Anti-Slip Treatment for Pool Tiles | Fila PROGRIP NZ
Pool areas are built for relaxation, but they bring one constant problem: water on hard surfaces. Kids running between the pool and the patio, puddles forming underfoot, people stepping out onto slick tiles. Around a pool, slip risk is always present, and managing it is not just about signage or supervision. It starts with the surface itself.
If your pool surround, steps or spa edge get slippery when wet, an anti-slip treatment is the most practical fix. It improves grip on the tiles you already have, without ripping anything up and without changing how the surface looks. This guide explains why pool tiles get slippery, how anti-slip treatment works, what the slip-resistance ratings mean, and how Fila PROGRIP is applied.
Why pool tiles get slippery
Porcelain, ceramic and polished stone are chosen around pools because they look good and shrug off the weather. The trade-off is that a smooth, glazed surface offers very little grip once a film of water sits on top of it. Add bare feet, sunscreen, splashing and constant foot traffic, and a surface that feels perfectly safe when dry becomes unpredictable when wet. The problem is worst on steps, ramps, thresholds and any low spot where water gathers.
How anti-slip treatment works
A surface anti-slip treatment does not sit on top of the tile like a coating or paint. Instead it reacts with the surface to create a microscopic texture, increasing the friction between your foot and the tile. The change is invisible to the eye, so the tile looks exactly as it did before, but you feel the difference the moment you walk on it, especially when the floor is wet. Because there is no film, there is nothing to peel, yellow or wear away, and cleaning carries on as normal. Applied correctly, the effect is long-lasting rather than a temporary patch like rubber mats or stick-on strips.
Understanding slip ratings: R-ratings and SRV
If you are specifying for a commercial pool, or you just want proof rather than a promise, it helps to understand how slip resistance is measured in New Zealand.
You will often see tiles given an R-rating from R9 to R13, based on an oil-wet ramp test. The higher the number, the more grip: R11 to R13 is the range usually specified for wet external areas such as pool surrounds, ramps and stairs. Separately, installed surfaces are tested with the wet pendulum test to AS/NZS 4586, which produces a Slip Resistance Value (SRV, sometimes called PTV). As a benchmark, the New Zealand approach treats an SRV of around 39 or above as the threshold for areas that need to be slip resistant. NZS 4586 covers classifying new surfaces, and NZS 4663 covers maintaining slip resistance over time.
The practical point: a smooth tile that tests poorly when wet can be lifted into a safer band by treatment. PROGRIP is designed to increase the friction coefficient of the surface and has been pendulum tested to show a significant improvement in slip resistance. Because every tile body and glaze reacts a little differently, the right way to confirm the rating you have achieved is an on-site wet pendulum test after treatment, alongside a small patch test before you start.
Fila PROGRIP: a professional anti-slip treatment
PROGRIP is a trade-grade, ready-to-use anti-slip treatment for porcelain, ceramic and granite. It is well suited to pool decks, spa surrounds, outdoor stairs, ramps and busy entrances, exactly the wet, high-traffic areas where grip matters most. It is fast-acting, leaves no film, and keeps the original appearance of the surface intact, while one litre covers roughly 8 to 10 square metres. That makes it efficient for treating a whole pool surround in a single visit.
One limit worth knowing up front: like all treatments of this type, PROGRIP is not suitable for polished or lappato porcelain, whose surface structure prevents a consistent increase in friction. Test first if you are unsure.
How PROGRIP is applied
The result depends on preparation. The surface should be cleaned thoroughly first with the appropriate Fila cleaner, for example Deterdek Pro for limescale or cement residue, or PS87 Pro for organic dirt and maintenance films. A test patch on a concealed area sets the correct contact time, since the product begins reacting within about a minute. Work in sections of roughly one to three square metres, keeping the surface wet for the determined contact time, then rinse and neutralise with a diluted neutral detergent such as Cleaner Pro. With routine cleaning, the anti-slip effect lasts, making it a one-time investment in safety rather than a recurring job.
Treatment, anti-slip tiles or mats: which is right?
There are three common ways to make a pool area safer, and they suit different situations. Replacing tiles with high-R-rated anti-slip tiles gives excellent grip but means a full re-tile, which only makes sense on a new build or major renovation. Mats and stick-on strips are cheap and quick, but they trap dirt, look temporary and need replacing. An anti-slip treatment like PROGRIP sits in between: it works on the tiles already installed, keeps the look you chose, and lasts, which is why it is usually the most cost-effective fix for an existing pool surround that has become slippery.
Comfort and confidence underfoot
What matters most around a pool is balance: surfaces that feel safe without looking overly treated or industrial. By improving grip without altering appearance, PROGRIP helps create pool areas that are both safe and comfortable to use, which means more confidence letting kids move freely and fewer worries about slips during everyday use.
If you would like advice on the right anti-slip treatment for a pool, spa or commercial project, or you are not sure whether your tiles are suitable, get in touch with the Surtec team.
Frequently asked questions
Will an anti-slip treatment change how my tiles look?
No. PROGRIP works by creating a microscopic texture rather than adding a coating, so there is no visible change to the surface. You feel the extra grip underfoot, but the tile looks the same.
How long does the treatment last?
Applied correctly and maintained with routine cleaning, the anti-slip effect is long-lasting rather than a temporary fix. There is no film to peel or wear off.
Can I apply it myself, or do I need a professional?
PROGRIP is a professional, trade-grade product. It is ready to use, but it relies on correct cleaning, a test patch to set the contact time, and careful timing, so it is best suited to tilers and trade applicators. Always test a hidden area first.
What surfaces does PROGRIP work on?
Porcelain, ceramic and granite. It is not suitable for polished or lappato porcelain, as those surfaces do not take a consistent increase in friction.
How much area does one litre cover?
Roughly 8 to 10 square metres per litre, depending on the surface, which makes it practical for treating a full pool surround.
Does it meet New Zealand slip-resistance standards?
PROGRIP increases the friction coefficient of the surface and has been pendulum tested to show a significant improvement in slip resistance. To confirm the SRV achieved on your specific tiles, we recommend an on-site wet pendulum test to AS/NZS 4586 after treatment.