ENTRANCE MATTING
STAND UP FOR ENTRANCE MATTING
First impressions count, so Chris Stanley, of COBA Europe Ltd, explains why we should take a stand for entrance matting.
When it comes to new build projects and refurbishment, it is easy for the specification of entrance matting to feature way down the list of priorities. But, when considering just how many thousands of pounds that simple entrance mat could save in the long- term, perhaps it is something that should be considered more seriously?
For a start, investing in effective entrance matting that scrapes dirt and wipes moisture from footwear is a major asset when it comes to protecting interior floor surfaces, whether smooth or carpeted.
Not only should entrance matting help the longevity of interior floors, it can also help to significantly reduce commercial cleaning costs which all mount up during the course of a year.
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While the practical benefits are easy to digest, the role of entrance matting in helping to reduce slips is becoming more and more apparent, not least underlined by The Health and Safety Executive’s current Shattered Lives Campaign which highlights the alarming number of accidents that are as a result of a slip or trip. There certainly isn’t a price tag to put on entrance matting when it comes to reducing accidents to the public and employees.
So how do you set about finding the right matting for your entrance area? Firstly, it is important to evaluate just how much foot traffic the matting will be subjected too – a smaller office complex may not need such a heavy-duty type of matting
than that compared to say, a supermarket or busy commercial building where thousands of people pound their feet over matting during the course of a week.
Some entrance matting manufacturers have commissioned independent wear tests which serve as a useful gauge when assessing a product’s durability. The less likely a product is to crush (and therefore losing its ‘brushing’ ability) the more effective it will be.
It is also worth considering the most common type of footwear that will cross the mat’s surface. There is a world of different between muddy work boots and stiletto heels! If the matting is likely to be subjected to coarse dirt particles, then materials with more rigid
fibres, such as polypropylene, that scrapes debris will do a better job.
On the other hand, if ladies wearing heels frequently use the building, it is important to look out for ‘heel safe’ matting to reduce the risk of trips.
There are varying facts and figures about how many steps it takes to properly wipe footwear but really, it is just common sense that the larger the matted area, the more effective it will be. Very few people actually stop to wipe their feet at an entrance. That is why many entrances use primary and secondary matting, sometimes even three systems, to create a solid line of defence against dirt and moisture from being walked into a building.
www.tomorrowsflooring.com
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