Anti-Slip and Safety Marking Tape for Commercial Vehicles
Steps, tail lifts, ramps and load floors on a commercial vehicle get wet, oily and trodden on all day. Anti-slip tape puts a gritted walking surface exactly where it is needed and, in yellow and black, marks the edge at the same time. This guide covers the tesa® anti-slip tapes Austen supplies for body builders and converters, what tesa’s own data says about them, and how to fit them so they stay down. It is part of our commercial vehicle body building section.
Where anti-slip tape goes on a vehicle
- Rear and side steps on vans, trucks and trailers
- Tail-lift platforms and their leading edges
- Loading ramps and walkways
- Load-floor edges and step-down points inside the body
- Access ladders and service platforms on specialist vehicles
The tesa Professional anti-slip range
All four are single-sided tapes with a PVC backing coated with mineral particles and an acrylic adhesive. tesa describes them as suitable for indoor and outdoor use “in which a secure grip underfoot is required”, hand-tearable, and says the anti-slip effect lasts “up to 1–2 years in normal use areas”. On 60950, tesa adds that the tape is “impervious to chemicals and salt water” and certified to DIN 51130.
| Tape | Colour | What tesa says it is for | Total thickness | Adhesion to steel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tesa 60951 | Black / yellow | Marking of very slippery surfaces | 900 µm | 5.8 N/cm |
| tesa 60950 | Black | General safe footing | 900 µm | 5.8 N/cm |
| tesa 60953 | Luminous yellow | Safe footing in shaded or dark areas | 900 µm | 5.8 N/cm |
| tesa 60952 | Transparent | Grip without hiding the surface underneath | 900 µm | 5.8 N/cm |
Source: tesa product information sheets. tesa states these are average values that “should not be used for specification purposes”, and that the user is responsible for deciding whether a product is fit for their application.
For vehicles in heavy-duty service, tesa also makes 60954 Heavy Duty, which it recommends for “construction vehicles, semi-trailers, platforms, ramps”, and 60955 Conformable, an aluminium-backed tape designed to follow tread plates and “cover flat surfaces with e.g. screw heads or rivets”. tesa rates both R13 slip resistance to DIN 51130 (R12 for 60954 black-yellow). Ask the trade desk about availability.
Fitting anti-slip tape so it stays down
- Clean and dry the surface. Remove oil, grease and loose paint; a tape laid on dirt bonds to the dirt.
- Round the corners of each cut length. A square corner is the first thing a boot or pallet truck catches (general practice, not a tesa figure).
- Press it down firmly across the whole length, including the edges.
- On a tread plate or chequer plate, use a conformable tape rather than a flat one, so it follows the pattern instead of bridging it.
- Plan to replace it. tesa gives the anti-slip effect as up to one to two years in normal use; on a working step, check it at each service.
Trade supply
Related guides: floor-to-frame bonding · lashing rails.
We supply anti-slip tape in rolls for production lines and fleet workshops, and can arrange lengths cut to size through our converting services. For steps and plates bonded with structural tape, see the kick and tread plate guide, or the vehicle body building hub for the other bonded joints on a commercial body. Call the trade desk on 01892 832141.
Not sure which tape or adhesive to specify?
Tell us your substrates, loads, and operating environment. We’ll come back within one business day with a grade recommendation and a trial plan — no obligation, no catalogue-pushing, just a technical conversation.
