What Is High Friction Surfacing
High friction surfacing (Commonly referred to as anti-skid) is a material and installation process by which road surfaces become less prone to skidding and loss of friction. Through increasing skid resistance and reducing braking distance we can reduce the potential for accidents.
Typical locations for high friction surfacing include –
- Road junctions
- Traffic Light approaches
- Pedestrian crossings
- Roundabouts
- Roads that have high accident levels
- Around ‘SLOW’ and speed roundels
- Pedestrianised areas
Different surface colours can be used to increase visibility for safety purposes. Since implementation, it has proven to be a highly successful method of road safety. Bold and bright colours are used to instruct or warn drivers when they need to slow down. HFS also possesses increased reflectivity over conventional road surfaces, allowing drivers and pedestrians to see the areas better at night.
There are two types of high friction surfacing: hot applied and cold applied. Hot applied works by adhesion through heat application to the road surface whilst cold applied works by adhesion to the road through chemical bond.
Although we provide both services, cold-applied systems are often preferred amongst local councils and authorities due to its increased hardwearing nature and resultant longevity. This is a more sustainable method as any excess material can be swept, collected, and used again. The cold-applied method uses a mixture of chemical components and one or more liquids to cover a surface.
Another method that allows us to increase a road/surface anti skid properties is through retexturing. This is carried out through hydroblasting technology. Click here to see how we do this.
Certifications and Capabilities
60% of all our HFS operatives are accredited with Level 2 High Friction Surfacing qualifications. We also hold BBA certification which allows us to install high friction surfacing on all roads including highways. This allows clients to authenticate and specify suppliers for construction of their prospective projects. Being BBA certified ensures confidence for a client in the knowledge that we are not only complying to UK standards but operating at the highest of standards when it comes to high friction installation.