Everything UK retailers, asset managers, group H&S directors and insurance teams ask before commissioning a slip survey.
Slip injuries are the single largest source of public-liability claims in UK retail. Customer footfall is high, spillage is frequent, and the variety of flooring types — from polished marble in jewellery retail to lacquered timber in fashion to vinyl in supermarket aisles — creates very different slip-risk profiles in adjacent zones.
Independent UKAS-accredited slip testing demonstrates that the retailer has discharged their duty of care under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 for customers and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 for staff. After an incident, the report becomes a primary piece of evidence — and only a UKAS-accredited report carries the weight required in court.
The highest-risk zones we typically test in any retail premises are:
Single-store retail surveys start from £395 for a small unit with up to 8 test points. Mid-sized stores (500–2,000 sqm) typically range £550–£750. Large-format retail (2,000–6,000 sqm) ranges £750–£1,100. Shopping centre common parts price from £950 depending on scope.
Multi-site retail programmes — for groups of 5+ stores — typically price from £350 per store with consolidated scheduling, reporting and invoicing.
See our full pricing guide for detailed cost bands and what drives the price.
We test in accordance with:
Our reports carry the UKAS endorsement mark under our ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, Lab Schedule No. 7933 — verifiable on the UKAS register at ukas.com.
Both can use the same equipment and the same standard. The difference is whether the laboratory producing the report is independently audited.
UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation means: equipment traceably calibrated against national standards; methodology validated and audited annually by UKAS surveillance assessors; technically competent personnel; documented quality management. The endorsement mark on the report is what makes it accepted as expert evidence in court.
Non-accredited testing can use the same equipment, but without external audit. The report is the same format but carries no UKAS endorsement. After an incident, a non-accredited report is fragile under cross-examination — the opposing legal team will challenge calibration, methodology and operator competence, and there is no independent body to vouch for any of it.
For retail public-liability claims, the difference between an accredited and non-accredited report often determines the outcome.
Most major retail groups commission annual testing as part of their group risk and brand-standard programme, with more frequent testing in highest-risk zones (food courts, entrances, stairwells).
Additional testing is recommended:
Yes. We offer out-of-hours scheduling for retail premises that cannot be tested during trading hours — overnight, early morning before opening, or at weekends. Out-of-hours testing typically attracts a 25% surcharge on the daytime rate.
For shopping centres and large-format retail, we typically attend during quiet periods agreed in advance with the centre management or store team.
Yes. We cover all 48 UK counties — England, Wales and Scotland. The Sunbury-on-Thames laboratory base means rapid response across the South East and Greater London, with engineer routes covering the Midlands, North West, North East, Wales and Scotland on a planned weekly basis.
Multi-site programmes coordinated across geographically dispersed retail estates are typically scheduled in regional waves to optimise travel costs — often delivering more cost-effective per-site pricing than ad-hoc single-store testing.
Every UKAS-endorsed report includes:
Yes. As a UKAS-accredited laboratory, we are positioned to provide expert witness services in retail slip injury claims — both for the defence (typically retailer / insurer) and occasionally for the claimant. This includes formal CPR-compliant expert reports, declaration of independence and willingness to attend court.
Most claims settle without trial once a UKAS-accredited expert report is on the file. The deterrent value of the accreditation is significant.
Yes — completely. We do not sell flooring, anti-slip treatments, coatings, or any product. We have no commercial relationship with any flooring or treatment manufacturer. Our recommendations are impartial; the only product we deliver is the report.
This independence is a structural requirement of UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation — accredited testing laboratories must be free from commercial conflicts of interest that could compromise the reliability of test results.
A fixed written quote within one working day. No call centre, no subcontractors — direct contact with the UKAS-accredited laboratory carrying out the work.
A retail-slip-testing.co.uk service operated by Surface Performance Ltd — UKAS Testing Laboratory No. 7933. Reports written to the standard accepted by UK courts in slip injury claims.