What Kinds of Floor Mats Are There, and How Do You Use Them?

What Kinds of Floor Mats Are There, and How Do You Use Them?

To protect your facility’s floors and occupants, place commercial floor mats both inside and outside. To prevent slip, trip, and fall accidents, floor mats are used in various facilities, including schools, hospitals, and retail establishments. They also prevent harsh chemical substances, such as ice melt or oils, from being tracked throughout your facility and damaging the floors. To prevent slip and fall accidents and maintain the best possible appearance for your facility, it is crucial to comprehend the value of mats throughout your business. Each type of mat has a specific use, and not all mats perform the same. The effectiveness of your matting program will significantly impact the cost and efficiency of cleaning in your facility.

Given the initial outlay, you might consider a matting program’s cost and decide against it. However, the truth is that commercial floor matting can help you save money on labor and floor maintenance expenses over time. Your staff will spend more time and money on soil removal procedures like vacuuming or repairing scratches in your floor finish without a proper matting program. 90 percent of soil in any building is “tracked in” from outside, and entry matting can prevent 85 to 90 percent of this dirt from entering your building.

It can be challenging to determine which mat is best for your facility, given its location and intended use. In order to help you better protect your facility, we will go over the various mat types and the applications for each in this article.

Mats for Entrances

In a soil control program, entrance mats are the first line of defense.

Where to Put It:

Entry matting should be installed inside and outside the building’s entryway. Before reaching your unprotected floor, a visitor should be able to take about 8 to 10 steps on the entry matting. This usually requires about 15 feet of matting outside and another 15 feet inside your building.

Features:

They are typically made of nylon, polypropylene, olefin, vinyl, or a fabric blend.

To improve dirt collection from shoes, commercial entrance mats have a pattern such as a raised “waffle,” “diamond ridge,” or “ribbed” feature.

To retain moisture and keep floors dry, entrance mats will have a “water dam” border.

Scraper Mats

Scraper Mats Scraper Mats Scraper mats are heavy-duty mats, usually made of rubber.

Where to Put It:

Scraper mats are typically placed outside the entrance to a facility. If your facility has a vestibule or an air gap, they should also be used.

Features:

Raised surfaces or “fingers” on rubber floor mats are commonly used to “scrape” dirt, moisture, and other debris off of shoes.

Water is absorbed by scraper mats. When wet, their surface provides increased traction, reducing the risk of a fall.

They are not usually affected by grease or oil, which helps to keep guests safe from slick hard floor surfaces.

Wiper Mats

Wiper mats are made of durable materials such as olefin and microfiber.

Where to Put It:

For the best results, wiper floor mats should be used in conjunction with scraper mats. They should be placed just inside your facility’s main entrance.

Features:

• They are intended to absorb water while trapping small dirt and dust particles.
• Wiper mats will have a vinyl or rubber backing to help secure the mat to the floor and prevent it from moving and posing a slip and fall hazard.