Is epoxy slippery when wet in an Ottawa entrance?

A smooth, glossy epoxy finish and a wet entrance are a combination that Reg. 851 s.11 is written to address. The finish you choose matters as much as the resin system itself.

R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 (Industrial Establishments), s.11 says a floor used by any worker shall not have "any finish or protective material used on it that is likely to make the surface slippery." The Occupational Health and Safety Act defines an industrial establishment broadly to include offices, shops and similar workplaces, so that rule applies to most commercial entrances. No slip-resistance number is set in Reg. 851, the 2024 Ontario Building Code, or the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act; a DCOF or pendulum value in a contractor's quote is a product claim to compare, not a legal threshold.

The practical answer is that texture is added to the coating, not built into the resin. Aggregate, such as aluminium oxide or quartz, is broadcast into a wet coat to create grip. The coarser the broadcast, the more traction the floor holds when wet. A clear or lightly pigmented topcoat can then be applied over the aggregate to lock it in while leaving the texture exposed at the surface. Anti-slip additive can also be mixed directly into the topcoat. Ask the contractor which method they propose, what aggregate size they recommend for a wet-entry area, and how the finish will hold up to grit and salt tracked in from outside.

The 2024 Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24), s.3.8.1.3.(2), says walking surfaces in a barrier-free path of travel shall be "stable, firm and slip-resistant." If your entrance is on a barrier-free path, that requirement applies to the finished surface.

A few things worth confirming with the contractor before you choose a finish:

• What anti-slip method do they propose, and what aggregate size?
• Will the texture hold through cleaning with floor scrubbers and salt-removal products?
• Can they show a reference job in a similar wet-entry setting?
• Ask for the product data sheet and the Safety Data Sheet for every product they plan to use; Section 2 of the SDS covers hazards.

Before signing, ask the contractor to show you a finished sample of the proposed texture so you can judge the grip level yourself, because the right texture for a dry showroom floor is not the same as what an Ottawa entrance needs in February.