Anti-slip floor tiles in porcelain stoneware: when safety and style meet design

Anti-slip porcelain stoneware floor tiles in light shade with R10 finish. — Grace Grey

In contemporary architecture, choosing the right flooring is no longer just a question of style. It’s a key element in ensuring safety and comfort in both residential and public spaces. The figures speak for themselves: falls caused by slipping on inadequate surfaces are one of the leading causes of injuries in the home, with consequences that can be particularly severe for the elderly and children. So an anti-slip floor is not just an accessory: it’s essential for creating safe, functional spaces without compromising on the elegance of contemporary design.

Ceramic technology has made significant progress over the past decade, with slip-resistant floors playing a key role in a quiet revolution combining superior technical performance with sophisticated style. These floors, developed with state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, offer a practical response to the need to prevent accidents in environments where water or moisture is present, such as bathrooms, kitchens, terraces and wellness areas, turning potential risk areas into safe settings, without compromising on appearance.

About anti-slip tiles

Anti-slip tiles are specifically designed to increase surface friction and reduce the risk of slipping, even when the floor is wet. This is achieved thanks to specific surface treatments, ranging from three-dimensional micro-structures to non-slip grits and processing techniques that give the surface a controlled roughness. The characteristics of porcelain stoneware make it the ideal material for this type of application, thanks to its extraordinary mechanical strength, durability and aesthetic versatility.

Anti-slip beige porcelain floor tiles creating continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. — Heritage Beige

Advantages of porcelain stoneware for anti-slip solutions

The production of anti-slip porcelain stoneware strikes a perfect balance between technological innovation and respect for the environment. The process involves the selection of high-quality raw materials, blended according to precise formulas and fired at temperatures of over 1200°C. This creates surfaces with permanent anti-slip properties, which do not deteriorate over time, as is the case with surface treatments applied to other materials. This intrinsic characteristic of porcelain stoneware ensures that the anti-slip properties remain unchanged throughout the lifetime of the product, offering a significant advantage over other solutions on the market in terms of long-term safety and economic sustainability.

Anti-slip classifications and finishes

The safety of a ceramic surface, especially in public spaces or humid environments, is determined by rigorous regulatory testing that evaluates adhesion under controlled conditions. The EN 16165 standard, which replaced the previous DIN 51130 and DIN 51097 in the EU, classifies surfaces according to the slip angle achieved during the slipperiness test with standard footwear (shod ramp test):

R9: slip angle 6° to 10° – minor slip resistance
R10: 10° to 19° – medium slip resistance
R11: 19° to 27° – high slip resistance
R12: 27° to 35° – very high slip resistance
R13: over 35° – for extreme industrial applications

For areas where people walk barefoot (such as swimming pools or spas), the DIN 51097 test is used, which classifies surfaces into Class A, B or C depending on slope and the presence of water and soap.

In parallel, in the United States, the ANSI A326.3 standard evaluates the dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF), which is particularly useful for commercial and residential settings. According to this standard:

A DCOF ≥ 0.42 is recommended for indoor environments where moisture may be present (e.g., bathrooms, kitchens, entrances)

A DCOF < 0.42 is considered suitable only for dry environments

The adoption of these classifications enables a more informed selection of the ceramic finish best suited to a particular setting, balancing appearance with safety.

R10 or R11?

The R10 finish is an excellent compromise to combine safety with style in indoor environments such as bathrooms, kitchens and living areas, where good slip resistance is required as well as an attractive appearance. The R11 finish offers a higher level of slip resistance, making it suitable for spaces where safety is a priority, such as wellness areas, walk-in showers, public spaces or outdoor spaces exposed to water or rain and snow.

What is the best flooring for wet areas?

R11 textured surfaces provide maximum safety in wet conditions. The Strutturato R11 porcelain tile finish, with a three-dimensional, significantly texture surface, and Grip R11, made with the addition of slip-resistant grits, ensure excellent technical performance even in the presence of water, soaps or rain and snow. These finishes are ideal for pool edges, outdoor flooring, showers flush with the floor and all applications where the risk of slipping is high, without compromising on the aesthetic value of the material.

Light ivory anti-slip flooring connecting indoor living space and outdoor terrace with modern furniture. — Geo Ivory

Anti-slip tiles for interior spaces in beige tones that elegantly complement modern design and connect with outdoor areas. — District Greige

Anti-slip porcelain tiles: stylish solutions for interiors

In addition to being safe and practical, porcelain tiles with slip-resistant finishes are available in various effects, colours, sizes and laying patterns that enhance their aesthetic value. Concrete-effect tiles can be an ideal choice for contemporary bathrooms and wellness areas, where their material surface and urban tones such as light grey, concrete or anthracite create a sophisticated look while maintaining the safety needed in wet environments. The use of large-size porcelain floor tiles for the living area can make settings look bigger, creating a seamless effect by reducing the number of joints, for elegant surfaces that remain safe even in case of accidental spills or moisture.

Outdoor garden with dark anti-slip floor tiles forming a terrace furnished with modern seating. — Lavica Anthracite

Outdoor terrace floored with honey-toned wood-effect anti-slip tiles, furnished with rattan seating. — Journey Honey

Safe floors for patios, gardens and swimming pools

As for outdoor porcelain tiles, the options have been expanded with the addition of 20mm-thick tiles, which not only ensure safety for terraces and garden paths, but are also a safe, elegant choice for areas where water is present. Slip-resistant tiles for pool areas, with an R11 textured surface, are the ideal solution for pool edges and sunrooms, combining resistance to water, frost and chemicals with natural textures and shades that blend smoothly with their surroundings. These materials allow for a seamless indoor-to-outdoor transition, creating a visual continuity in keeping with contemporary design trends, while integrating safety into the overall style experience.

How to choose the perfect slip-resistant floors for every setting

When it comes to choosing the perfect anti-slip flooring, it’s important to consider the target environment, taking account of moisture levels, footfall and exposure to weather, to strike the right balance of safety and comfort. Thanks to modern slip-resistant porcelain tiles, it’s no longer necessary to choose between function and style, with solutions available to enhance all kinds of living spaces. To explore the options available and find the ideal solution for your project, the Match App floor tile visualizer allows you to virtually visualise the effect of different floors in your setting.