NATA Accreditation: Why It Matters for Slip Testing and What to Look For

When you're booking slip resistance testing for a commercial property, construction handover, or post-incident assessment, one question matters more than any other: is the testing laboratory NATA-accredited? The answer determines whether your test report carries any legal or compliance weight — or whether it's just a piece of paper.

What is NATA?

NATA stands for the National Association of Testing Authorities. It is the Australian government-recognised authority for the accreditation of testing, measurement, inspection and calibration facilities. NATA accredits laboratories that demonstrate technical competence and quality management under the internationally recognised standard AS ISO/IEC 17025.

NATA is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement, meaning NATA-endorsed reports are recognised internationally.

What Does NATA Accreditation Mean for Slip Testing?

A NATA-accredited slip testing laboratory has been independently assessed and approved to carry out slip resistance testing to specific Australian Standards. For Sliptest Australia, this covers AS 4586 and AS 4663. This assessment covers:

• The technical competence of testing personnel
• The calibration and maintenance of testing equipment (wet pendulum, sliders, reference tiles)
• The quality management system used to produce and issue reports
• The traceability of measurement results to national standards
• The accuracy and consistency of reported results

NATA conducts ongoing surveillance and regular re-assessment of accredited laboratories to ensure standards are maintained.

Why Does It Matter in Practice?

For construction handover

Certifiers and councils in Australia will only accept NATA-certified slip resistance results for NCC compliance sign-off. If your test report does not carry the NATA mark, your certifier cannot use it to approve a building for occupation. A non-NATA test is not a shortcut — it is a delay.

For insurance claims

When a slip and fall incident occurs on a commercial property, insurers require NATA-certified test results to assess the pre-incident and post-incident condition of the surface. Non-NATA results are typically rejected outright as evidence.

For legal proceedings

Courts and tribunals rely on NATA-certified results as the authoritative standard for slip resistance evidence. In personal injury litigation involving a slip and fall, only NATA-endorsed reports carry the evidentiary weight required.

For facility managers and property owners

If you are building a documented compliance record for a commercial property, only NATA-certified reports provide the credible, independently verified evidence that demonstrates due diligence.

How to Check if a Lab is NATA-Accredited

The NATA website (nata.com.au) maintains a public register of all accredited organisations. You can search by company name or scope of accreditation to confirm current accredited status.

Sliptest Australia is listed under accreditation number 15374, accredited for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 for slip resistance testing to AS 4586 and AS 4663. All reports carry the NATA endorsement mark. We service Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and nationally.

What to Ask Before You Book

• Is your laboratory NATA-accredited? (Ask for the accreditation number — ours is 15374)
• Which standards are you accredited for? (Should include AS 4586 and/or AS 4663)
• Will the report carry the NATA endorsement mark?
• Is your testing equipment calibrated within the required interval?

If any of these questions can't be answered clearly, book elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions