemical treatment is typically the fastest, most cost-effective and least disruptive remediation option. The treatment is applied to the existing floor surface, reacts at the microscopic level to improve slip resistance, and leaves the surface looking identical. Most treatments are completed in a single visit, and the surface is ready for foot traffic within hours.
Following treatment, an independent NATA-accredited retest can confirm the improved P rating and provide certification that the surface now meets the required standard. This is the most common path to compliance resolution after a fail result.
Option 2 — Surface Replacement
Replacing the floor surface is the most expensive and disruptive option and is rarely necessary when chemical treatment is available. Replacement may be considered when the surface is severely damaged, when the material is fundamentally unsuitable for the location, or when the building owner wishes to change the surface for other reasons.
Option 3 — Anti-Slip Overlay or Coating
Anti-slip coatings — epoxy overlays, applied granules or surface films — can improve slip resistance but change the appearance of the surface and are prone to wear, peeling and inconsistent coverage over time. For most situations, chemical treatment is preferred over coatings.
The Fastest Path to Compliance
The fastest path from a fail result to a compliance sign-off is typically:
- Step 1 — Contact SlipFix for a free quote within 24 hours
- Step 2 — Site assessment and treatment scheduled, typically within the same week
- Step 3 — Treatment applied, surface ready same day
- Step 4 — Independent NATA-accredited retest arranged to confirm improved P rating
- Step 5 — Documentation provided — treatment record plus retest certificate — for certifier or insurer
For construction handover situations, this sequence can typically be completed within one to two weeks of the original fail result, depending on the retest laboratory's availability.
What Documentation Will I Have After Treatment?
SlipFix provides written completion documentation on every job, confirming surfaces treated, treatment applied and expected compliance outcome. This is suitable as evidence of remediation for building certifiers, insurers and legal files.
For definitive compliance certification, this documentation should be paired with an independent NATA-accredited post-treatment slip resistance test. The combination of treatment record and accredited retest certificate provides the strongest possible compliance evidence.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
For a typical residential bathroom or small commercial area, the full process — quote, treatment, ready to retest — takes two to three days. For larger commercial areas, allow one to two weeks including the scheduling of the independent retest.
What If I Ignore a Fail Result?
In a construction handover context, ignoring a fail result will prevent certifier sign-off. In an existing building, an unaddressed fail result creates documented liability — particularly if an incident subsequently occurs on the same surface. Building owners and operators have a duty of care, and a known, unaddressed slip hazard significantly increases exposure in the event of a slip and fall claim.
Related: What Is Anti-Slip Treatment? | AS 4586 vs AS 4663 Explained