Commercial floors take a beating every day — foot traffic, cleaning chemicals, deliveries, spills, grease, trolleys, equipment movement, and constant wear. Over time, this daily use affects not just the appearance of the floor, but also its safety, especially when floors become smooth, polished, or contaminated with residue.
Many businesses wait for a problem to occur — a slip incident, a dull floor, or costly repairs — before taking action. But in reality, the most cost-effective and safest approach is Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM).
At Slip Safety UK, we specialise in deep floor cleaning, anti-slip treatments, and Pendulum Slip Testing for businesses across the UK. Through our experience with restaurants, hotels, warehouses, industrial kitchens, retail centres, and care facilities, we know that planned maintenance saves money, reduces accidents, and prolongs floor lifespan.
What is Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM)?
PPM ensures the floor stays safe, clean, and compliant with safety standards throughout the year. It reduces downtime, prevents accidents, and avoids expensive floor restoration or replacement. Planned Preventative Maintenance is a scheduled, proactive approach to floor care. Instead of reacting to damage or safety hazards, businesses follow a structured plan to maintain the floor’s performance, slip resistance, and cleanliness.
In simple terms:
Fix the floor before it becomes a problem — not after.
Why Commercial Floors Need Preventative Maintenance
Commercial flooring isn’t like flooring in a home — it is exposed to:
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Continuous foot traffic
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Dirt and grease contamination
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Harsh cleaning chemicals
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Water and spillages
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Staining and abrasion
Without preventative care, floors become:
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Slippery and hazardous
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Dull and stained
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Difficult to clean
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Costly to repair or replace
The most common issue we see is slippery floors caused by residue buildup from incorrect cleaning products. Many businesses try to clean more frequently, but unintentionally make the floor worse.
With planned maintenance, the slip resistance is kept consistent and measurable.
Components of an Effective Floor PPM Programme
A commercial floor PPM plan generally includes these three pillars:
1. Regular Deep Cleaning
Daily mopping only moves dirt and grease around the floor. Deep cleaning removes embedded contaminants from tile pores and grout lines.
Professional deep cleaning:
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Removes grease, oil, and detergent residue
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Restores the floor’s natural friction
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Prepares the surface for anti-slip treatment
Slip Safety UK uses industrial scrubbers and degreasing agents to extract residue at a microscopic level.
2. Anti-Slip Tile or Floor Treatment
Where deep cleaning improves performance, anti-slip treatment increases friction and prevents slips even in wet or greasy conditions.
Benefits of anti-slip treatment:
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Works on tiles, stone, marble, vinyl, concrete, epoxy
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Invisible — doesn’t change the floor appearance
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Increases slip resistance to 36+ PTV
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Lasts 2–5 years depending on foot traffic
This eliminates the need for rubber mats, stickers, or constant wet-floor signage.
3. Pendulum Slip Testing (HSE-Compliant)
Slip testing measures how slippery your floor truly is. The Pendulum Slip Test is the only method recognised by the Health & Safety Executive and UK courts.
A safe floor must have:
36+ PTV (Pendulum Test Value) — Safe
Anything below that is a slip risk.
PPM plans include periodic slip resistance testing to ensure compliance and safety.
Benefits of Planned Preventative Maintenance
Planned Preventative Maintenance offers valuable benefits that reactive maintenance cannot match.
✔ Reduced Slip Accidents and Claims
Slips, trips, and falls are one of the biggest causes of workplace injuries. A PPM programme ensures the floor remains consistently safe and reduces the risk of:
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Employee injuries
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Customer claims
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Compensations and legal actions
Businesses protect both people and reputation.
Cost Savings and Asset Protection
Replacing commercial flooring can cost tens of thousands of pounds — and cause downtime. PPM extends floor lifespan and avoids unnecessary replacement.
Planned maintenance costs a fraction of replacement costs.
Prevention is always cheaper than replacement.
Consistent Floor Appearance
A clean, shiny floor enhances customer perception and reflects brand quality.
With PPM, there are no sudden surprises:
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No emergency cleans
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No expensive last-minute repairs
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No risk of non-compliance fines
Industries That Benefit Most from PPM
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Restaurants and commercial kitchens
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Hotels and hospitality
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Retail shops and malls
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Gyms, pools, and leisure centres
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Hospitals and care homes
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Warehouses and production areas
Anywhere with tile, marble, vinyl, stone, or epoxy flooring will benefit from preventative maintenance.
What Does a PPM Schedule Look Like?
Slip Safety UK customises schedules based on traffic level, industry type, and flooring material.
Why Choose Slip Safety UK
We don’t just clean floors — we make them safe.
Our PPM service includes:
- Deep cleaning & degreasing
- Anti-slip floor treatment
- HSE-approved Pendulum Slip Testing
- Monthly or quarterly maintenance plan
- Compliance certificates and reports
Our goal is simple:
Prevent slips before they happen — not after.
Final Thoughts
Commercial floor safety shouldn’t be reactive. A planned preventative maintenance programme ensures:
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Safer floors
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Lower accident risk
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Better compliance
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Extended floor lifespan
Instead of waiting for a slip accident, take control with a proactive plan.
If you’d like Slip Safety UK to audit your commercial floors and design a custom PPM programme:
Just send a message saying:
“Book a floor assessment”
We’ll test, treat, clean, and maintain your floors — so you never have to worry about slip hazards again.
