Non-slip tiles are tiles with tested slip resistance, rated as an R class for areas walked on with shoes and as assessment group A to C for wet barefoot areas. In the shower area of a bathroom adapted for older people, at least R10 and assessment group B are the recommended standard among professionals.
The class most often quoted in shops says little about walking barefoot. The familiar R values from R9 to R13 come from a test method for surfaces that are normally walked on with shoes, and the measurement is taken on an inclined plane with oil. Nobody stands in oil wearing work boots in a bathroom. There, you walk barefoot across a surface covered in soapy water, and that is exactly what a second rating with the assessment groups A, B and C is for. If you keep the two systems apart, your decisions for a safe bathroom will be much more reliable. And the tile is only one of several building blocks, as the guide to adapting a bathroom for older age shows.
What sets non-slip tiles apart from normal tiles
Strictly speaking, "non-slip" is not a protected term but a collective name for tiles with tested slip resistance. The difference from a smooth tile lies in the surface. A fine micro-roughness, a textured embossing or embedded hard particles ensure that the foot still finds grip on a wet floor. This is tested using the inclined plane method, in which a person walks on the surface while it is tilted more and more steeply. The angle at which slipping begins determines the rating.
For context, it is important to know that there are no binding regulations on slip resistance for private households. The German ceramic tile association (Bundesverband Keramische Fliesen) states this explicitly. In a private bathroom, the classes are therefore a guide and not an obligation. For a bathroom that is meant to stay safe in old age or with limited mobility, this guide is nevertheless the best available yardstick. It is based on standardised measurements rather than a product description in a catalogue.
How to read R classes and assessment groups
The two ratings describe two completely different situations. The slip resistance groups R9 to R13 apply to areas that are normally walked on with shoes. The assessment groups A to C apply to wet barefoot areas, in other words shower rooms and swimming pools. The tests differ accordingly: the barefoot method uses a surface wetted with soapy water, the shod method uses oil.
| Rating | Scope | Angle of inclination in the test |
|---|---|---|
| R9 | low static friction | over 6 to 10 degrees |
| R10 | normal static friction | over 10 to 19 degrees |
| R11 | increased static friction | over 19 to 27 degrees |
| R12 | high static friction | over 27 to 35 degrees |
| R13 | very high static friction | over 35 degrees |
| Group A | dry barefoot area with light use | at least 12 degrees |
| Group B | wet barefoot area such as showers | at least 18 degrees |
| Group C | highest requirement, for example steps leading into water | at least 24 degrees |
According to the association, the results of the two methods cannot be compared directly. R10 cannot be converted into an assessment group, and a tile may carry both ratings or only one of them. There has also been a change to the standards themselves that has not yet reached every shop. The former German test standards DIN 51130 for shod and DIN 51097 for barefoot surfaces were withdrawn because the European standard DIN EN 16165 was published on the same subject. The test methods live on there as annexes, and the German version contains a national annex with the same classification as before. The designations R9 to R13 and A to C therefore remain valid and meaningful. The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV points out that parts of the subordinate regulations still refer to the old standards and that old and new test certificates are treated as equivalent during the transition period.
The right slip resistance for each zone of the bathroom
A bathroom is not one uniform surface. Water regularly ends up in front of the shower and around the washbasin, while the area towards the door usually stays dry. For the shower area in an accessible bathroom to German standard DIN 18040-2, floor coverings of assessment group B according to DGUV Information 207-006 and R10 according to DGUV Rule 108-003 are required. For the remaining areas of the bathroom, at least R9 applies accordingly.
The German home safety initiative Aktion Das Sichere Haus gives a range of R9 to R11 for floor tiles in the shower. Because the consequences of a fall weigh more heavily in a bathroom for older people, the more cautious requirement is the better basis. Plan the shower area with at least R10 combined with assessment group B, and the rest of the floor with at least R9. A private bathroom rarely needs to go higher, because R12 and R13 are intended for commercial kitchens or workshops.
If you are planning the shower area from scratch anyway, think about the floor together with the step-in height. Which dimensions for the shower area make sense also decides whether a shower seat or a walking aid will fit in later. And if the shower is not tiled at all but comes ready-made as a complete shower cabin with low entry, the question shifts to the surface of the shower tray.
Tile format and joints as a second safety factor
Besides the tested surface, the format also plays a part. Every joint interrupts the smooth surface and gives the foot extra grip, which is why smaller formats have the advantage in wet areas. Mosaic tiles with edge lengths between 2 and 10 centimetres have the highest proportion of joints, and the smaller the individual tile, the more joints provide grip. This rule of thumb comes from manufacturers' practice and does not replace a tested classification; it complements it.
As for the material, porcelain stoneware has become the standard in bathrooms because it absorbs hardly any water and is available in many surface finishes, from polished and smooth to textured and slip-resistant. This is exactly where it pays to look at the data sheet rather than the photo, because two tiles that look almost identical can fall into completely different classes. If replacing the tiles is not planned at all, other floor coverings come into question. The article on alternatives to tiles in the bathroom explains what vinyl, natural stone or jointless systems achieve in practice.
Cleaning and caring for non-slip tiles properly
With slip-resistant floors, cleaning is not a side issue but part of safety. The German ceramic tile association points out that residues of cleaning agents and disinfectants reduce slip resistance. After cleaning, you must therefore rinse thoroughly with clear water. Film-forming products have the same effect. Care products containing grease, wax or plastic are particularly critical, because they build up a sticky layer that impairs appearance, hygiene and grip alike.
For everyday use, this means a few simple habits.
- Use neutral or slightly alkaline cleaners and avoid film-forming gloss products
- Rinse with clear water after mopping so that no residues remain
- On textured surfaces, use a soft brush instead of a cloth, because dirt collects in the recesses
- Remove soap residue in the shower regularly, because soapy water is exactly what the test method uses
- Avoid aggressive scouring agents, as they can attack the texture
A word on the effort involved, because the question comes up often in practice. Higher slip resistance classes really do take a little more care, because the rougher texture gives dirt more to cling to. You should therefore treat manufacturers' claims that coated or heavily textured surfaces are just as easy to clean as smooth ones with some caution.
The limits of very high slip resistance
When it comes to slip resistance, more is not automatically better. According to the German ceramic tile association, tiles with excessive slip resistance can themselves cause tripping accidents and are harder to clean because of their rough surface texture. For people who shuffle when walking or use a rollator, a very grippy surface can become an obstacle in everyday life rather than a help.
On top of this, the care effort increases with every class, and the choice of looks and formats becomes more limited. A bathroom that nobody likes to look at, or that has to be scrubbed twice as often, will not be used any better in the long run. The honest answer is therefore to match the class to the actual use of each area rather than simply choosing the highest one.
Adding slip resistance without new tiles
Not every bathroom is completely renovated, and in a rented flat, replacing the tiles is often not an option anyway. There are two approaches for this case. With the etching method, no layer is applied; instead, the surface reacts chemically and forms microscopically small pores that create a suction cup effect when walked on. This works on mineral and ceramic surfaces such as ceramics, porcelain stoneware, enamel or natural stone, but not on acrylic baths and plastic floors. Surface anti-slip coatings, on the other hand, use a colourless coating with fine grit that largely preserves the colour and appearance.
Both methods come from manufacturers who do not state a tested class for the result. Retrofitting therefore does not achieve conformity with DIN 18040-2, and there is no reliable information on durability in years either. For a small interim solution, mats and strips remain. One detail matters here, which Aktion Das Sichere Haus points out. Rubber mats must cover the entire bottom of the bath, because mats that are too small or loose increase the risk of falling instead of reducing it. Anti-slip strips can be scrubbed during cleaning and later removed again with a hairdryer.
Safe getting in and out as a second building block
The floor alone does not make a bathroom safe. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute, 23.8 percent of people aged 65 and over in Germany fell at least once within twelve months in 2022. In the age group 80 and over, the figure was 33.5 percent, and among 65 to 79-year-olds 19.2 percent. These statistics do not include a breakdown of falls in the bathroom specifically. However, Aktion Das Sichere Haus explicitly names slippery tiles, wet floors and a high bath edge as risks.
The bath edge is the point at which even the best tile no longer helps. If you have to lift your leg over a high edge, you are standing on one leg at the critical moment. A bathtub with door moves the entry down to the level you are already standing on. A shower bath combination combines both in one unit when there is no room for two separate solutions. Where a new shower is being installed, ready-made shower cabins shift the question from the tile class to the surface of the supplied shower tray.
Frequently asked questions about non-slip tiles
The technical term is slip-resistant tiles. They are rated using two systems. The slip resistance groups R9 to R13 apply to surfaces walked on with shoes, the assessment groups A, B and C to wet barefoot areas such as showers. Since the switch to the European standard DIN EN 16165, both test methods are set out in its annexes, and the designations have remained unchanged.
Reliably only from the data sheet or the packaging, not from their appearance. Look for an R class and, more importantly for the shower area, an assessment group A, B or C. If neither is stated, the tile has no tested slip resistance. Visual features such as a matt or textured surface are an indication, but not proof of a particular class.
Slip-resistant tiles usually cost a little more than comparable smooth models, because the surface is given extra treatment or hard particles. Compared with the cost of laying them, however, the extra cost hardly matters.
They take a little more effort than smooth tiles, because the rougher texture gives dirt more to cling to. With a soft brush, a neutral cleaner and thorough rinsing, the effort remains manageable. The choice of product matters more than how often you clean, because film-forming gloss products and care products containing wax reduce the slip resistance.
Three points are significant. The cleaning effort increases with the class, because the rougher texture holds on to dirt more firmly. The choice of looks and formats is smaller. And a very high slip resistance can itself become a tripping hazard, especially for people who shuffle when walking or use a rollator. In a private bathroom, the highest available class is therefore rarely the right choice.
The information in this guide is as of July 2026. Information on standards and classifications reflects the status of the published regulations and does not replace an assessment of the individual case. This guide does not replace individual advice from a specialist company.
If you are renewing the shower area anyway, it is worth comparing a tiled solution with a ready-made cabin. Our team will be happy to help you work out which option suits your floor plan.
