Right arrow Slip Risk, Ice and Surface Control

Slip Risk Controls for Cold Store Floors

Cold store slip risk is rarely a single cause problem. It is usually an interaction between ice formation, melt water routes, footwear, cleaning method and the surface texture actually present in the walking and driving lanes. We treat traction as a core part of the wider cold storage warehouse flooring strategy, so the floor surface, joints and drainage details support safe movement during door events, defrost cycles and washdown.

20 +

Years
Improving Traction in Cold Zones

Ice often forms when humid air enters through doors, then moisture condenses and freezes on or near the floor. Once that starts, small issues like slow closing doors, wheel splash, or poor melt water routes can create repeat slip locations. These conditions also accelerate the surface change discussed in our work on freeze thaw cycling. Where operational patterns are driving ice build up, we align floor and interface decisions with practical learning highlighted by the HSE in a cold store case example on ice build up and slip accidents.

What Creates Slippery Floors in Cold Stores

In cold storage, slip incidents often occur in short time windows when the floor condition changes quickly. Examples include after a door has been left open, during defrost, or after cleaning when water has not been fully recovered. In those windows, a floor can move from dry and grippy to a thin film of melt water, then to a glazed surface as it refreezes. Surface texture matters, but so does the direction water is pushed by traffic, the way joints open and close, and whether low points hold liquid long enough to freeze.

On new facilities, traction control begins with levels, falls, drainage and joint layout during concrete slab installation, because water route planning is often the difference between a short wetting event and a persistent ice band. On existing sites where door lines, ramps or dock approaches have become slick or uneven, resurfacing can be used to remove weak surface layers, correct low points and restore a controllable finish. In controlled corridors and clean handling areas where inspections are frequent, polished concrete can suit the right environment, but only where slip control is addressed through texture choice, housekeeping method and realistic wet condition expectations.

Common Ice and Slip Triggers at Floor Level

Humid air entry at doors followed by condensation and freezing.
Defrost melt water that is not recovered before temperatures drop.
Tracked in snow, slush and water from yards and dock edges.
Thin films of water that refreeze into clear, low visibility ice.
Low spots and joint lines that hold water in repeat locations.

Where Traction Problems Usually Concentrate

Most cold store slip locations can be predicted once you map door behaviour, melt water routes and the areas where people change speed or direction. These zones deserve closer texture and housekeeping control.

Door thresholds where warm air meets colder floor surfaces.

Airlocks where water films form, then refreeze during door cycles.

Dock approaches where wheels bring in moisture and create splash lines.

Ramps and turning zones where braking concentrates surface wear.

Drain approaches where water ponds and freezes at edges.

Pick faces and walk lanes where foot traffic compacts thin ice films.

Right arrow Our Approach

How We Control Ice Risk Through Surface and Detail

STAGE 1

Mapping Water Sources and Refreeze Windows

We begin by mapping where water comes from and when it is most likely to refreeze. This includes door events, defrost timing, cleaning schedules, yard conditions and how moisture is tracked by wheels and footwear. We then identify the time windows where a wet surface is likely to turn into ice before it can be recovered.

Double arrows STAGE 2

Reviewing Texture, Wear and Movement at Key Interfaces

Next we review the surface texture actually present in the risk zones, including wear patterns in walk lanes, braking points and turning circles. We also check joint edges, thresholds and ramps because movement and impact can change local traction and create small steps that hold water films.

Double arrows STAGE 3

Setting Controls That Match Site Routine

Finally, we define a traction plan that matches how the site operates. This can include local level corrections, surface finish selection by zone, joint detailing, and practical housekeeping steps such as water recovery expectations, inspection points and response actions after door faults or defrost. The objective is predictable traction in the areas where conditions change fastest.

Controlling Thin Water Films Before They Freeze

Many slips occur on thin films rather than obvious standing water. We focus on how water spreads across the surface, where tyres push it, and how quickly it can be recovered before temperatures drop again.

Choosing Texture by Task and Route

A single surface finish across every zone rarely fits cold store reality. We align texture decisions to walk lanes, hand pick areas, vehicle routes and door interfaces, so traction is addressed where it is needed most.

Reducing Ice Repeat Locations

Ice often returns to the same bands because the water route has not changed. We treat low points, drain edges and threshold geometry as controllable factors so melt water does not keep refreezing in one place.

Linking Interfaces, Doors and Floor Outcome

Door performance, seals and traffic behaviour affect moisture entry and freezing. We assess these interfaces alongside the floor so traction measures are not undermined by a recurring door or air movement issue.

Right arrow FAQ

Slip Risk and IceCommon Questions

Why does clear ice form on cold store floors?

Clear ice often forms when a thin film of water spreads across a cold surface, then refreezes before it can be recovered. It can come from condensation, defrost melt water, tracked in moisture, or splash from wheels.

Which areas are most likely to become slippery in a cold store?

Thresholds, airlocks, dock approaches, ramps, drain edges and turning circles are common locations. These zones combine moisture entry, movement changes and temperatures that can cross freezing during normal operations.

Is surface texture the main factor in slip risk?

Texture is important, but it is only one part of the outcome. Water route, refreeze timing, joint condition, surface wear and housekeeping method can be just as influential, especially where conditions change quickly.

How do door events increase ice formation?

When doors open, humid air can enter and condense on colder surfaces. If the floor is below freezing, that moisture can freeze. Frequent door cycling can create repeat ice bands in the same areas.

What should we look for during a floor traction check?

Look for damp films that are not obvious, polished wear bands in walk lanes, ice return points near doors, uneven joint edges, and low spots that hold water after cleaning. These signs often predict where slips will occur.

Can cleaning make slip risk worse in cold stores?

Yes, if water is left on the surface or pushed into joints and low points that later refreeze. Recovery speed, drainage performance and where water is directed during cleaning matter as much as the cleaning frequency.

Why do joint lines become slippery or uneven over time?

Joints can open and close with temperature movement and can be affected by wheel impact. If edges break down, they can hold water films and create small steps that change foot placement, increasing slip and trip likelihood.

How can we reduce ice repeat locations near doors?

Focus on limiting moisture entry, improving melt water routes away from thresholds, correcting low points, and setting practical response steps when doors fault or remain open. Reducing the water source is usually more effective than relying on reaction alone.

When is a floor surface change likely to be needed?

Consider a surface change when traction issues persist despite housekeeping controls, when wear bands have smoothed the finish in walk lanes, or when levels and joints trap water in repeat zones that refreeze during normal operation.