Slip ratings tell you where a tile is safe to walk, wet or dry. In Australia you’ll meet two systems: R-ratings (R9–R13) from the oil-wet ramp test, and P-ratings (P0–P5, sometimes shown as P1–P5) from the pendulum test. In both, higher numbers mean more grip. Wet areas, pool surrounds, ramps and commercial spaces carry minimum requirements — and your building certifier or designer will specify what your project legally needs.
Key takeaways
- Two systems: R-ratings (R9 lowest grip → R13 highest) and P-ratings (P0/P1 → P5 highest).
- Higher rating = more slip resistance. Floors get rated; walls generally don’t need it.
- Wet areas, external steps, ramps and pool surrounds have minimum ratings set by standards and your certifier.
- Grippier finishes are safer underfoot but harder to clean — match the rating to the risk, not the maximum.
R-ratings vs P-ratings
The R-rating comes from a ramp test where a person in oiled boots walks an increasingly steep tiled ramp; the angle they can hold sets the rating, R9 (least grip) to R13 (most). It’s widely quoted by manufacturers and handy for comparing products. The P-rating (also written as a pendulum or SRV class, P0–P5) comes from the pendulum test used in Australian standards for compliance, with P5 the most slip-resistant.
You’ll see both on technical sheets. For specification and sign-off in Australia, the P/pendulum classification is the one certifiers usually work to — but the R-rating is a useful everyday shorthand when you’re comparing tiles.
Where each rating is needed
Different zones demand different minimums. Dry internal floors can be relatively smooth; internal wet areas like bathroom and laundry floors need more grip; external paths, steps, ramps and pool surrounds need more again, because they combine water with slope and bare feet. Commercial kitchens and entries have their own higher requirements.
The legal minimums for your specific project come from the relevant Australian Standards and your building certifier or access consultant — not from us or a tile’s marketing. Tell us the spaces and we’ll match ranges and finishes that meet the rating you’ve been given, and supply the documentation your certifier will ask for.
The grip-vs-cleanability trade-off
Here’s the catch nobody mentions in the showroom: the grippier a tile’s surface, the harder it is to clean. A heavily textured R12/P5 floor is superb on a pool surround and a chore in a kitchen. So the goal isn’t the highest possible rating everywhere — it’s the right rating for the risk in each zone.
A common, livable approach: smoother, easy-clean tiles where it’s dry; appropriately textured tiles where it’s wet; and the certifier-specified rating exactly where it’s required. Get that balance right and the floor is both safe and easy to live with.
Ready to choose? Browse the tile ranges, then request samples — the only honest test is the tile in your own light.
Frequently asked questions
What slip rating do I need for a bathroom floor?
What’s the difference between R-ratings and P-ratings?
Are higher slip ratings always better?
Published 12 June 2026. General guidance for Australian projects — finishes, ratings and standards vary, so confirm specifics with your tiler, certifier or designer. Ask us if you’d like help matching a range to your job.