Fire Apparatus Walkway Slip Resistance: NFPA 1901 History, NFPA 1900, and Modern Documentation

Fire apparatus walkways, especially aluminum diamond plate surfaces, operate in some of the most demanding traction environments imaginable:

• Wet turnout boots
• Foam and fuel overspray
• Snow and de-icing chemicals
• Hose drag abrasion
• UV exposure and extreme temperatures

When specifying coatings for these surfaces, one question always arises:
What slip resistance standard applies, and how should it be documented?

This article clarifies the historical NFPA language, the transition to NFPA 1900, and how manufacturers today responsibly document traction performance.

1. What NFPA 1901 Historically Included

Earlier editions of National Fire Protection Association NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus included minimum slip resistance criteria for exterior walking and standing surfaces.

At that time, compliance language referenced specific legacy test devices, including:

• English XL Variable Incidence Tribometer
• Brungraber Mark II

Minimum values were specified when tested under wet conditions.

Over time, industry reliance on those legacy devices declined, and many manufacturers shifted toward newer, more repeatable testing approaches.

2. Transition to NFPA 1900

Fire apparatus standards have since been consolidated under:

National Fire Protection Association 1900 Standard for Fire Apparatus

This consolidation reflects an evolution in apparatus design, safety language, and how performance is evaluated.

Importantly, current practice places less emphasis on specific legacy tribometers and more emphasis on demonstrating traction performance in a defensible way.

For specifiers, this creates a practical question:
How should slip resistance be documented today?

3. Modern Slip Testing: ANSI A326.3 and DCOF

In today’s industry practice, many manufacturers and testing laboratories use:

ANSI A326.3

This method measures Dynamic Coefficient of Friction DCOF, commonly using a BOT 3000E tribometer.

While ANSI A326.3 is primarily a flooring standard, it provides:

• A repeatable testing methodology
• Quantifiable DCOF values
• Wet condition testing protocols
• Laboratory documentation suitable for procurement files

It is important to state clearly:
ANSI A326.3 is not an NFPA specific requirement.
It is a modern, widely used method to document slip performance.

Many apparatus manufacturers use DCOF based reporting to demonstrate that surfaces align with the traction performance intent historically referenced in NFPA 1901 language.

4. Diamond Plate: Why Coating Design Matters

Diamond plate aluminum already provides mechanical texture. However, applying coatings introduces risks:

• Over application can fill the pattern
• Smooth film forming coatings may reduce traction
• Wear can polish exposed high points
• Chemical exposure may degrade surface texture

For fire apparatus applications, coatings must be engineered for:

• Abrasion resistance, including hose drag and tool impact
• Chemical resistance, including fuel, foam, and de icers
• UV stability
• Long term texture retention

Simply adding a coating is not sufficient. The texture system must be intentionally designed.

5. Best Practice: Responsible Slip Documentation

When approving a new coating system for apparatus walkways, manufacturers typically:

• Prepare representative samples, including correct substrate, prep, thickness, and texture
• Test under wet conditions using a repeatable method, for example ANSI A326.3
• Document DCOF values
• Include a technical statement such as:

Based on laboratory testing performed in accordance with ANSI A326.3 under wet conditions, the prepared sample demonstrated slip resistance consistent with the traction performance intent historically referenced in earlier NFPA 1901 language for exterior walking and standing surfaces.

This approach:

• Avoids overstating current NFPA language
• Provides quantifiable performance data
• Supports engineering and procurement review

6. Key Takeaways

1. NFPA 1901 historically included slip resistance criteria and referenced specific test devices and wet condition values.
2. Use of those legacy devices has declined across the industry.
3. NFPA 1900 reflects an updated apparatus standards framework.
4. ANSI A326.3 provides a modern, repeatable way to document traction performance, even when not required by NFPA.
5. Proper surface preparation and texture engineering are critical for diamond plate applications.

Always confirm the applicable edition and any project specific contract requirements.

Need Technical Evaluation

SlipDoctors provides:

• Sample preparation guidance
• Laboratory slip testing support
• DCOF documentation
• Coating system recommendations for high abrasion environments

If you are evaluating anti slip coatings for fire apparatus walkways, contact our technical team for a performance review tailored to your substrate and exposure conditions.