Surface Texture and Skid Resistance Testing

Surface texture and skid resistance testing verify that completed road surfaces meet safety standards for vehicles.
Testing takes place on live or newly opened carriageways, exposing testers to traffic and plant hazards.
The SCRIM (Sideways-force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine) measures skid resistance at traffic speed.
Sand patch testing and texture depth measurements assess macro-texture of newly laid road surfaces.
BS EN 13036 sets the UK standards for measuring surface texture and skid resistance on roads.
Testing often requires lane closures or rolling road blocks, requiring formal traffic management arrangements.
Testers working at road level face struck-by risk from passing vehicles even with traffic management in place.
Newly laid surfaces may still be hot, soft, or uncured, creating burn and slip hazards for testers on foot.
Equipment includes pendulum testers, sand dispensers, and measuring instruments that must be calibrated.
Test results determine whether the road surface is safe to open to public traffic or requires remedial work.

Protect testers	Working at road level on live or newly surfaced carriageways exposes testers to struck-by and burn hazards.
Public safety	Inadequate skid resistance causes vehicle accidents — testing confirms the surface meets safety standards before opening.
Legal compliance	Highway authority specifications and BS EN 13036 require verified surface testing before acceptance of completed roads.

Do

Don't

Set up traffic management or lane closures before entering the carriageway for testing
Wear EN ISO 20471 Class 3 high-visibility clothing at all times during road surface testing
Calibrate all testing instruments before use in accordance with the relevant BS EN standard
Check that newly laid surfaces are cool enough to walk on safely before starting tests
Maintain awareness of passing traffic and plant even with traffic management in place
Record all test results accurately with location, date, temperature, and instrument details
Use the correct test method specified in the contract for texture and skid resistance
Report results that fail to meet specification immediately to the site supervisor and engineer
Keep testing equipment and materials within the protected work area at all times
Brief your team on the traffic management layout and emergency procedures before testing

DON'T enter the carriageway for testing without traffic management or lane closures in place
DON'T walk on freshly laid asphalt surfaces that have not cooled to a safe temperature
DON'T use uncalibrated testing instruments — results will be invalid and rejected
DON'T turn your back to approaching traffic while working at road surface level
DON'T leave testing equipment on the carriageway outside the protected traffic management zone
DON'T accept surface test results without checking they meet the contract specification
DON'T carry out testing in darkness without adequate artificial lighting at the test location
DON'T ignore failed test results — they indicate the surface is unsafe for public traffic
DON'T walk across live traffic lanes to move between test locations on the carriageway
DON'T remove traffic management until all testing equipment and personnel have left the road

See also: Road Construction Safety Awareness | Working in Live Carriageways

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