NCC Slip Resistance Requirements

What the NCC requires

The National Construction Code (NCC) — published by the Australian Building Codes Board and adopted as the building code in every state and territory — sets minimum slip resistance requirements for parts of a building where people are most likely to slip. The current edition is NCC 2022, made up of Volume One (Class 2–9 buildings, including commercial and public buildings), Volume Two (Class 1 and 10 buildings, mostly housing) and Volume Three (Plumbing Code).

Under the NCC's Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions, certain pedestrian surfaces must achieve a minimum slip resistance classification. The requirement applies most directly to:

• Ramps — including their landings and transitions
• Stairway treads and nosings — the walking surface and the leading edge of each step
• Landings associated with stairs and ramps
• External pedestrian areas and entries exposed to weather or likely to be wet
• Accessible paths of travel — surfaces on the continuous accessible path under AS 1428.1

The NCC does not measure slip resistance itself. Instead it references the Australian Standards that define how a surface is classified and tested — chiefly AS 4586 for new surfaces and AS 4663 for existing ones — and sets the minimum classification each application must reach. Where a clause number matters for your project, confirm it against the NCC edition adopted in your state, as adoption dates and any state variations can differ.

AS 4586 vs AS 4663

AS 4586 — Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials. This is the standard used for new work: classifying products before installation and testing surfaces at construction handover. It is the standard the NCC points to for new building work. AS 4586 includes two laboratory and field test methods — the wet pendulum test (which gives a P-rating, P0 to P5) and the oil-wet inclining ramp test (which gives an R-rating, R9 to R13).

AS 4663 — Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces. This is the standard used for surfaces already in service: floor safety audits, maintenance programs, condition monitoring and liability investigations after a slip or fall. AS 4663 uses the same wet pendulum method, so results are also expressed as a P-rating, allowing existing surfaces to be compared against the classifications expected at handover.

In short — use AS 4586 when specifying or handing over new floors, and AS 4663 when assessing floors that are already down. Both are core to NCC compliance and to defending a public-liability claim. For a plain-English walkthrough, see our slip testing explained guide.

Ramps, stairs and accessible paths

For accessibility, the NCC adopts AS 1428.1 — Design for access and mobility. Surfaces on the continuous accessible path of travel must be slip resistant, and the requirement is stricter for surfaces likely to be wet. AS 1428.1 also drives the related luminance contrast requirements for stair nosings, tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) and similar elements — a separate measurement, but tested at the same handover stage.

On stairs, both the tread surface and the nosing are addressed. Nosings must be slip resistant and visually distinguishable; they are commonly the focus of certifier scrutiny because worn or non-compliant nosings are a frequent cause of stair falls. On ramps — which by their nature increase slip risk — the NCC generally calls for a higher slip resistance classification than for level surfaces, and higher again where the ramp is external or likely to be wet.

Guidance on which classification suits which location is set out in industry handbook SA HB 198 (Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces). HB 198 is guidance rather than a mandated minimum, but it is widely used by specifiers and certifiers to match a surface to its setting.

How to demonstrate compliance

Meeting the NCC is one thing; proving it is another. Certifiers, building owners, insurers and courts all want evidence that a surface achieves the required classification — and that evidence carries the most weight when it comes from a NATA-accredited laboratory.

• At construction handover — have the installed surfaces tested to AS 4586 and obtain a NATA-certified report showing the classification for each surface against the relevant NCC requirement.
• For existing buildings — assess in-service surfaces to AS 4663 for floor safety audits, maintenance planning and liability defence.
• For accessibility — confirm surfaces on the accessible path meet AS 1428.1, and check luminance contrast on stair nosings and TGSIs at the same time.
• For product selection — classify samples to AS 4586 before installation so specification matches what is actually laid.

Sliptest Australia has been testing slip resistance since 2004 and has held NATA Accreditation No. 15374 since 2006. We carry out on-site wet pendulum testing and laboratory classification to AS 4586 and AS 4663 nationally, with NATA-certified reports typically delivered within 24 hours of the site visit. Reports are accepted by certifiers, insurers, government authorities and the courts. See the full range on our services page.