Driving down a long straight stretch of safety yellow paint in the middle of the road for about 20 minutes my thoughts came to the double yellow line on the road and how long it lasted. What would happen if there no linemarking on the road? And, why yellow? Why not another colour? This thinking is the start of this blog article.
A look at the Wikipedia site noted that “in Australia, yellow road lines are used in the centre of the road in areas with large amounts of snow to contrast with the white colour of snow. These lines are white in areas where there is infrequent or no snow.”
For industrial and commercial use, we note that Safety Yellow is used for identifying caution in Australia (ANSI Z535.1) An example is where there are physical hazards such as tripping, falling, striking against and caught-in between such hazards.
Thus, safety yellow is used as a sign of caution.
The use of safety yellow in AMCO products
Anti slip tread tape
As the name indicates, these heavy duty tapes provide a course surface to prevent slipping. These tread tapes are ideal for use indoors or outdoors to help prevent slips and trips and generally last longer than safety yellow paint. These tapes are ideal for use in stairwells, walkways, ramps, warehouse floors.The long ageing, pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive ensures the tape stays put. Reduce accidents and increase safety throughout your workplace with anti slip tapes.
Note that colours available are in plain black, black and yellow chevron and luminous. Widths go from 25 mm to 150 mm, with lengths to 18 m. The use of the black and yellow marking is specially meant for areas that may expose employees to special physical or health hazards.
U-Tred Stair Nosing
This anti slip stair nosing is an Aussie product that is exported around the globe and is a safety product we developed not that long ago to replace the older style bull nosings. U-Tred installs in seconds onto open grid type steps used in industrial and commercial applications like mining, construction, and agricultural industries like grain handling facilities. AMCO Anti slip nosings outlast any safety yellow paint.
U-Tred features a double action anti-slip profile for a rung of stairways. With no nuts, bolts or fasteners of any kind, your steps are upgraded instantly to proven grip and high visibility with no fuss. These stair nosings feature a robust steel anti slip stair nosing product (replacement for bull nosing) galvanised and powder coated Safety Yellow. It will not crack or release hazardous splinters inflicting bodily harm as can occur with fibreglass stair nosings.
Gripmaster Steel Stair Nosing
A great product that’s already recognised by industry, we venture to say that no other non slip stair tread product can attain the same level of aggregate hardness and density to maximize resistance to wear. Ideal for use in steps, ladder rungs and platforms in a range of sizes for all environments (including the more aggressive ones. Industry applications cover mining, petroleum industry (e.g., oil rigs), food manufacturing like battoirs, grain handling facilities in agriculture and so on.These industrial areas deserve longer lasting products over using safety yellow paint.
Gripmaster non slip stair nosings come in anti-slip stair nosings also known as bull nosings and stair capping. Specially designed to cover worn or slippery steps, increasing stair safety and to aid in preventing any slips trips or falls in the workplace. Gripmaster steel anti slip stair treads come in an unlimited range of sizes. Usually, if special lengths are required we are limited to the standard lengths and widths of steel sheets. Our longest piece is 1.8 m. Also, note that with bull nosings or stair capping, when screwed down onto any uneven surface it will cause undue stress and pressure and may be the cause of premature delamination of resins. Contact our Technical Department to assist with these requirements.
We also suggest using a high grade adhesive to install in these applicaitons as thisalso floats the stair nosing and creates a foundation that wont leave any lasting twist or stress on the stairnosing. Correct use of adhesives will result in a watertight install keeping out any moisture from finding its way underneath between the parent stair tread and the external anti slip stair nosing.
Finally, note that stainless steel has an increased thermal expansion and contraction of up to 20% more than standard mild steel. If choosing to use stainless steel in areas of hot wash areas, it’s always best to ask for the 10 year warranty grade which includes extra labour and materials in the construction process.
FRP Grating and Stair Treads
FRP merely stands for Fibre Reinforced Plastic, also better known as fibreglass. Don’t be fooled: FRP grating and fibreglass grating are the same thing. We note that any product or material using glass fibre strands, glass cloth or tape and held together with resins, either polyester, vinyl ester isophthalic are all composites. Just like material used in the new aeroplanes of today, where composites are replacing aluminium and steel, FRP in the case of these gratings and stair treads do the same thing.
Manufactured with the inclusion of self-extinguishing fire retardant resins, the anti slip surface integrated with quartz silica granules will provide years of anti slip service. AMCO FRP Grating and Stair Treads are strong and long lasting anti-slip stair treads. FRP Grating has excellent resistance to a vast range of corrosive chemicals, which makes it an ideal product for use in environments where acids, salt and other rust/corrosion causing materials are prevalent.
This FRP anti slip step has a black nosing with aggregate for non slip. The yellow FRP is also treated for aggregate. This is ideal for heavy duty use, lasting longer than safety yellow paint
Using FRP means that its strength makes it a first choice for access walkways in heavy industry including mining, refineries and marine environments. Again, note that FRP Grating will still be there decades later when most other anti slip safety yellow paint & stair tread materials will need to be replaced. This feature alone is a huge cost saving when replacing older type conventional anti slip stair treads. To maximise these features and advantages it’s best to get the structure where this will be used to be engineered or designed with the use of anti slip fibreglass grating already in mind.
Structural FRP has the strength of steel but with only a fraction of the weight. This is a good advantage when weight of material is an issue. Our non slip treads can be cut into all types of custom sizes to fit all types of anti slip stair tread specifications. Colour is safety yellow.
To discuss any safety requirements, especially with regards to anti slip/non slip applications verses using safety yellow paint in your commercial or industrial establishment, why not contact us now.
