Comments are due today concerning a petition from the National Floor Safety Institute that would require manufacturers of floor coverings to include how slippery their products are on the label.
The focus of the petition is to protect the elderly. In 2014, more than 23,000 elderly Americans died as the result of accidental falls, according to the NFSI. The direct medical costs of older adult falls was estimated at $34 billion in 2013, the NFSI wrote, citing Center for Disease Control data.
The NFSI wrote in its petition that a slip resistance label would allow consumers to make more informed decisions when selecting a flooring product, providing elderly consumers the ability to choose flooring with high slip resistance and potentially reducing the risk of an accidental fall.
The petition does not apply to floor coatings that are sold separately, but does apply to prefinished flooring.
The notice in the Federal Register can be viewed online.
