Almaty officials respond to complaint over slippery tiles at Satpayev-Seifullin intersection

An Almaty resident complained on the social network Threads about slippery paving at the intersection of Satpayev and Seifullin streets, saying the tiles are "impossible to walk on." The city's Department for the Development of Public Spaces responded to the criticism, infohub.kz reports.

"Can someone please explain to me whether anyone actually tested this surface? At the first sign of bad weather it's impossible to walk normally — the surface is just hellishly slippery. It's still above freezing and I've already nearly gone down. What will it be like in winter?" the woman wrote on social media.

The Almaty Department for the Development of Public Spaces explained that landscaping projects use concrete paving tiles that meet established technical requirements.

"The manufacturer, Tal Engineering Kazakhstan LLP, carried out slip-resistance tests on the tiles using a pendulum device in accordance with the applicable international testing methods. The tests were conducted on samples of the tile 'Kvadrat 300×300, high 80 mm, SILK, GRANITE (C-156), texture A, high.' The surface of the samples was tested in a wet state, that is, under conditions most unfavorable for use," the department said.

According to department representatives, measurements were taken in several directions and at several areas of the surface, taking into account temperature correction. The test results showed that the values obtained correspond to a low risk of slipping.

"Thus, the figures obtained significantly exceed the specified threshold and indicate sufficient slip resistance of the tiles used, including in a wet state. In addition, for certain sections of pedestrian paving, heat-treated granite with a textured surface is used, providing the necessary grip with footwear. The material used is not a polished surface and has a rough texture, which reduces the risk of slipping during use," the department added.

The department stressed that the paving stones and granite cannot be considered slippery, but that it monitors the quality and safety of the materials used.