Anti-Slip Solutions for Sewage Treatment Works and Waterworks

Anti-slip solutions for sewage treatment works and waterworks – GRP grating, anti-slip sheets, ladder rung covers and stair nosings – are an essential part of health and safety on site. Walkways over tanks, stairs on digesters and ladders in pumping stations are permanently damp. Algae, sludge, biofilm and ice quickly make surfaces slippery – and steel components are also exposed to corrosion.

Suitable protective equipment: slip-resistant safety boots with scale-pattern sole for wet tank walkways and ladder safety shoes for shaft ladders.

We help you make sewage treatment works, waterworks and pumping stations safer underfoot. GRP grating, GRP anti-slip sheets, ladder rung covers and stair nosings can be combined to suit each area. Many of these solutions are also ideal for retrofitting. On this page you will find typical slip hazards and the measures that address them.

Typical slip hazards in sewage treatment works and waterworks

• Walkways and bridges over clarifiers, aeration tanks and settlement tanks
• Grating covered in algae, sludge and biofilm
• Fixed ladders and stairs in pumping stations and shafts
• External stairs on digesters and tanks in frosty weather
• Screen houses and grit removal buildings with wet floors
• Filter and pump halls in waterworks with condensation

At a sewage treatment works, wet conditions are not the exception but the norm. On top of that, much of the work is carried out alone or in small teams, for example during inspection rounds or on call-out duty. A fall on a walkway over a tank or in a shaft can therefore have particularly serious consequences. When you survey the site, also consider the routes in darkness and in winter: external stairs and tank walkways often ice up earlier than paved paths.

The right anti-slip solutions for sewage treatment works

The following solutions can be used individually or in combination. Versions with the relevant test certificates for contact with drinking water or specific media are available on request.

Non-slip walkways for sewage treatment works

Existing walkways can be retrofitted with GRP anti-slip sheets. The sheets are screwed onto grating or steel plate. GRP does not rust and is suited to permanently damp environments. Yellow surfaces improve visibility.

GRP grating for wastewater plants

Where steel grating corrodes, anti-slip GRP grating is an alternative. It is lightweight, never needs painting and is available in various slip resistance classes. Water and dirt drain away through the open mesh.

Anti-slip ladder rung covers for pumping stations

In pumping stations and shafts, fixed ladders are often wet and dirty. Ladder rung covers fit over the existing rungs and improve footing.

Anti-slip sheets for waterworks

Anti-slip sheets are also suitable for filter halls, tanks and platforms in waterworks. For areas with special hygiene requirements, we check suitability against your specifications. Cut-to-size pieces and custom-made solutions are available.

Securing stairs and handrails

Secure external stairs on tanks and vessels with stair nosings or outdoor stair tread covers. Anti-slip handrail grip provides additional hold.

Floors in operational buildings

In screen houses, pump halls and laboratories, floors are often concrete or tiled. Anti-slip floor coatings are suitable for concrete. For tiled areas there is an anti-slip treatment for tiles that makes the surface grippier.

Selection: what matters

Slip resistance: Wet outdoor areas and walkways generally require high slip resistance. Annex 2 of the German workplace rule ASR A1.5 assigns ratings from R9 to R13 to work areas and, where applicable, a displacement space (V rating). Testing is carried out to DIN EN 16165:2023; older data refer to DIN 51130. ASR A1.5 sets out the requirements for floors in workplaces in Germany. Treat these figures as guidance for your own risk assessment.

Substrate: Grating, chequer plate, concrete and timber each require different fixings. Check the condition of existing structures before retrofitting.

Cleaning: Walkways are often pressure-washed. The surface should stay grippy while still being easy to clean.

Fixing: Sheets and rung covers are usually screwed in place. In permanently wet areas, mechanical fixing is often more reliable than adhesive alone.

How your enquiry works

1. You describe the area, substrate and ambient conditions – ideally with photos and dimensions.
2. We suggest suitable products and clarify questions about slip resistance, material and fixing.
3. You receive a tailored quotation, including made-to-measure pieces if required.

FAQ: slip protection at sewage treatment works

How are non-slip walkways for sewage treatment works achieved?

By retrofitting existing walkways with GRP anti-slip sheets. Alternatively, existing grating can be replaced with anti-slip GRP grating.

Why use GRP grating in wastewater plants?

Because GRP does not corrode like steel and is lightweight, which reduces maintenance and makes installation easier. The anti-slip surface also improves grip in wet conditions.

Do anti-slip ladder rung covers for pumping stations fit every ladder?

Rung covers are available for square and round rungs in various widths, from 20 mm. Send us the dimensions of your rungs so we can select the right version.

Are anti-slip sheets for waterworks suitable for drinking water areas?

Only versions with the relevant test certificates, which are available on request – special requirements apply to areas in contact with drinking water. Please tell us exactly where they will be used.

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Want to make walkways, stairs or ladders at your sewage treatment works or waterworks safer? Tell us about your site and we will check which of our anti-slip solutions for sewage treatment works fits best.